What is the best Subaru Legacy Wagon for fuel economy?

The strongest year was 1995 at 24 mpg combined, against 19 mpg in 2005. That is a 5 mpg spread across the nameplate's history.

How much does a Subaru Legacy Wagon cost to fuel each year?

At 11,500 miles a year the 2007 model uses between 500 and 575 gallons, or $1,750 to $2,013 at $3.50 a gallon.

What does the Subaru Legacy Wagon emit?

EPA reports 386.39130434782606 to 444.35 grams of tailpipe CO2 per mile for the 2007 model year, or about 4.4 to 5.1 tons over a year of driving.

Subaru Legacy Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Subaru Legacy Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 15 model years, from 1990 to 2007. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (1995) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (2005). The EPA record holds 59 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Station Wagons.

24best combined mpg (1995)

19worst combined mpg (2005)

23latest year best (2007)

59configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model year	Configurations	Best combined	Worst combined	Class rank that year	Drivetrains	Fuel	EPA class
1990	4	22 mpg	20 mpg	#15 of 16 (7th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Station Wagons
1991	4	22 mpg	20 mpg	#12 of 13 (8th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Station Wagons
1992	4	23 mpg	20 mpg	#6 of 12 (55th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Station Wagons
1993	4	23 mpg	21 mpg	#8 of 13 (42th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Station Wagons
1994	4	23 mpg	21 mpg	#8 of 13 (42th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Small Station Wagons
1995	4	24 mpg	21 mpg	#1 of 16 (100th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize-Large Station Wagons
1996	4	24 mpg	20 mpg	#2 of 14 (92th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize-Large Station Wagons
1997	5	24 mpg	21 mpg	#2 of 7 (83th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize-Large Station Wagons
1998	5	24 mpg	20 mpg	#2 of 9 (88th pct)	Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Station Wagons
1999	4	22 mpg	21 mpg	#3 of 12 (82th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Station Wagons
2000	2	21 mpg	21 mpg	#7 of 14 (54th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Station Wagons
2001	3	21 mpg	20 mpg	#5 of 15 (71th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular, Premium	Midsize Station Wagons
2005	4	23 mpg	19 mpg	#3 of 15 (86th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Midsize Station Wagons
2006	4	23 mpg	19 mpg	#2 of 13 (92th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Premium, Regular	Midsize Station Wagons
2007	4	23 mpg	20 mpg	#3 of 14 (85th pct)	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular, Premium	Midsize 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 Legacy Wagon placed highest in 1995 at #1 of 16, and lowest in 1990 at #15 of 16. It spent 11 of its 15 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 59 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
2007	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	17	23	20	575.0	14.9	$3,900	444.35	n/a
2007	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	18	25	21	547.6	14.2	$3,700	423.1904761904762	n/a
2007	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
2007	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	20	28	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
2006	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	17	23	19	605.3	15.7	$4,100	467.7368421052632	n/a
2006	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	17	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,900	444.35	n/a
2006	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	20	27	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
2006	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
2005	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	17	23	19	605.3	15.7	$4,100	467.7368421052632	n/a
2005	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium	2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged	17	23	19	605.3	15.7	$4,100	467.7368421052632	n/a
2005	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
2005	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S4) Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
2001	3.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium	3.0L 6-cyl	18	25	20	575.0	14.9	$3,900	444.35	n/a
2001	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
2001	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
2000	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
2000	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1999	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	DOHC	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1999	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	DOHC	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1999	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.2L 4-cyl	20	27	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1999	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.2L 4-cyl	20	27	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1998	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1998	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1998	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.2L 4-cyl	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1998	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	2.2L 4-cyl	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1998	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	2.2L 4-cyl	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$2,600	370.2916666666667	n/a
1997	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1997	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1997	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1997	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1997	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$2,600	370.2916666666667	n/a
1996	2.5L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1996	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1996	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1996	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$2,600	370.2916666666667	n/a
1995	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1995	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1995	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	28	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1995	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$2,600	370.2916666666667	n/a
1994	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1994	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1994	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1994	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	28	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1993	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1993	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1993	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1993	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	28	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1992	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1992	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1992	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1992	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	20	27	23	500.0	12.9	$2,700	386.39130434782606	n/a
1991	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1991	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1991	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	25	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1991	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	27	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a
1990	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	23	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1990	2.2L 4-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	24	20	575.0	14.9	$3,100	444.35	n/a
1990	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular	(FFS)	18	26	21	547.6	14.2	$2,950	423.1904761904762	n/a
1990	2.2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular	(FFS)	19	26	22	522.7	13.5	$2,850	403.95454545454544	n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 3 of 5 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

Change	Best combined	Delta	Gallons a year at the newer rating
1991 → 1992	22 → 23 mpg	+1 mpg	500 gal
1994 → 1995	23 → 24 mpg	+1 mpg	479 gal
1998 → 1999	24 → 22 mpg	-2 mpg	523 gal
1999 → 2000	22 → 21 mpg	-1 mpg	548 gal
2001 → 2005	21 → 23 mpg	+2 mpg	500 gal

What Legacy Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2007 Subaru Legacy Wagon burns 500 to 575 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	$1,500	$1,725	$225
$3.50/gal	$1,750	$2,013	$263
$4.00/gal	$2,000	$2,300	$300

EPA’s own estimate for the 2007 model year is $2,700 to $3,900 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Midsize Station Wagons

Across the 65 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 23 mpg the Subaru Legacy Wagon is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $80 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

All Midsize Station Wagons 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.