Subaru Forester Annual Fuel Cost
Running a 2026 Subaru Forester costs about $1,750 per year in fuel, based on 15,000 miles of driving at average U.S. fuel prices.
Latest model year (2026):
The Subaru Forester costs an estimated $1,750/year in fuel (255 g CO₂/mi).
Subaru Forester Fuel Cost — All Years
| Year | Trim | Engine | Fuel | MPG Comb. | Annual Cost | CO₂ (g/mi) | GHG Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 35 | $1,750 | 255 | 6 |
| 2026Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2026Config 3 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 317 | 5 |
| 2026Config 4 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 347 | 5 |
| 2025Config 1 of 4 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 35 | $1,750 | 255 | 7 |
| 2025Config 2 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 317 | 6 |
| 2025Config 3 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 338 | 5 |
| 2025Config 4 of 4 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2024Config 1 of 2 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2024Config 2 of 2 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 338 | 5 |
| 2023Config 1 of 2 | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2023Config 2 of 2 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 338 | 5 |
| 2022Config 1 of 2 | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2022Config 2 of 2 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 26 | $2,350 | 338 | 5 |
| 2021 | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 309 | 6 |
| 2020 | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 309 | 6 |
| 2019 | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 29 | $2,100 | 310 | 6 |
| 2018Config 1 of 3 | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 315 | 6 |
| 2018Config 2 of 3 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Premium Gasoline | 25 | $3,050 | 359 | 5 |
| 2018Config 3 of 3 | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 24 | $2,550 | 368 | 5 |
| 2017Config 1 of 3 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Premium Gasoline | 25 | $3,050 | 359 | 5 |
| 2017Config 2 of 3 | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 28 | $2,200 | 315 | 6 |
| 2017Config 3 of 3 | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 24 | $2,550 | 368 | 5 |
| 2016Config 1 of 3 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Premium Gasoline | 25 | $3,050 | 359 | 6 |
| 2016Config 2 of 3 | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 27 | $2,300 | 332 | 6 |
| 2016Config 3 of 3 | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 364 | 6 |
| 2015Config 1 of 3 | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 4 2.0L | Premium Gasoline | 25 | $3,050 | 359 | 6 |
| 2015Config 2 of 3 | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 27 | $2,300 | 332 | 7 |
| 2015Config 3 of 3 | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 4 2.5L | Regular Gasoline | 25 | $2,450 | 364 | 6 |
Data sourced from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy). MPG figures are EPA-tested. Fuel costs are estimates based on average fuel prices and 15,000 miles/year.
Subaru Forester data analysis
How Subaru Forester estimated annual fuel cost varies
Across 29 configurations recorded for the 2015 through 2026 Subaru Forester, estimated annual fuel cost runs from $1,750 to $3,050. The strongest figure belongs to the 2026 Subaru Forester (Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L) at $1,750, and the weakest to the 2015 car (Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L) at $3,050 — a spread of 43%. A gap that wide means the model year and configuration you buy matter more than the nameplate does: quoting a single number for the Subaru Forester would be misleading.
What changed for 2026
Average estimated annual fuel cost for the 2026 Subaru Forester is $2,100, against $2,100 for the 2025 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.
How to read this Subaru Forester data
This page lists every 2015 through 2026 Subaru Forester record we hold for this measurement — 29 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Configurations behind these Subaru Forester numbers
The 2015 through 2026 Subaru Forester entries here cover the variants Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L and Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L. 2026 is the busiest model year in the record with 4 separate measured configurations, which is why a single quoted estimated annual fuel cost figure for that year is rarely the one that matches the car in front of you. Match the row to the exact drivetrain, body style and engine on the window sticker or VIN before relying on the number, and use the comparison links below to see how those same configurations line up against rival models.
Where these Subaru Forester figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Subaru Forester record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Forester Fuel Cost
How much does it cost to fuel the Subaru Forester?
The estimated annual fuel cost for the Subaru Forester is $1,750 per year, based on 15,000 miles of driving and average fuel prices. Costs vary by trim and engine.
How much CO₂ does the Subaru Forester produce?
The Subaru Forester produces approximately 255 grams of CO₂ per mile. Lower numbers mean fewer emissions. See the table for per-trim details.
Fuel Cost for other Subaru models
- Subaru Ascent Fuel Cost
- Subaru BRZ Fuel Cost
- Subaru Crosstrek Fuel Cost
- Subaru Impreza Fuel Cost
- Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport Fuel Cost
- Subaru Legacy Fuel Cost
- Subaru Legacy/Outback Fuel Cost
- Subaru Outback Fuel Cost
- Subaru Solterra Fuel Cost
- Subaru Trailseeker Fuel Cost
- Subaru Uncharted Fuel Cost
- Subaru WRX Fuel Cost