What speed got you 31? No way in heck were you 65+.
Outback fuel mileage regression for 2013
I was a buyer that waited until the 2013's were available because of the new engine and CVT, and the promised increased fuel mileage of the new 2.5.
I've been disappointed, to say the least, with mileage in the 24's for a mix of about 75% highway driving. We took one 1200 mile trip of all highway mileage, and it delivered just over 27 mpg cruising at 70 on flat roads.
Prior to buying, my principle experience had been driving 2011 and 2012 Outbacks which were loaner cars at my local Porsche dealer. And, in exactly the same conditions, their computers showed 27-28 mpg where mine shows 24 now.
So, my assertion is that the changes Subaru made to the 2013s actually reduced fuel economy rather than improved it. Looking at fuelly.com data seems to support that.
Two reactions to likely arguments.
1. The mileage of 2013s is all low mileage vehicles, and mileage will improve after break-in. I'd love to see any study that shows that mileage improves after break-in in more than a negligible way. I've tracked mileage in every car I've owned, and have only noticed an extremely small, if any, improvement. And my Outback has shown absolutely zero improvement after 3500 miles.
2. The EPA rates the 2013s higher, and their testing must have better results than prior years. Although the EPA actually tests very few cars, and generally takes and reports data from the manufacturer. And given scant resources at the EPA, they generally only test major model changes, so it is unlikely that the 2013 Outback would have been tested.
My mileage is not terrible, but is disappointing. It's not a deal breaker for me, but I do think it important that potential buyers know that the 2013s don't deliver better fuel mileage.
I've been disappointed, to say the least, with mileage in the 24's for a mix of about 75% highway driving. We took one 1200 mile trip of all highway mileage, and it delivered just over 27 mpg cruising at 70 on flat roads.
Prior to buying, my principle experience had been driving 2011 and 2012 Outbacks which were loaner cars at my local Porsche dealer. And, in exactly the same conditions, their computers showed 27-28 mpg where mine shows 24 now.
So, my assertion is that the changes Subaru made to the 2013s actually reduced fuel economy rather than improved it. Looking at fuelly.com data seems to support that.
Two reactions to likely arguments.
1. The mileage of 2013s is all low mileage vehicles, and mileage will improve after break-in. I'd love to see any study that shows that mileage improves after break-in in more than a negligible way. I've tracked mileage in every car I've owned, and have only noticed an extremely small, if any, improvement. And my Outback has shown absolutely zero improvement after 3500 miles.
2. The EPA rates the 2013s higher, and their testing must have better results than prior years. Although the EPA actually tests very few cars, and generally takes and reports data from the manufacturer. And given scant resources at the EPA, they generally only test major model changes, so it is unlikely that the 2013 Outback would have been tested.
My mileage is not terrible, but is disappointing. It's not a deal breaker for me, but I do think it important that potential buyers know that the 2013s don't deliver better fuel mileage.
21 - 40 of 119 Posts
Why not 31+. On my 2010 OB Limited, we got 36+ MPG on a trip from Omaha NE to Denver, the Mountains close by and return back to Omaha. This was with 4 people in the car and a bunch of luggage and other stuff. Average speed on the Interstate was 70+ MPH - just didn't floor it unless it was absolutely necessary.
The 2013 OB, that was recently purchased appears to be getting about 1 MPG less than the 2010 that we traded in (urban driving). Don't know if this is because of the "Winter Blend" gas or not - time will tell.
The 2013 OB, that was recently purchased appears to be getting about 1 MPG less than the 2010 that we traded in (urban driving). Don't know if this is because of the "Winter Blend" gas or not - time will tell.
How are all of you hippies getting 27 city? I'm lucky if I can pull off 23 combined. On another note since the pre 2013s have a timing belt, it makes the car lighter and more fuel efficent than the heavier chained 2013. Boom!! Stew on that for a while.
I've got a 2013 with the CVT. 60 mile round trip commute daily, about 75% hwy. I've only got 2 grand on the odometer, and I calculate each tank. I've been between 27-30 mpg on each tank thus far. Manual calculation seems to come out a little lower than the trip calculation every time.
