Tank Ledger

Subaru WRX MPG by year — every rating on record

The Subaru WRX has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 12 model years, from 2015 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (2015) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (2021). The EPA record holds 31 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

24best combined mpg (2015)
18worst combined mpg (2021)
22latest year best (2026)
31configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2015324 mpg19 mpg#74 of 102 (28th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2016323 mpg19 mpg#82 of 108 (24th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2017323 mpg19 mpg#75 of 100 (25th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2018323 mpg19 mpg#74 of 95 (22th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2019323 mpg19 mpg#64 of 86 (26th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2020323 mpg19 mpg#65 of 79 (18th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2021323 mpg18 mpg#64 of 79 (19th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars
2022222 mpg21 mpg#103 of 121 (15th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2023222 mpg21 mpg#98 of 117 (16th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2024222 mpg21 mpg#90 of 101 (11th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2025222 mpg21 mpg#76 of 86 (12th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2026222 mpg21 mpg#60 of 66 (9th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Subaru WRX placed highest in 2026 at #60 of 66, and lowest in 2022 at #103 of 121. It spent 0 of its 12 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 31 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20262.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20262.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,5004124/10
20252.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20252.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,5004135/10
20242.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182521547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20242.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,5004085/10
20232.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,7004194/10
20232.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20222.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,7004194/10
20222.4L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20212.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged162218638.916.5$4,3004833/10
20212.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004324/10
20212.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged202723500.012.9$3,3503905/10
20202.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged162219605.315.7$4,1004853/10
20202.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20202.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged212723500.012.9$3,3503825/10
20192.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172219605.315.7$4,1004763/10
20192.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004204/10
20192.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged212723500.012.9$3,3503835/10
20182.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172219605.315.7$4,1004713/10
20182.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004204/10
20182.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged212723500.012.9$3,3503835/10
20172.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,1004584/10
20172.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004204/10
20172.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged202723500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20162.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,1004594/10
20162.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged182421547.614.2$3,7004205/10
20162.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged202723500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20152.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium2.5L 4-cyl, turbocharged172319605.315.7$4,1004594/10
20152.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged192521547.614.2$3,7004075/10
20152.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd PremiumSIDI, turbocharged212824479.212.4$3,2503746/10

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2015 → 201624 → 23 mpg-1 mpg500 gal
2021 → 202223 → 22 mpg-1 mpg523 gal

What WRX fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Subaru WRX burns 523 to 548 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$1,643$75
$3.50/gal$1,830$1,917$87
$4.00/gal$2,091$2,190$100

EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $3,500 to $3,700 a year in fuel, or $6,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Compact Cars

Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 22 mpg the Subaru WRX is 4 mpg below the median, which is worth about $281 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.