Subaru Forester SUV (2013-2019) - MPG, running costs & CO2
The petrol Subaru Forester is rather thirsty, but the diesel has been discontinued
While most SUVs save fuel by switching to front-wheel drive in normal driving conditions, the Subaru Forester is constantly sending its power to all four wheels. This makes it great off-road, but also quite partial to fuel the rest of the time. The optional Lineartronic CVT automatic gearbox doesn’t help in this regard, either.
Subaru Forester MPG & CO2
The 2.0-litre petrol is pricey to run, with fuel consumption between 40.9 and 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 150-160g/km, putting it in the 31-33% BiK bands. Choosing that automatic gearbox results in the lower figures, because it has been designed for efficiency. Petrol rivals like the Volkswagen Tiguan are more economical, with the 1.4-litre TSI returning just under 50mpg.
While it's by far the quickest Forester, the turbocharged 2.0-litre XT petrol model is likely to be a niche choice, because its 33.2mpg economy and 197g/km of CO2 emissions make it as expensive to run as some sports cars and put it in the top 37% BiK band for company-car drivers.
Insurance group
The Subaru Forester starts in insurance group 16, but the powerful range-topping XT version will cost more to cover. This is rated in group 34 due to its high performance and higher list price.
Warranty
Like all Subarus, the Forester comes with a very solid five-year/100,00-mile warranty – equal to Toyota and almost as good as Hyundai and Kia’s cover.
Servicing
Unlike many manufacturers these days, Subaru doesn’t offer fixed-price servicing arrangements, so the cost of maintaining your Forester is up to your local dealer. They may not be that local, though, as Subaru has a fairly limited network compared to some bigger manufacturers.
