Fuel economy is always important, especially when it comes to larger, all-terrain vehicles. Because of the aerodynamic design of the Subaru fleet, the extra cargo space available is not going to add any drag on your fuel efficiency, at least while the vehicle is empty. Thankfully, an extra 100 lbs of camping gear in the trunk will only reduce your fuel economy by 1% on average, allowing you to pack in everything you need without worrying about the cost at the pump.

Loading up a roof rack is really the only time hauling gear might cause a dip in your MPG. With a kayak or a set of bicycles adorning the rooftop, you can expect a 2-8% decrease in fuel economy in the city and a 10-25% decrease at highway speeds. 

In order to better balance out the fuel efficiency lost when lugging you adventuring supplies, we do have a few tips. Keeping a clean vehicle and carrying only the items you need for your trip will keep the vehicle light and therefore use less gas. It’s important to also remove your roof rack when it’s not in use, as just having it up on the car can reduce your fuel economy by 2% in some circumstances. 

Fortunately for Subaru owners, the one takeaway should be that while sometimes your MPG might be impacted by heavy exterior cargo, in general the vehicle itself is so well attuned to the road that you’ll hardly feel a cost difference when fueling up.

See More Subaru Frequently Asked Questions