2020 Subaru Forester MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2020 Subaru Forester is rated 29 mpg combined in the one gas version EPA tested.

EPA fuel economy

2020 Subaru Forester · 1 EPA-tested version

EPA rating

29MPG combined

26 city 33 highway

$2,150 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT

Best version saves $250 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs about $2,150 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2019.

One of the Forester years to avoid

The 2020 drew 409 owner complaints in its first three years, against 164 for a typical Forester year: 2.4 times as many.

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 2020 Forester's recalls and problems

Every 2020 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 · CVT EPA listing: Forester AWD	29 mpg	26 / 33	$2,150

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT	$2,069	$172	$10,345

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

2020: gas 29 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 2020 Forester compares

2020 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.

2020 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	41 mpg	30 mpg	$1,500
Toyota RAV4 Best: hybrid	40 mpg	30 mpg	$1,550
Honda CR-V Best: hybrid	38 mpg	30 mpg	$1,650
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Subaru Outback Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Subaru Forester This page Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Mazda CX-5 Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
GMC Terrain Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Kia Sportage Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Compass Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Cherokee Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500

2020 Forester recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 604 owner complaints for the 2020 Forester.

Owners most often describe a cracked windshield (302 complaints, 50%), then the check engine light (44). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2020 Forester recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2020 Subaru Forester need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2020 Subaru Forester version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2020 Forester's MPG compare with the 2019?

For 2020, the best gas version is rated 29 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 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.