Subaru Fuel economy

[Ryan Lester]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying an early 90's Legacy or Loyale Sube. I do a lot of
highway driving and need a car good on fuel. I know the Soobs are not as
good as comparable sized cars (because of the AWD). But, I was wondering if
anyone has calculated their fuel economy on a regular basis, I'm curious to
know what the "real world" results are. Fueleconomy.gov is a good
comparison, but its not real world.

Thanks.

Ryan.

 

[Bruce Hoult]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying an early 90's Legacy or Loyale Sube. I do a lot of
highway driving and need a car good on fuel. I know the Soobs are not as
good as comparable sized cars (because of the AWD). But, I was wondering if
anyone has calculated their fuel economy on a regular basis, I'm curious to
know what the "real world" results are. Fueleconomy.gov is a good
comparison, but its not real world.

I've got a 2.5l 1995 AWD Legacy 250T wagon with the 4EAT and about
165,000 km (102,000 miles) on the clock. I calculate the fuel use every
tankful.

Driving locally around the city (lots of 1 - 10 km trips with cold
engine, mixed street and motorway) it is almost always between 9.9 and
10.1 l/100 km (28 - 28.6 mpg, 24.7 - 25.2 mpUSg).

On a long trip loaded with 3 - 4 people and luggage, travelling at 110
km/h (70 mph) on NZs hilly, winding, 2 lane roads, with frequent hard
acceleration to get past slower traffic, I get around 8.7 l/100 km (32.5
mpg, 28.7 mpUSg).

I would expect it to do better if we had multi-lane roads between cities
as in the USA, but we don't so there you are.

When towing a sailplane on a trailer, it goes to around 11 l/100km (25.7
mpg, 22.7 mpUSg).


Other than the towing, this is about 10% worse than my previous car, a
1991 Toyota Corona 2.0 five speed. The towing is about the same

I think it's worth it for the large amounts of extra room, power, and
AWD.

-- Bruce

 

[Verbs Under My Gel]

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying an early 90's Legacy or Loyale Sube. I do a lot of
highway driving and need a car good on fuel. I know the Soobs are not as
good as comparable sized cars (because of the AWD). But, I was wondering if
anyone has calculated their fuel economy on a regular basis, I'm curious to
know what the "real world" results are. Fueleconomy.gov is a good
comparison, but its not real world.

Thanks.

Ryan.

I think the Leg's with the 2.2 will get about 30mi/USgal on the
highway. I don't know for sure (I don't own one...I've a Leg. with a
2.5). The Leg's with the 2.5'll get about 27mi/USgal on the highway.

If fuel economy's your main concern, you'd be better off with a
smaller, less massive car with a smaller engine, e.g. Honda Civic,
Ford Focus, or Toyota Corolla, to name a few. If you're driving on
multi-lane, divided highways most of the time, front-wheel drive
should suffice.

Speaking of the Corolla, how's the fuel economy of the AWD Matrix?

 

[Ryan Lester]

Thanks for the response, I live in Canada (Edmonton area) and found your
info very helpful. 32mpg is pretty good for a car that size. I imagine it
might be a little better with a five-speed, which I really would prefer. I
do about 65% highway driving, so I would probably get pretty close to what
you get, maybe better. I am getting to like these cars the more I research
them. I just hope I can find one, there are not many for sale, and I find
them a little overpriced.

Hopefully, if I take my time, I can find a good one without breaking my
budget.

Thanks again.

Ryan.

 

[Charlez]

That is pretty good

I live in Quebec and I drive a 2000 impreza with 2.2l 5spd

Milleage is very bad in the winter especially when it is cold. I am pretty
sure that we get "winter gas"

My best results are:

In the summer, running 73mph on the highway with 90% highway and 10% city, I
get 31-32mpg (us gal)

With mixed driving with alot of passing and some stop and go, I usually
manage to get around 27-28mpg (us gal)

With 100% city driving in the winter, my fuel economy drops alot in the
18mpg range. Remember, this is 100% city driving and the temperature is
very cold

Pulling a 17'x8' sailling catamaran on a long trip with the speed in the
65-70mhh range, I can get around 20-22mpg (I was driving from Virginia
Beach to rimouski, a 1150 miles trip

I am getting a worst milleage on the trailler pull but a thing that there is
more windage with my boat. The problem is that when you have 1150 milles to
drive, you have to drive fast, by reducing the speed, I would have a better
fuel economy. Also, you have to stop and check your load on a regular
basis.

