2011 Subaru Forester MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2011 Subaru Forester is rated 21 to 23 mpg combined across 3 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2011 Subaru Forester · 3 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

23MPG combined

21 city 26 highway

$2,900 a year to fuel

2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic

Best version costs $2,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,900 to $3,900 a year. Compared with 2010, the best gas version is up 1 mpg.

Fewer complaints than a typical Forester year

The 2011 drew 19 owner complaints in its first three years, against 164 for a typical Forester year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

Years to avoid: 2019 and 2020; best years: 2016, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Forester year ranked The 2011 Forester's recalls and problems

Every 2011 Forester version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Forester AWD	23 mpg	21 / 26	$2,900
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 5-speed manual EPA listing: Forester AWD	23 mpg	21 / 27	$2,900
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Forester AWD · Premium fuel	21 mpg	19 / 23	$3,900

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas and $5.48 a gallon for premium gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · 5-speed manual	$2,915	$243	$14,576
2.5L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 4-speed automatic	$3,914	$326	$19,571

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Subaru Forester MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 29 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 29 since 2019. Hybrid: 35 mpg (2025 to 2026).

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2011: gas 23 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Subaru Forester best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	22	–
2011	23	–
2012	23	–
2013	23	–
2014	27	–
2015	27	–
2016	27	–
2017	28	–
2018	28	–
2019	29	–
2020	29	–
2021	29	–
2022	29	–
2023	29	–
2024	29	–
2025	29	35
2026	29	35

Every Forester year's ratings in one table

How the 2011 Forester compares

2011 compact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2011 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	32 mpg	25 mpg	$2,100
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
GMC Terrain Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,600
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Kia Sportage Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Jeep Compass Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,700
Toyota RAV4 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Honda CR-V Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Subaru Outback Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Subaru Forester This page Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$3,750

2011 Forester recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 147 owner complaints for the 2011 Forester.

Owners most often describe excessive oil consumption (27 complaints, 18%), then engine failure (14). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2011 Forester recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2011 Subaru Forester need premium gas?

Some versions do. EPA lists the 2.5L turbo 4-cyl on premium, the rest use regular.

How does the 2011 Forester's MPG compare with the 2010?

For 2011, the best gas version is rated 23 mpg, up 1 from 22.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.