The 2024 Subaru Forester gets 26 to 29 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2024 Forester AWD at 29 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2024, the Forester ranks 15th (tied with 5 others) of 75 for combined mileage (29 mpg), 13th (tied with 4 others) of 73 for yearly fuel cost ($2,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 22nd of 75 for tailpipe CO2 (310 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 26 mpg, costs $2,600 a year and puts out 339 grams per mile.
Across all 262 2024 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 261 other models, 63 get more miles per gallon than the 2024 Forester's best version, 10 other models get the same and 188 get less. The 2024 Forester's cheapest version costs $2,150 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 255 other models with a cost figure, 50 cost less, 3 the same and 202 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2024. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2024 Kia Seltos | 2024 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 | $2,150 | 309 |
| 15 | 2024 Mazda CX-30 | 2024 CX-30 4WD #1 | 29 | $2,150 | 309 |
| 15 | 2024 Subaru Crosstrek | 2024 Crosstrek AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 | $2,150 | 300 |
| 15 | 2024 Subaru ForesterThis car | 2024 Forester AWD | 29 | $2,150 | 310 |
| 21 | 2024 BMW X1 | 2024 X1 xDrive28i | 28 | $2,750 | 314 |
| 21 | 2024 BMW X2 | 2024 X2 xDrive28i | 28 | $2,750 | 318 |
| 21 | 2024 Hyundai Kona | 2024 Kona AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L, Automatic (AV-S1)) #3 | 28 | $2,200 | 319 |
Pick a 2024 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.
2024 Forester AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 26 mpg city, 33 highway, 29 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2024 Forester version is $2,150 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2024, 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 Forester costs $431 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Forester costs $2,155 less to fuel than the Hornet (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2024 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Forester (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Forester | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale eAWD | 2024 Tonale eAWD | 29 mpg | - | same figure | - | - |
| 2024 Dodge Hornet | 2024 Hornet PHEV AWD | 29 mpg | - | same figure | - | - |
| 2024 Kia Seltos | 2024 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 mpg | $2,150 | same figure | same | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2024; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forester AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,150 | 310 | cheapest |
| 2024 Forester Wilderness AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 25 | 28 | 26 | $2,400 | 338 | +$250 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2024 Forester; 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.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2024 Forester AWD puts out 310 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 310 to 338.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2024 Forester AWD: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Forester gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2024 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 27 mpg | none | 3 | 2 mpg lower than 2024 | |
| 2017 | 28 mpg | none | 3 | 1 mpg lower than 2024 | |
| 2018 | 28 mpg | none | 3 | 1 mpg lower than 2024 | |
| 2019 | 29 mpg | none | 1 | same as 2024 | |
| 2020 | 29 mpg | none | 1 | same as 2024 | |
| 2021 | 29 mpg | none | 1 | same as 2024 | |
| 2022 | 29 mpg | none | 2 | same as 2024 | |
| 2023 | 29 mpg | none | 2 | same as 2024 | |
| 2024This page | 29 mpg | none | 2 | this page | |
| 2025 | 29 mpg | 35 mpg | 4 | 6 mpg higher than 2024 | |
| 2026 | 29 mpg | 35 mpg | 4 | 6 mpg higher than 2024 |
Compared with the 2023 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 29 to 29 mpg (no change).
The 2025 model has 4 tested versions.
| Version in 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Forester AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | no change |
| 2024 Forester Wilderness AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | no change |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD | not rated | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | not rated |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 31 complaints, 2 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: FORESTER, FORESTER WILDERNESS.
31 complaints for the 2024 Subaru Forester 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | |
| Air Bags | 7 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
5 of the 31 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: FORESTER, FORESTER WILDERNESS.
2 recalls are on file for the 2024 Subaru Forester at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: FORESTER, FORESTER WILDERNESS.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
Fix: Subaru’s independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts.
Other 2024 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Forester itself is at 29 mpg.
More Subaru models that have a 2024 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2024 Forester AWD with 29 mpg combined (26 city, 33 highway).
The 2024 Subaru Forester costs between $2,150 and $2,400 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2024 Forester AWD at $2,150; the dearest is the 2024 Forester Wilderness AWD at $2,400. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
The 2024 Subaru Forester is 15th of 75 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2024 Kia Sportage at 43 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 26 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek at 29 mpg and the next one behind is the 2024 BMW X1 at 28 mpg.
The 2023 model had 2 tested versions and the 2024 model has 2. The best figure went from 29 to 29 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2024 Subaru Forester SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2024 Subaru Forester Wilderness SUV AWD: front 5, side 5. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
31 complaints for the 2024 Subaru Forester are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Unknown Or Other (9 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 2 recalls for the 2024 Subaru Forester (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2024 Subaru Forester: 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 2024 Subaru Forester: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2024 Subaru Forester: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2024 Subaru Forester: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2024 Subaru Forester: 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.