Tank Ledger

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.

29best combined mpg (1985)
22worst combined mpg (1985)
25latest year best (1989)
24configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1985729 mpg22 mpg#4 of 25 (88th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicles, Subcompact Cars
1986629 mpg22 mpg#16 of 59 (74th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles
1987529 mpg22 mpg#14 of 72 (82th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles
1988325 mpg22 mpg#27 of 60 (56th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars, Special Purpose Vehicles
1989325 mpg22 mpg#33 of 71 (54th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact 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.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
19891.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19891.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)222724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19891.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19881.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19881.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)222724479.212.4$2,600370.2916666666667n/a
19881.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19871.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19871.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19871.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(OHV)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19871.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(OHV) (FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(OHV) (FFS)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(OHV)212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19861.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(OHV) (FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)242926442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
19861.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS) CA model212422522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular(FFS)212322522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular1.8L 4-cyl212623500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS) CA model232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS) CA model232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19851.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular(FFS)232925460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19851.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 4-spd Regular(FFS)263329396.610.3$2,150306.44827586206895n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1987 → 198829 → 25 mpg-4 mpg460 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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.

Other Subaru nameplates

Every Subaru model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.