The all-wheel-drive (AWD) Subaru Outback is based on the Subaru Legacy platform. While the Legacy is classified as a mid-sized car, the Outback is classified as a compact crossover SUV. The Subaru Outback’s gas mileage figures are respectable for a compact AWD SUV, with highway ratings in the mid- to high-twenty mile per gallon (MPG) range. The Outback was last redesigned for the 2005 model year.
The domestic 2008 Outback and Outback 2.5i are fitted with Subaru’s naturally-aspirated 2.5 liter SOHC 16-valve four-cylinder Boxer engine, rated at 170 horsepower (HP) and 170 foot pounds of torque. The Outback 2.5 XT Limited is equipped with a turbocharged variant of the 2.5 liter four banger Boxer, producing 243 HP and 241 foot pounds of torque. The top of the line Outback R L.L.Bean Edition is fitted with a naturally-aspirated six cylinder Boxer engine, producing 245 HP and 215 foot pounds of torque.
Subaru Outback Gas Mileage – 2002-2010
Year | Manf. | Model | Engine | Disp. | Fuel | Trans. | City | Hwy |
2010 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WAGON/OUTBACK SPORT | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M6) Manual | 17 | 23 |
2010 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WAGON/OUTBACK SPORT | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 18 | 25 |
2010 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WAGON/OUTBACK SPORT | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2010 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WAGON/OUTBACK SPORT | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S4) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2010 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WAGON/OUTBACK SPORT | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2010 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.6 liter | R | (S5) Auto | 18 | 25 |
2010 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (AV) Auto | 22 | 29 |
2009 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2009 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M6) Manual | 17 | 23 |
2009 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2009 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 18 | 25 |
2009 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S4) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2009 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 18 | 24 |
2009 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2009 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2009 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2009 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2008 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 19 | 24 |
2008 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2008 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S4) Auto | 20 | 25 |
2008 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2008 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 18 | 24 |
2008 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 19 | 26 |
2008 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 17 | 24 |
2008 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 18 | 24 |
2008 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2007 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 21 | 26 |
2007 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 29 |
2007 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2007 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 23 | 28 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 23 | 28 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2007 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 21 | 27 |
2006 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 23 | 28 |
2006 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 21 | 26 |
2006 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 20 | 26 |
2006 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 22 | 29 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 23 | 28 |
2006 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 19 | 25 |
2005 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2005 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 23 | 30 |
2005 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2005 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 23 | 28 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 25 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (S5) Auto | 19 | 24 |
2005 | SUBARU | OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 19 | 25 |
2004 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2004 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2004 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2004 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 28 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 28 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 28 |
2004 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2003 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2003 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 21 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.0 liter | P | (M5) Manual | 20 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | IMPREZA WGN/OUTBACK SPT AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 28 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 27 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (S4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2003 | SUBARU | LEGACY/OUTBACK WAGON AWD | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 19 | 26 |
2002 | SUBARU | LEGACY AWD (incl. Outback) | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
2002 | SUBARU | LEGACY AWD (incl. Outback) | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2002 | SUBARU | LEGACY WAGON AWD (incl. Outback) | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (M5) Manual | 21 | 27 |
2002 | SUBARU | LEGACY WAGON AWD (incl. Outback) | 6 cylinder | 3.0 liter | P | (L4) Auto | 20 | 26 |
2002 | SUBARU | LEGACY WAGON AWD (incl. Outback) | 4 cylinder | 2.5 liter | R | (L4) Auto | 22 | 27 |
Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.
– by Daniel Gray
My 2000 Outback averages 23-25 mpg year round in my varied (city/highway) driving. On a recent highway trip averaging 65 mph, the mpg was about 28. I have no complaints about this car, summer or winter.
My subaru outback 2000 drinks gas. It gave about 22.5mpg when it had bad front oxygen sensor. I was driving around like that for whole year. Then I replaced it because I didn’t like to see “Chk engine” light and was hopping to improve mileage a bit too. ..
And now it’s even worse. last week I put in 4.25 gallon. Gas empty light came on at 65 miles. 15.3mpg How’s that possible ?
It’s got one of those 4 wire sensor ..
Any thing ?
Gregory
Gregory:
First, your mileage depends on your engine. The outback commonly uses two engines. Its your decision and responsibility to research mechanical changes, but there is a definite difference between the engines. Also, making sure your engine has been properly maintained is important. Many things that wear with age and use, such as the timing belt, will make your engine work harder unless they are well-taken care of and replaced every 50-80k miles. The miles on your car always effect the mileage on your car, depending on how well it’s taken care of. I advise consulting an Outback forum.
I get the best mileage in my 2000 Impreza Outback Sport with 95k on it if I shift around 3000rpm, and if I keep curves smooth and calm. Quick acceleration requires more power at once and so will drop your tank quite a bit. Idling will subtly burn off your tank as well. Keeping smooth and consistent driving as a standard will improve not only your vehicles mileage but also its lifespan. Mileage is simple: the energy used to perform the tasks required. If your style of driving or your environment causes you to use more energy, you use more gas for your distance. The question you should ask is, “What force causes the engine to work harder to travel the same distance?” Then you can decide: too much acceleration, difficult shifts, steep inclines, misaligned wheels, constant turning, wind? Figure out the physics curves. Your style of driving and choice of route is a huge factor to mileage.
The best advice I can give you is to consult authority. There are zillions of forums with car nerds who know everything about your car. Dealerships and service centers love to help, but keep in mind they also love to make money. Do your research! There are plenty of resources, make yours the best Outback there is.