Subaru Hatchback MPG by year — every rating on record
The Subaru Hatchback has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1985 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 29 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1985). The EPA record holds 24 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars / Special Purpose Vehicles.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 7 | 29 mpg | 22 mpg | #4 of 25 (88th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles, Subcompact Cars |
| 1986 | 6 | 29 mpg | 22 mpg | #16 of 59 (74th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles |
| 1987 | 5 | 29 mpg | 22 mpg | #14 of 72 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles |
| 1988 | 3 | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | #27 of 60 (56th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles |
| 1989 | 3 | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | #33 of 71 (54th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Subaru Hatchback placed highest in 1985 at #4 of 25, and lowest in 1989 at #33 of 71. It spent 5 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 24 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 23 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1989 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 23 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 27 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1988 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 23 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (OHV) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1987 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (OHV) (FFS) | 21 | 23 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (OHV) (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (OHV) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (OHV) (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 24 | 29 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1986 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 21 | 24 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 23 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | 1.8L 4-cyl | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) CA model | 23 | 28 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 33 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 → 1988 | 29 → 25 mpg | -4 mpg | 460 gal |
What Hatchback fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Subaru Hatchback burns 460 to 523 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,380 | $1,568 | $188 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,610 | $1,830 | $220 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,840 | $2,091 | $251 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $2,500 to $2,850 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 25 mpg the Subaru Hatchback is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $67 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Subaru nameplates
Every Subaru model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.