2026 Subaru Outback: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Subaru Outback gets 23 to 27 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) at 27 mpg.
How the Outback ranks in its class
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Outback ranks 27th (tied with 7 others) of 66 for combined mileage (27 mpg), 21st (tied with 5 others) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($2,300 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 35th of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (330 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 80 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Outback's best version, 13 other models get the same and 141 get less. The 2026 Outback's cheapest version costs $2,300 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 55 cost less, 5 the same and 165 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 27 to 35 of 66)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class | 2026 GLB250 4matic | 27 | $2,850 | 324 |
| 27 | 2026 MINI Countryman | 2026 Countryman S All4 | 27 | $2,850 | 324 |
| 27 | 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander | 2026 Outlander 4WD | 27 | $2,300 | 329 |
| 27 | 2026 Subaru OutbackThis car | 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 27 | $2,300 | 330 |
| 35 | 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 2026 Equinox AWD | 26 | $2,400 | 342 |
| 35 | 2026 Jeep Compass | 2026 Compass 4WD | 26 | $2,400 | 335 |
| 35 | 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 2026 CX-5 4WD | 26 | $2,400 | 339 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L), 4-cyl 2.5 L: 25 mpg city, 31 highway, 27 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Outback version is $2,300 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Encore costs $222 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Encore costs $1,110 less to fuel than the Outback (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 Buick Encore
- 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
The Outback against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Outback (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Outback | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Buick Encore | 2026 Encore GX AWD | 27 mpg | $2,300 | same figure | same | - |
| 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2026 Trailblazer AWD | 27 mpg | $2,300 | same figure | same | Compare |
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | 2026 Bronco Sport 4WD (3-cyl 1.5 L) | 27 mpg | $2,300 | same figure | same | Compare |
Every version of the 2026 Subaru Outback
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 25 | 31 | 27 | $2,300 | 330 | cheapest |
| 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.4 L) | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 | 369 | +$300 |
| 2026 Outback Wilderness AWD | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 | 385 | +$400 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Outback; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) puts out 330 grams per mile; across the 3 tested versions the figure runs from 330 to 385.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L): fuel economy score 5, greenhouse gas score 5.
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Outback gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 28 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 28 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 29 mpg | 2 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 29 mpg | 2 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 29 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 28 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 28 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 28 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 27 mpg | 3 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 28 to 27 mpg (down 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L), 4-cyl 2.5 L | 27 mpg | 28 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.4 L), 4-cyl 2.4 L | 24 mpg | 25 mpg | -1 mpg |
| 2026 Outback Wilderness AWD, 4-cyl 2.4 L | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | no change |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 SUBARU OUTBACK SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 SUBARU OUTBACK WILDERNESS SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 21 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: OUTBACK, OUTBACK WILDERNESS.
Owner complaints, 2026
45 complaints for the 2026 Subaru Outback are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 11 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 | |
| Structure | 5 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
1 of the 45 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 4 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: OUTBACK, OUTBACK WILDERNESS.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Subaru Outback (as OUTBACK, OUTBACK WILDERNESS). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Subaru Outback on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Includes agency records filed under: OUTBACK, OUTBACK WILDERNESS.
More Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Outback itself is at 27 mpg.
Other Subaru models of 2026
More Subaru models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Subaru Outback gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) with 27 mpg combined (25 city, 31 highway).
How much does a 2026 Subaru Outback cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Subaru Outback costs between $2,300 and $2,700 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Outback AWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) at $2,300; the dearest is the 2026 Outback Wilderness AWD at $2,700. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Subaru Outback rank among 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD models?
The 2026 Subaru Outback is 27th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander at 27 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox at 26 mpg.
Did the Outback change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 3. The best figure went from 28 to 27 mpg (down 1).
How did the 2026 Subaru Outback do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 SUBARU OUTBACK SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 SUBARU OUTBACK WILDERNESS SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Subaru Outback?
45 complaints for the 2026 Subaru Outback are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (11 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Subaru Outback have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Subaru Outback on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Subaru Outback: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Subaru Outback: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Subaru Outback: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Subaru Outback: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Subaru Outback: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.