2023 Subaru Forester MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2023 Subaru Forester is rated 26 to 29 mpg combined across 2 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT.

EPA fuel economy

2023 Subaru Forester · 2 EPA-tested versions

Best 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 $2,150 to $2,400 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2022.

One of the best Forester years by owner complaints

The 2023 drew 61 owner complaints in its first three years, against 164 for a typical Forester year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.

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 2023 Forester's recalls and problems

Every 2023 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 Best EPA listing: Forester AWD	29 mpg	26 / 33	$2,150
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT · Wilderness EPA listing: Forester Wilderness AWD	26 mpg	25 / 28	$2,400

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
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT · Wilderness	$2,308	$192	$11,538

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

2023: 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 2023 Forester compares

2023 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.

2023 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sportage Best: hybrid	43 mpg	28 mpg	$1,450
Toyota RAV4 Best: hybrid	40 mpg	30 mpg	$1,550
Honda CR-V Best: hybrid	40 mpg	30 mpg	$1,550
Ford Escape Best: hybrid	39 mpg	30 mpg	$1,600
Hyundai Tucson Best: hybrid	38 mpg	28 mpg	$1,650
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Subaru Forester This page Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Subaru Outback Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,200
Jeep Compass Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Volkswagen Tiguan Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Mazda CX-50 Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300
Mazda CX-5 Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Ford Bronco Sport Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
GMC Terrain Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400
Jeep Cherokee Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600

2023 Forester recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 76 owner complaints for the 2023 Forester.

Owners most often describe a cracked windshield (13 complaints, 17%), then driver-assist errors (5). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars for the version it has rated.

See the 2023 Forester recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2023 Subaru Forester need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2023 Subaru Forester version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2023 Forester's MPG compare with the 2022?

For 2023, 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.