The Subaru Outback does 23.5 mpg combined (21.1 city, 27.6 highway), which works out to about $1,634 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 30 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 19.8 — a difference of $659 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Subaru Outback engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Subaru Outback ranges from 30 down to 19.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $659 a year across 4 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 27 / 35 | 2012–2012 | $1,280 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 23.1 / 29.5 | 2002–2026 | $1,500 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 19 / 25.6 | 2010–2019 | $1,829 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 23.5 | 2002–2009 | $1,939 |
What that actually costs
The Subaru Outback burns a gallon every 23.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 511 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.136 |
| Fuel per year | $1,634 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,170 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$140 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,856 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Subaru Outback gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.6 out there against 21.1 in town, a 31% drop worth $429 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 21.1 mpg | $1,820 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.6 mpg | $1,391 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Outback changed over the years
The Outback peaked in 2022 at 29 mpg (26 city, 33 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 20.5 — 8.5 mpg apart, or $549 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 27. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2025 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2024 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2023 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2022 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2021 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2020 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2019 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2017 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2016 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2015 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2014 | 21 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2012 | 22.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2011 | 19.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2010 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2009 | 18.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2007 | 18.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2006 | 18.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2005 | 18.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2004 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,873 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 43 EPA ratings of the Subaru Outback — 4 engines across 2002–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,856. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Subaru Outback get?
23.5 mpg combined on average — 21.1 in the city and 27.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2002–2026.
How much does a Subaru Outback cost in fuel per year?
About $1,634 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,170 over five years, or 0.136 dollars a mile.
Which Outback engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 30 mpg, against 19.8 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $659 a year.
Is the Outback good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Outback figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Subaru Outback is $2,856 against the $1,634 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 30 and 19 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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