Tank Ledger

Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT MPG by year — every rating on record

The Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 2003 to 2009. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2005) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (2004). The EPA record holds 30 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.

23best combined mpg (2005)
19worst combined mpg (2004)
22latest year best (2009)
30configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2003421 mpg20 mpg#9 of 14 (38th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2004422 mpg19 mpg#9 of 14 (38th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2005423 mpg20 mpg#8 of 17 (56th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2006422 mpg20 mpg#12 of 16 (27th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2007422 mpg20 mpg#11 of 16 (33th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2008522 mpg19 mpg#12 of 18 (35th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons
2009522 mpg19 mpg#16 of 20 (21th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium, RegularSmall Station Wagons

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT placed highest in 2005 at #8 of 17, and lowest in 2009 at #16 of 20. It spent 1 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 30 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20092.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20092.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged192421547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20092.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20092.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20092.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Regular2.5L 4-cyl202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20082.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20082.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20082.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20082.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged202522522.713.5$3,500403.95454545454544n/a
20082.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Regular2.5L 4-cyl202722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20072.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged182320575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20072.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20072.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202522522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20072.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20062.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged182420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20062.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20062.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202522522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20062.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202722522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20052.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged172420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20052.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20052.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20052.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl202723500.012.9$2,700386.39130434782606n/a
20042.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,100467.7368421052632n/a
20042.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20042.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl182621547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20042.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl192622522.713.5$2,850403.95454545454544n/a
20032.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged172420575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20032.0L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged182520575.014.9$3,900444.35n/a
20032.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl192421547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a
20032.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.5L 4-cyl192521547.614.2$2,950423.1904761904762n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2003 → 200421 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 gal
2004 → 200522 → 23 mpg+1 mpg500 gal
2005 → 200623 → 22 mpg-1 mpg523 gal

What Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2009 Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT burns 523 to 605 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$1,568$1,816$248
$3.50/gal$1,830$2,118$289
$4.00/gal$2,091$2,421$330

EPA’s own estimate for the 2009 model year is $2,850 to $4,100 a year in fuel, or $7,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Small Station Wagons

Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 22 mpg the Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback SPT is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $339 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.