I’ve been driving a 2022 Forester Wilderness, and it only has 8,900 miles on it. I’m averaging about 19 MPG over a 1,700-mile trip. This seems super low.
Most of my driving is in the city with stop-and-go traffic, but I also hit the highway now and then. I use the start-stop feature regularly, keep the oil changes on schedule, and check my tire pressure. Still, the gas mileage feels really bad.
Anyone else seeing this kind of MPG? What could be the issue?
The advertised MPG for a 2022 Forester is around 26, but the Wilderness model has a higher suspension and knobbier tires, which hurt aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. Plus, those advertised numbers come from ideal conditions, like steady 55 mph driving. City driving, especially with stop-and-go traffic, can drop it to around 19. That’s not surprising at all.
@Bryn
Don’t forget the CVT in the Wilderness has a lower gear ratio, which also eats into your MPG.
Jose said:
@Bryn
Don’t forget the CVT in the Wilderness has a lower gear ratio, which also eats into your MPG.
Exactly. The lower ratio gives you better acceleration, but you trade off fuel efficiency.
@Bryn
That’s totally expected. 19 MPG in the city isn’t unusual.
Brooke said:
@Bryn
That’s totally expected. 19 MPG in the city isn’t unusual.
Guess I’ll just have to accept it. My wallet, on the other hand, might not.
Brooke said:
@Bryn
That’s totally expected. 19 MPG in the city isn’t unusual.
Guess I’ll just have to accept it. My wallet, on the other hand, might not.
Big oof for the wallet.
Brooke said:
@Bryn
That’s totally expected. 19 MPG in the city isn’t unusual.
Guess I’ll just have to accept it. My wallet, on the other hand, might not.
Don’t worry, someone’s bound to come along and promise cheaper gas soon. 
@Ezri
A+ for optimism.
@Ezri
Right, because we definitely don’t already produce more oil than most countries. /s
@Bryn
I get around 22-24 MPG in my ‘22 Premium under similar conditions. The Wilderness having those differences makes your numbers make sense.
@Bryn
The term ‘stop-and-go’ would explain your situation better. Start-stop refers to the feature that shuts off your engine at red lights.
@Bryn
Doesn’t the start-stop feature help improve MPG, though? If the engine isn’t idling, shouldn’t it save fuel?
Moe said:
@Bryn
Doesn’t the start-stop feature help improve MPG, though? If the engine isn’t idling, shouldn’t it save fuel?
The issue isn’t the feature itself but how often you’re accelerating. Each stop-and-go burns more fuel than idling ever would.
@Shakesphere
Ah, that makes sense now. Thanks for explaining!
Moe said:
@Shakesphere
Ah, that makes sense now. Thanks for explaining!
It helps reduce emissions more than it does fuel consumption.
Moe said:
@Shakesphere
Ah, that makes sense now. Thanks for explaining!
It’s not great for your engine or battery long-term, though.
Moe said:
@Shakesphere
Ah, that makes sense now. Thanks for explaining!
Exactly. Stop-and-go is a driving pattern, and start-stop is the car’s system to meet economy standards. Two separate things.
I get about 19.6 MPG in town with my Wilderness. It’s normal.
If you’re driving mostly on the highway and in the city, buying a Wilderness wasn’t the best choice. It’s kind of like getting a mountain bike but riding it on flat pavement all the time.