2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 24 combined MPG, with 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 3 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 32% better combined MPG than the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year (18.2 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $1,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 3 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 24 MPG |
| City MPG | 22 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 29 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,500 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 370 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD compares
The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD returns 24 combined MPG. Cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year average 18.2 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 32%.
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Subaru Outback Wagon AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2010 model year (across all classes) returns 20.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2010 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2010
The EPA rates 3 separate variants of the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
The most efficient configuration on this page returns 24 MPG, while the least efficient returns 20 MPG. That is a spread of 4 MPG between trims of the same nameplate.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 24 MPG | 22 MPG | 29 MPG | $2,500 |
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 22 MPG | 19 MPG | 27 MPG | $2,700 |
| 3.6L, 6-cyl, Automatic (S5) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 MPG | 18 MPG | 25 MPG | $3,000 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 625 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,250 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,500 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,167 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Subaru Outback Wagon AWD
The EPA has rated the Subaru Outback Wagon AWD across 8 model years, from 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD through 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD at 24 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 24 MPG | 2012 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2011 | 24 MPG | 2011 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2010 | 24 MPG | this page |
| 2009 | 22 MPG | 2009 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2008 | 22 MPG | 2008 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2007 | 22 MPG | 2007 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2006 | 22 MPG | 2006 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
| 2005 | 22 MPG | 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD |
Compare against other Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD for 2010
If you are cross-shopping the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD leads this group at 29 MPG, 5 MPG ahead of the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD.
Specifications
The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through all-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 12.4 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD.
-
Is the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD returns 24 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year by about 32%. -
What MPG does the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD at 24 combined MPG, 22 MPG in city driving, and 29 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,500 for the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD use?
The EPA lists the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Subaru Outback Wagon AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2005 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD, 22 MPG) and most recent (2012 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD, 24 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 370 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,554 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD?
City driving returns 22 MPG and highway driving returns 29 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD?
The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD have?
The 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2010 Subaru Outback Wagon AWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2010 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 29 combined MPG. The Subaru Outback Wagon AWD returns 24 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.