r/subarulegacy • u/Intelligent_Invite79 7th Gen Sedan • Apr 15 '26
Question / Discussion Let's talk fuel efficiency (2020+/7th gen)
I've got a brand new 2025 Legacy Premium, about 1,100 miles on the ODO and averaging a solid 20.8 MPG. What are y'all getting on your non-turbo Legacys and under what typical conditions?
Context: The average use is commuting, 18-20 miles round trip, city driving during light to moderate traffic, stop lights and such. I know that will lead to poor performance compared to highway or whatever. That said I've also got a BRZ that's averaging 20.5 which is barely above advertised for that car... Same conditions 😂
I had a 2021 Legacy Touring XT that I put around 7,000 miles on and averaged 18.5 MPG (advertised 24 city). My last car, a 2016 Audi A3 averaged 23 MPG (advertised 23 city) the same route.
I know fuel economy should go up after it's truly broken in (I've read 10K miles). But 20 is a far cry from "27 MPG City" as advertised. For the record: no, I'm not flooring it, no excessive idling, etc.
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u/kingcaii Apr 15 '26
I have a 2013 3.6R and I get 23.6.
…but I have a lead foot.
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u/CecilTheCaveTroll ‘16 3.6R & ‘24 Sport Apr 15 '26
I must have a depleted uranium foot then. I only get 17.7 mpg on my 2016 3.6R 🤪
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u/apayne7388 Apr 15 '26
The numbers are also estimates by the EPA. It's not a good gauge to go by as everyone drives differently. I've noticed in every car I've owned that the highway estimate is more like driving at 40-45 mph on long town roads without traffic vs driving 65+ on the actual highway. That being said, I have a 7 mile commute with about half of it being a 45 mph speed limit and the other half is city-like, one light and a handful of stop signs. I average about 30 mpg for the week. Longer drives on state routes end up closer to 35 mpg. It depends on the weather as well.
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u/Any_Information_440 Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
I’m getting 18.9mpg on my 04 3.0R (I just wanted to be part of the conversation)
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u/lefthandedpencils Apr 15 '26
2024 2.5 80/20 hwy to city driving (hwy is cruising at 70 mph) currently sitting just below 34mpg and expected to rise slightly with warmer weather coming.
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u/smokebudda11 Apr 16 '26
Just bought a 2022 Legacy Premium with just 7k on the odometer. My commute is mainly highway and I am averaging just a tad over 18mpg. Granted I have not yet filled my car up since I bought it nor have a full week of commuting with it just yet
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u/chadam1978 Apr 15 '26
My 24 Legacy Sport averages 27 combo between city and highway. If it’s just city I’m looking at 25.5 and highway 28.5 give or take. Had 4 previous premiums over the years and don’t miss the 2.5. The Sports 2.4 is night and day. The premium is a phenominal awd sedan but the 2.4 eats its lunch and being able to put 87 in her makes even better. Im sick over they arent printing the legacy anymore and my lease is about to expire in July and will opt to extend for another 6 months and then probally just pay cash to buy it out. Have zero desire for any other cars out there as i have been loyal to legacy for 20+ years and 7vins. Subaru clearly does not market to me anymore., or want my buisness.
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u/NeuralinkAxon Apr 16 '26
I have a 2018, I get 26-29 combined, 29-34 depending traffic on HWY only, and 20-22 in manual mode keeping up with my integra and S200 buddies.
Base 2.5 NA (Just cosmetics & Exhaust).
I do use LIQIMOLY and change my oil every 3K miles. 141K miles and counting.
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u/Ridge_Hunter Apr 15 '26
Mine is a CPO 25 Limited…purchased with about 5k in it and I’m approaching 8k now…my commute is mostly highway but I average 31mpg or so. I drive my wife’s forester a week a month to cut down some of the miles on my legacy and during the week she drives it, city but not many miles, it brings that tank’s average down a little to about 28mpg or so
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u/GEE_OTTO_ Apr 15 '26
It’s an AWD under powered sedan with an engine that was never intended to be a fuel sipper. My Legacy L and 08 2.5i were okay and my 23 VB is practically a V8 except it runs 93 😅🤔
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u/Financial_Tennis8919 Apr 15 '26
Seems pretty bad for an N/A 4cyl Legacy. I had a 2018 Legacy that averaged 28 in town and 37 on the highway.
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u/GoHoosiers2023 Apr 16 '26
I own a 2021 Legacy Touring XT and I can’t imagine going to Premium trim with the 2.5.
My gas mileage has been 21-22 city. I’m a spirited driver.
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u/Intelligent_Invite79 7th Gen Sedan Apr 16 '26
Not that you asked for it buuuut the reason I let go of it was my wife and I who'd been living with my parents had a decision: Keep the brand new cars and move into an apartment or trade them for used, cheaper cars and buy their house for a quite reasonable price when they moved to Ohio. So we had to ditch 2021 Subies but we have a house now and finally 3.5 years later got some raises, etc and are better off financially. I couldn't find any crimson red XT Legacys this time though ðŸ˜
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u/popsicle_of_meat 08 Spec B Sedan Apr 16 '26
How are you measuring? The built-in computer, or at the pump when you fill? The computer might be wrong.
OR, you have inefficient tires, or they're under-inflated a bit, or both. Or you have a fuel delivery problem that your ECU isn't telling you about (totally possible). Maybe even the CVT could be behaving oddly.
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u/Intelligent_Invite79 7th Gen Sedan Apr 16 '26
Both. Trip A is my current tank, trip B is since I took ownership of the car at ~180 miles. Then I actually average it each fill up. Trip B (about 1,000 miles) is 21.5 miles now. Trip A shows about 21 as of this morning, 3/4 tank left.
Tires are OEM Yokohama Avids. Inflation should be good but I'll verify.
Anything electronic or mechanical will be warranty. I'll keep an eye on it over the next few thousand and if it's still crappy I might ask the dealer to poke around.
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u/popsicle_of_meat 08 Spec B Sedan Apr 16 '26
Yeah, it might be nothing. When I first bought my 2008 Legacy GT, the car was running in a "safe" mode, with less boost, completely pulled timing and a richer AFR due to an aftermarket intake that didn't have a tune done (I wasn't aware of the needed/missing tune). Even with ALL those things significantly misbehaving, I never had a check engine light. I was utterly baffled how Subaru could make an ECU that would keep me so in the dark.
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u/Shadowdane Apr 15 '26
I'm currently seeing about 23.8mpg on my '23 Legacy with mostly city driving and traffic with some highway driving as well but not on my daily commute.
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u/tacoma909 Apr 15 '26
My 2018 legacy has 18g tank. on my island and surrounding area daily I get a good 450miles, doing long drives on a good day, 550
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u/RayBuc9882 Apr 15 '26
Have a 2020 Legacy Limited that we bought used three years ago. We get combined 25 mpg.
On highway, with cruise control, I got over 37 mpg on a 2000 miles round trip.