The Subaru RX does 24 mpg combined (22 city, 28 highway), which works out to about $1,600 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other Other cars it sits above the average of 21 mpg.
Every Subaru RX engine, compared
The Subaru RX was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0L | 22 / 28 | 1985–1985 | $1,600 |
What that actually costs
The Subaru RX burns a gallon every 24 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 500 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.133 |
| Fuel per year | $1,600 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,000 |
| Against other Other cars | −$229 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,600 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Subaru RX gives up 6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28 out there against 22 in town, a 27% drop worth $374 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 | 22 mpg | $1,745 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28 mpg | $1,371 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6 mpg (27%) | Typical for its type |
How the RX changed over the years
Combined figure across the 1 model year the RX was rated in, all of them at 24 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 1 EPA ratings of the Subaru RX — 1 engine across 1985–1985. 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 $2,600. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Subaru RX get?
24 mpg combined on average — 22 in the city and 28 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1985–1985.
How much does a Subaru RX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,600 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,000 over five years, or 0.133 dollars a mile.
Which RX engine is the most economical?
The 0L at 24 mpg.
Is the RX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Other cars it sits above the average of 21 mpg, computed across 2 ratings.
Are these real-world RX 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 RX is $2,600 against the $1,600 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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