As far as fuel economy, it is better than other cars that I had. While my
engine is not as efficient as t Vtec or VVti engine, the power and torque
are well matched with my drifing style and the weight of the car. Also, it
means that you can put 400 miles on one tank of fuel or 6.5 hours at 73mph.

The higher fuel consomption is not really caused by the Awd system, It is
caused by a many factors. The engine, the aerodynamics, the performance and
the driving style.

Charles Leblanc
Impreza 2000 2.2L

 

[BlueSTi]

I have been averaging in the range of 25 to 27 mpg with my STi. Most
of the magazine reviews were only averaging about 18 to 20 mpg. I
think that's because they drive the STi like a stolen rental car!
The key to good gas mileage IMO is keeping your right foot light on
the pedal.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Paul]

I have a 2001 Forester S 2.5L. I recently did a short 300mile trip.
I got 28.5mpg on that trip. I havent really looked at my mpg for the
city yet.

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester yields 27-28 @ 70-75mph on cruse on a 600 mile trip. Local
Suburb type driving yields about 21 unless I really push it often to 4000rpm
shifts. ed

 

[No Way]

My 165 horsepower 2004 sub gets better milage than my 125 hp 2000 neon ever
did

 

[null_pointer]

I just looked at the spreadsheet I kept for my 2002 Impreza RS (I got
rid of it about 2 years ago...didn't have it long) and the lifetime
average was 23.4 MPG. This an unknown mix of city/hwy driving and
included a Minnesota winter and a 3 day/1,700 mile driving trip

 

[Felix Crashalot]

Ryan,

I suggest that you try to get a MY 93 or 94, as these are less prone
to rust that the 90-92 ones. You'll be less tempted to get rid of it
after a couple of years. I live in Montreal and my 90 Legacy LS is
rusted like hell. 93-94s have much less rust, and it's not only
because they're more recent. 32mpg is optimistic. Don't be afraid of
the AT, it's a beauty and it is reliable.

Felix

 

[Chicken'n Toast]

You cannot put "fuel economy" and "Subaru" in the same sentence.

 

[Ken Gilbert]

I have been averaging in the range of 25 to 27 mpg with my STi. Most
of the magazine reviews were only averaging about 18 to 20 mpg. I
think that's because they drive the STi like a stolen rental car!
The key to good gas mileage IMO is keeping your right foot light on
the pedal.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

sorry, but if you're getting that kind of milage out of the car you're
not allowed to own one!

(jk)

ken

 

[Jkpoulos7]

2004 Outback wagon with auto. Gets 24mpg average and once 26. Has 5000 miles on
engine

 

[john cline ii]

:

| You cannot put "fuel economy" and "Subaru" in the same sentence.

BZZZT.

You just did.

john cline ii, who just had to

 

[Edward Hayes]

My Subaru's, Saabs and Volvos all achieved mileage figures very close to or
exceeded the EPA figures and I am quoting about 500,000 miles of driving. I
frequently check my mileage over 3-4 tank fulls to get an average. Ed

 

[BlueSTi]

I think most folks buy a Subaru for other reasons than gas mileage.
After all you can a drive a little Metro if all you want is gas
mileage. Here is my reason for buying the Subaru:
1. We previously owned a Subaru Legacy Wagon and it was a great car.
2. AWD is important if you live in mountainous areas with snow.
3. How many cars can give you 300 HP and get 27 mpg?

IMO the Subaru strikes a great balance between gas mileage and
performance.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Dan Duncan]

I think most folks buy a Subaru for other reasons than gas mileage.
After all you can a drive a little Metro if all you want is gas
mileage.

Hey, don't forget the Justy!

-DanD

 

[BlueSTi]

Hey, don't forget the Justy!

-DanD

Yea, the Justy is cool. I seriously considered one. They are just
getting really hart to find.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Ken Gilbert]

3. How many cars can give you 300 HP and get 27 mpg?

i'll say it again... your milage is in no way indicative of the milage
of the overwhelming majority of STi owners.... or of subaru owners in
general, for that matter. i don't know how you're driving, but it
seems like a lot of flat highway miles with cruise control set to <75
mph.

(just so people don't go assuming they'll be getting 27 mpg... fact
is, it is highly likely that they will not.)

jm2c
ken