estate1995–present

Subaru Outback — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025

Subaru's premium crossover estate, combining executive estate comfort with rugged off-road capability and standard AWD.

The Subaru Outback is a rugged crossover estate that offers a highly refined cabin, high safety credentials, and genuine off-road ground clearance.

Engines include a smooth naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol Boxer and a highly efficient 2.0-litre Boxer diesel.

Real-world fuel economy is respectable, with the diesel returning around 39 MPG and the petrol model averaging around 32 MPG.

TL;DR

32 MPG

Real-world petrol

39 MPG

Real-world diesel

60L

Tank capacity

£82.08

Full tank (petrol)

19.4p

Per mile (petrol)

Real-World Fuel Economy: The Subaru Outback achieves an estimated 32 MPG (petrol) and 39 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

32

Real-world MPG

Petrol

38.2

Official WLTP

Petrol

39

Real-world MPG

Diesel

47.1

Official WLTP

Diesel

Why is real-world MPG lower? Official WLTP figures are tested under laboratory conditions — smooth roads, controlled temperature, no A/C, no passengers. Real-world driving cuts efficiency by 10–15%. WorthThePump applies a 12% penalty to give a realistic estimate.

Annual fuel costs by mileage

Annual mileagePetrolDiesel
5,000 miles/yr£972£828
7,400 miles/yr(UK average)£1438£1226
10,000 miles/yr£1943£1656
15,000 miles/yr£2915£2485
20,000 miles/yr£3887£3313
Full tank (60L)£82.08£85.26
Cost per mile19.4p16.6p

Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.

How does the Outback compare?

Tips to get better MPG from your Outback

The Outback has a low, sleek profile; steady highway cruises yield excellent MPG.

Use standard cruise control on long motorway runs to keep fuel consumption steady.

Check tyre pressures monthly to prevent rolling resistance.

Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?

In a Subaru Outback achieving ~32 MPG real-world, if you fill 48 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:

£4.80

Gross saving on fuel

£0.58

Cost of 3-mile detour

£4.22

Net saving ✓

You could drive up to 25 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.

Calculate for your exact situation

Popular variants

2.5i Petrol AWD2.0D Diesel AWD

Frequently asked questions

What is the real-world MPG of the Subaru Outback?

The Subaru Outback achieves approximately 32 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 38.2 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around 39 MPG real-world.

How much does it cost to fill a Subaru Outback?

The Subaru Outback 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 Outback?

At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Subaru Outback costs approximately £1438 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1943. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.

Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Subaru Outback?

In a Subaru Outback doing ~32 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 48-litre fill nets approximately £4.22 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 Outback cost per mile in fuel?

The Subaru Outback costs approximately 19.4p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £5.82 per day in fuel.

What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Subaru Outback?

The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Subaru Outback is 38.2 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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