FuelFacts

2008 Subaru Forester AWD MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

It depends on the trim. Some versions take premium and some take regular — check your exact engine/transmission below.

20–22
MPG combined (18–20 city / 23–27 hwy)
$2,591–$3,510
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Varies by trim
gas type

Is the 2008 Subaru Forester AWD good on gas?

At up to 22 MPG combined, the 2008 Subaru Forester AWD is better than average for a Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD — that class averages about 17.3 MPG across 2,078 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,591/year (roughly $216/month, about $17.27 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 682 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2008 Subaru Forester AWD trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, AWDREGULAR22$2,591
2.5L 4-cyl, 5-spd manual, AWDREGULAR22$2,591
2.5L 4-cyl, 5-spd manual, AWDPREMIUM21$3,343
2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, AWDPREMIUM20$3,510
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2008 Subaru Forester AWD specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options2.5L 4-cyl · 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd · 5-spd manual
Drive typeAWD
EPA body classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
FuelVaries by trim

Other years of the Subaru Forester AWD

2012 Subaru Forester AWD2011 Subaru Forester AWD2010 Subaru Forester AWD2009 Subaru Forester AWD2007 Subaru Forester AWD2006 Subaru Forester AWD2005 Subaru Forester AWD2004 Subaru Forester AWD

Similar cars (Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD)

2008 Lexus RX 400h 4WD2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI 4matic2008 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI 4matic2008 BMW X3 3.0si2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI 4matic2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara AWD

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

4 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.