I too have noticed very disappointing results on my 2013 limited 2.5. My best ever milage was the first 2 tanks right after delivery, 27/28 mpg and the mpg had been downhill since. I now average 24 mpg on mixed highway suburb driving at 4000 miles. This appears to be in line with most of the 2013's reported on fulley. I have never seen the 30 mpg that Subaru claimed for the 2013 over the 2012/2011. also interesting on fulley the mpg average is indeed better on the older cars and crappy on the 2013 models. Just check it out!
I cannot speak to the mileage that '13s are getting directly, but I can say that my '12 got 27 on its first full tank. By 10k miles, it had averaged 30.3 for the entire cumulative period from new. From 10k to 20k, I got 31.5 cumulative. Since winter gas has been put in, it has dropped to about 30.
This includes one tank of really questionable gas in Texas that netted 24 when I have been getting 34 for the rest of the 4k trip. California gas dropped my average about 2 mpg while I was using it.
I believe the OP will get a nice suprise next spring, between the car being run in, and non-winter gas going in the tank. YMMV.
This includes one tank of really questionable gas in Texas that netted 24 when I have been getting 34 for the rest of the 4k trip. California gas dropped my average about 2 mpg while I was using it.
I believe the OP will get a nice suprise next spring, between the car being run in, and non-winter gas going in the tank. YMMV.
We are into the winter gas season FWIW...
I was averaging 28-29 every week in the summer and early fall, now my last tank only got a little better than 26 mpg. Same kind of driving. I wouldn't think winter gas would make that big of a difference, but I think it does.
It does and the guy above who claims 36mpg both ways had some serious tail wind both directions if he was doing 70mph and saw an actual calculated 36mpg at fill up. Extreme rare examples of this sort never helps people who simply want to sort out the average use mileage they should be seeing. Which case with the OB regardless of the engine 30mpg is going to be a rare case and anything between 21mpg and 29mpg is going to be common place pending conditions - speeds etc.
Mine gets 16mpg at 70mph towing the boat with a head wind.
Mine gets 16mpg at 70mph towing the boat with a head wind.
Head south for the winter...
For folks who have mileage decreases lately, check your tire pressure. Cold temps reduce the psi in your tires and mileage will decrease significantly. Add a couple of pounds of air if you haven't since first freeze in your area. Also folks who leave cars outside will have lower mileage as the CVT seems to like to "warm up". I'm sure folks will argue to infinity otherwise, but it's really a trait of this car based on my father in law's 2010 experiences. OB's are like a faithful dog... they'd rather sleep in the house with you.
In Hotlanta, the summer fruit punch we get for gas gets a special "anti-ozone" blend that actually reduces MPG by 2+ or so. So our winter blend actually gets much better mileage. That accounted for part of my recent jump as it was instant first fill up after the change-over... I had a tank of 31+ MPG going until a road trip with heavy load and air conditioning going...I was averaging 28-29 every week in the summer and early fall, now my last tank only got a little better than 26 mpg. Same kind of driving. I wouldn't think winter gas would make that big of a difference, but I think it does.
For folks who have mileage decreases lately, check your tire pressure. Cold temps reduce the psi in your tires and mileage will decrease significantly. Add a couple of pounds of air if you haven't since first freeze in your area. Also folks who leave cars outside will have lower mileage as the CVT seems to like to "warm up". I'm sure folks will argue to infinity otherwise, but it's really a trait of this car based on my father in law's 2010 experiences. OB's are like a faithful dog... they'd rather sleep in the house with you.
Was your first 2 tank summer blend gas and now you're on winter blend? That would explain the mpg drop....I too have noticed very disappointing results on my 2013 limited 2.5. My best ever milage was the first 2 tanks right after delivery, 27/28 mpg and the mpg had been downhill since. I now average 24 mpg on mixed highway suburb driving at 4000 miles.
Also, Some of you here maybe using ethanol gas whereas some here are using Non ethanol gas...
I am getting 24.7 mix hwy/city driving over 47K Miles on Ethanol gas. and it is a 3.6R. so, getting 30+ mpg on 2.5 with non ethanol and summer blend gas is a piece of cake....
by the way, I tried 1 tank (maybe 3.4 tankful) of non ethanol gas, and I see my mileage improve abt 2 mpg.
