Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

2014 Forester vs. Outback Gas Mileage


Recommended Posts

OK, taking a purely logic (i.e. engineering) stab at this:

Why does the 2014 Forester rate +2 mpg with basically the same setup:  2.5L Boxer, CVT, AWD???

Logic would say the Forester would get worse, since it's more aerodynamic inefficient (taller, less sleek).

The Imprezza/Crosstrek do better due to smaller engine (2.0L Boxer) so that I can understand (as well as being smaller vehicles).

But I don't get why the Forester/Outback are so different in Highway MPG here. 

Anybody know the answer to this?

TIA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Firstly, While they both have 2.5L boxer engines, they are actually different in certain ways. The forester engine outputs 170hp while the outback is rated at 173. I'm not sure exactly what causes this difference, but while this may seem minor, I'm sure that there is a well planned out reason, and that it does affect "things".

 

Realistically fuel economy always comes down to how hard the vehicle has to work to get moving, and then keep itself moving. The 2014 forester has a different (while very similar) Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission, so my best guess at this would simply be that the system in the 2014 forester is just more efficient in that regard. Being that the CVT in the Outback was last updated (as far as I know) in 2012 (at least for Canadian vehicles) where-as the forester's current CVT is New for 2014, I would say that this stands to reason. Or at least I would hope that Subaru is always trying to improve it's overall efficiency.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...