2018 Subaru Outback
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Subaru Outback is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 2 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 22 to 28 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 to $2,950 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 22-28 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 28 / 22 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,300-$2,950 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 320-398 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 3-7 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 Outback costs about $2,300 to $2,950 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,625. Over five years that is about $13,125 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Outback configuration saves about $0 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of small sport utility vehicle 4wd in this dataset is about 24 MPG. The Outback sits roughly 1 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outback AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Outback AWD | 3.6L 6-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 22 MPG | $2,950 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 Outback records tailpipe CO₂ of 320-398 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 3-7 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as small sport utility vehicle 4wd.
Compare this car
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.