04 Forester X Gas mileage

I just rechecked the Consumer Reports rating in which they selected the Forester as their top small SUV. They report strictly city mileage of 15, trip mileage of 28 and combined-driving mileage of 25.

I bought a 2003 Forester X, auto trans, in June 2003. My mileage has generally exceeded the Consumer Reports experience, at least in the city driving. In strictly driving around town I have consistently gotten 20 - 22 mpg. Highway mileage has ranged from 27 - 30. My combined driving has normally been in the 24 - 26 range. To help with comparison, I tend to avoid jack rabbit starts and most of my highway driving is in the 65-75 mph range.

I, too, love my Forester; however, 15 mpg would dull my enthusiasm a little.

George Bame Norfolk, VA

What are people's experience in gas mileage with the turbo version?

I just completed a 922-mile trip this past week. Mileage was 21.5 MPG, but mostly consisting of highway driving at 75-85 MPH, with quite a bit on the higher side of that range. At that speed the engine's turning an indicated

3250-3350 (maybe slightly more) RPM. The XT final drive ratio is higher than the non-turbo models (4.44 vs. 4.11, if memory serves), which makes for quick takeoffs at traffic lights, but you pay for it on the highway. Seems to me another factor is the relatively high profile of the Forester. Small SUV it may be, but it's a lot taller than our Volvo S60. Pushing all that air aside takes its toll.

I was/am considering an XT but am disappointed that Subaru did not keep a lower ratio 4 gear in the AT. I would prefer the same first three ratios for off the line performance but, a longer legged 4th gear for highway cruising of which I do allot. Most other manufactures keep the same to gear ratios for their turbo versions and get only slightly less mpg for highway cruising. Subaru needs a 5 gear AT or change the 4th gear ratio. With the

I get 17-18 MPG around town, which isn't too bad considering the Accord V-6 that my XT replaced got 18, albeit on regular rather than premium fuel. Further, I suspect that driving a more moderate 65-70 MPH on trips would get something more like 23-24 MPG.

I bought an '03 Forester XS manual transmission in May of last year. I've tracked just about every mile in terms of gas mileage. My experience has been that the Forester is a fuel efficient car.

I live in Rockland County, New York, USA. It's my only car so I drive it on the highway, around town, everywhere. I've gotten as good as 31 MPG on a nice road trip to the Catskill Mountains, and as little as 21 MPG during a recent winter storm with the heat blasting, not getting out of third gear, etc. It's averaged 26 MPG over the life of the car so far. YMMV.

The gas mileage you get during the break in period may not be a good indicator of the overall fuel efficiency of the car.

We are getting figures of 23/28 here in Western Australia, that's the manual version with the aircon on pretty much constantly this time of year Bert

"> We are getting figures of 23/28 here in Western Australia, that's the manual

But they are imperial gallons aren't they? About 20% bigger than US gallons.

Subaru are offering a 5-speed auto in the top new Legacies, I expect that'll filter down to the Forester eventually.

I converted from l/100km to US gallons.

Bought a Forester XS in January '04, it's automatic and my gas mileage has been below the EPA projections but in the 20-25 range. Car has 6000 miles on it. My trip mileage (25) reflects driving 65-75 with a ski rack. Usually my mileage is 21-22 for every day driving.

I just returned from a mile trip, almost all interstate, in my 2003 Forester X, auto. Outbound, I pushed it a little and averaged 27.8 mpg. On the return I kept the cruise control on a steady 70 with an occasional boost to get past a semi. Return mileage was 30.0. This has been tuypical for the

10+ months that I've owned it (now at 15,800 on the odometer).

George Bame Norfolk, VA