What is the mpg of an older Subaru Forester?
Older Subaru Foresters typically achieve mileage in the low-to-mid 20s in combined driving. A common 2.5-liter non-turbo Forester from the late 1990s through the early 2010s often logs around 20–23 mpg in city driving and about 27–30 mpg on the highway, for a combined roughly in the 23–27 mpg range. Turbocharged variants and older CVT-equipped models tend to be lower, while later CVT setups can edge higher on long highway trips. Exact numbers depend on model year, engine, and transmission, so check the specific year you’re interested in for precise figures.
To understand what to expect from a given used Forester, it helps to know how mpg evolved across generations, which engines were used, and how transmission choices affected efficiency. The following sections break down typical ranges and how to verify them for a particular vehicle.
What affects mpg in older Foresters
Fuel economy in older Foresters is shaped by the engine family, the transmission, drivetrain setup, and even regional tuning. The most common configurations were the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine adopted across several generations, with some models offering turbocharged variants and, later on, CVT transmissions. Real-world mpg can vary based on maintenance, tire choice, load, and driving style. For precise, year-specific numbers, consult the EPA data for the exact model year and drivetrain.
Typical mpg ranges by engine configuration
The following ranges reflect common older Forester configurations (roughly late 1990s through mid-2010s). Numbers are EPA estimates from original publications and standardized tests; real-world results may differ.
2.5-liter naturally aspirated engines (most widespread)
- City driving: about 20–23 mpg
- Highway driving: about 27–30 mpg
- Combined across typical commuting: about 23–27 mpg
These figures cover many non-turbo Foresters across several generations, including models where a 5-speed manual or an automatic was paired with the 2.5L engine. Actual results depend on year, transmission choice, and condition.
Turbocharged engines (2.0L and related turbo variants in older models)
- City driving: roughly 18–23 mpg
- Highway driving: roughly 25–28 mpg
- Combined: roughly 21–25 mpg
Turbo Foresters typically show noticeably lower city efficiency, while highway efficiency may improve with more stable speeds, yielding a lower overall combined figure compared with the 2.5L NA engines.
Transmission considerations
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) introduced in several generations can shift the mpg envelope, often boosting highway efficiency but not always delivering better city numbers. Manual transmissions, when available, can give similar or slightly better overall economy in some driving scenarios, but differences are modest and highly year-dependent. Always verify the specific year and trim when estimating mpg.
In short, the broad picture for older Foresters is a range of roughly 20–23 mpg city and 27–30 mpg highway for the common 2.5L NA models, with turbo variants generally lower overall and CVTs offering some highway efficiency advantages in certain years.
Estimating mpg for a specific used Forester
If you’re shopping for a used Forester, here are practical steps to estimate the mpg you can expect from that exact vehicle.
- Identify the model year, engine, and transmission. Note whether the model uses a 2.5L NA engine, a turbo, and whether it has a CVT or a traditional automatic/manual transmission. This matters for EPA estimates and real-world results.
- Look up the official EPA fuel economy figures for that exact model year and drivetrain on fueleconomy.gov. These figures are the baseline for comparison.
- Review the vehicle’s documented fuel records or trip computer data, if available, to gauge real-world mpg experienced by previous owners.
- Assess condition-related factors that affect mpg: tire size/pressure, wheel alignment, roof racks, load, and maintenance (air filters, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, etc.).
- Consider your typical driving: city vs. highway, climate, and payload. Substantial differences from EPA estimates are common in real-world use, so set expectations accordingly.
Using these steps helps you form a realistic MPG expectation for a specific used Forester rather than relying solely on generalized ranges.
Summary
For older Subaru Foresters, mpg depends heavily on the engine and transmission. The typical 2.5-liter non-turbo models sit around the low-20s in city use and upper-20s to 30 on highways, with combined figures often in the mid-20s. Turbocharged variants tend to be lower overall, especially in urban driving. Always check the exact model year and drivetrain in official EPA data for precise numbers, and use real-world measurements from the vehicle’s records to set expectations. Maintenance and driving conditions also play a major role in actual fuel economy.
