Model Years

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

$2,250 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 $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs about $2,250 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2019.

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.

VersionCombinedCity / HwyFuel / year
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT
EPA listing: Forester AWD
29 mpg 26 / 33 $2,250

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

VersionPer yearPer month5 years
2.5L 4-cyl · AWD · CVT
$2,234$186$11,172

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: 27 to 29 mpg (every year from 2016 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 yearBest gas versionBest hybrid version
201627–
201728–
201828–
201929–
202029–
202129–
202229–
202329–
202429–
20252935
20262935

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 modelBest combinedBest gasFuel / year
Best: hybrid
41 mpg30 mpg$1,600
Best: hybrid
40 mpg30 mpg$1,600
Best: hybrid
38 mpg30 mpg$1,700
Best: gas
29 mpg29 mpg$2,250
Best: gas
29 mpg29 mpg$2,250
Subaru Forester This page
Best: gas
29 mpg29 mpg$2,250
Best: gas
28 mpg28 mpg$2,300
Best: gas
28 mpg28 mpg$2,300
Best: gas
26 mpg26 mpg$2,500
Best: gas
26 mpg26 mpg$2,500
Best: gas
26 mpg26 mpg$2,500
Best: gas
25 mpg25 mpg$2,600
Best: gas
25 mpg25 mpg$2,600

2020 Forester recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 601 owner complaints for the 2020 Forester.What they cover, and crash test ratings

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 Sep 18, 2026.
  • EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
  • Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 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.