Subaru Forester — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
Subaru's rugged family SUV, renowned for its off-road capability, robust Boxer engines, and standard all-wheel drive.
The Subaru Forester is a highly capable family SUV, favored by rural buyers in the UK for its legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and high durability.
It is powered by Boxer petrol and diesel engines. Newer models use the e-Boxer hybrid system to reduce urban fuel bills.
Real-world fuel economy averages 40 MPG for the diesel and 33 MPG for the petrol version in mixed driving.
TL;DR
33 MPG
Real-world petrol
40 MPG
Real-world diesel
60L
Tank capacity
£82.08
Full tank (petrol)
18.8p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Subaru Forester achieves an estimated 33 MPG (petrol) and 40 MPG (diesel) in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 60-litre tank completely costs approximately £82.08 (petrol) or £85.26 (diesel) at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
33
Real-world MPG
Petrol
39.8
Official WLTP
Petrol
40
Real-world MPG
Diesel
47.9
Official WLTP
Diesel
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £942 | £807 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £1395 | £1195 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1885 | £1615 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £2827 | £2422 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £3769 | £3230 |
| Full tank (60L) | £82.08 | £85.26 |
| Cost per mile | 18.8p | 16.1p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Forester compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Forester
The Forester has a boxy profile; keeping speeds down on high-speed roads saves considerable fuel.
Avoid carrying unnecessary weight in the boot.
Check tyre pressures regularly, especially before long holiday trips.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Subaru Forester achieving ~33 MPG real-world, if you fill 48 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£4.80
Gross saving on fuel
£0.57
Cost of 3-mile detour
£4.23
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 25 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester achieves approximately 33 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 39.8 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 40 MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Subaru Forester?
The Subaru Forester has a fuel tank of 60 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £82.08. Diesel costs approximately £85.26 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Subaru Forester?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Subaru Forester costs approximately £1395 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1885. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Subaru Forester?
In a Subaru Forester doing ~33 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 48-litre fill nets approximately £4.23 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 25 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Subaru Forester cost per mile in fuel?
The Subaru Forester costs approximately 18.8p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £5.64 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Subaru Forester?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Subaru Forester is 39.8 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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