My 2004 Toyota Sienna gets 30 MPG HWY. I use Nitrogen in the tires, and Mobil One in the engine since new. When my new OB arrives, it will have BOTH before I leave the Dealership. Antbody here doing the same? Whats YOUR MPG ???
Hey Dave look up the % of nitrogen found in the air you breath. Save your self a few bucks and stay off the fleecing the customer list.My 2004 Toyota Sienna gets 30 MPG HWY. I use Nitrogen in the tires, and Mobil One in the engine since new. When my new OB arrives, it will have BOTH before I leave the Dealership. Antbody here doing the same? Whats YOUR MPG ???
Most paces by me do the nitrogen for free so I've never really cared.Hey Dave look up the % of nitrogen found in the air you breath. Save your self a few bucks and stay off the fleecing the customer list.
I have 12k on a 2012 and my mileage has been perfectly flat from day one.I wasn't trying to discuss whether mileage improves post break-in. That discussion seems to have been beaten to death here, and it's all anecdotal.
I was hoping to discuss whether the drivetrain changes in 13 actually reduced efficiency rather than improved it. Seems like a likely premise. Subaru claims an increase of about 5%, real world data on fuelly show a decrease of about 5%.
I don't think the epa tests at 70mph +. I think they test at 60. That will greatly influence the numbers.
Most people that post on here with this problem discover they are not driving the cvt "properly." It sounds stupid but it's true. You haves to drive the car a little different before you see mileage like you should. The key is rpm. When you are cruising rpms should be under 2k and closer to 1800. The best way to achieve that is to coast for a second when at cruising speed and then gradually increase peddle pressure.
I learned this through trail and error.
One more think to keep in mind is that everyone is likely on winter blend gas. That alone will cost you 1-2 mpg.
Restlessk, if you can be patient for a few months, you should see not only an improvement as your car get's broken in, but also when they go back to summer blend gas.
Restlessk, if you can be patient for a few months, you should see not only an improvement as your car get's broken in, but also when they go back to summer blend gas.
Ha! My 2004 Sienna got 13.2 mpg on our Thanksgiving trip to FL. Of course we were towing our heavy and very squre pop-up camper and had four bikes on the roof, so that's to be expected. However, I call BS on 30 mpg. Best we've ever gotten was ~25.5 mpg IRRC and we average about 18-19 around town. Still not bad for a 7 passenger vehicle that will haul the mail when you put your foot down.My 2004 Toyota Sienna gets 30 MPG HWY. I use Nitrogen in the tires, and Mobil One in the engine since new. When my new OB arrives, it will have BOTH before I leave the Dealership. Antbody here doing the same? Whats YOUR MPG ???
My 13 OB with 4000 miles is a bit of a disappointment on the mileage front, averaging about 24 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. I've got a long highway trip of about 300 miles on Monday, I'll be interested to see what it will do. I did the same trip with only a few hundred on the ODO a couple of months ago and got about 28 mpg, running with cruise control at about 74 most of the way.
Im just starting to see more consistency on MPG for our 2013 at 5,000 miles. Before 3000 miles it would get 30 MPG on one trip and then the same trip the next week get 25 MPG. Now that we have some miles on it the CVT seems to be more even-keeled and less noisy (i.e. the train whistle sound) and the engine seems to purr a little more. Some have linked the break in to getting rid of the moly white grease removing itself from around the crank and pistons. It basically ends up in the pan and taken out with the first oil change. As I understand in Lafayette the drivetrain parts are delivered in crates from Japan with tons of goo all over them (including inside the engines)and the body/unibody pieces are USA stamped and produced along with seats and many of the controls. Once you get the goo out and the engine depends more on the oil you have less heat = more efficiency.
I haven't been on a plant tour but I have heard from others this is the case
I haven't been on a plant tour but I have heard from others this is the case
All places even my compressor in the garage put a high percentage of free nitrogen in my tires. LOLMost paces by me do the nitrogen for free so I've never really cared.
I can't argue with that lol.All places even my compressor in the garage put a high percentage of free nitrogen in my tires. LOL
21 - 40 of 119 Posts
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