Subaru Wagon MPG by year — every rating on record

The Subaru Wagon has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1984 to 1989. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (1985) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1987). The EPA record holds 53 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons / Special Purpose Vehicles.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Subaru Wagon placed highest in 1985 at #5 of 25, and lowest in 1988 at #16 of 25. It spent 1 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 53 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Wagon fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1989 Subaru Wagon burns 479 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 1989 model year is $2,600 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $4,250 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 24 mpg the Subaru Wagon is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $186 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Small 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.