2016 head-to-head · Compact Car

2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs Volkswagen Jetta

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,409/ year to fuel
33 MPG

The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,409 a year to fuel (33 MPG), versus $1,500 for the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport (31 MPG). That's roughly $91 a year, or about $455 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport
  • Volkswagen Jetta

Side by side

Subaru Impreza/Outback SportVolkswagen Jetta
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,409
31 MPG Combined efficiency 33 MPG
28 MPG City 28 MPG
36 MPG Highway 40 MPG
97 cu ft Passenger volume 94 cu ft
12 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
288 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 276 g/mi
7/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl Engine / motor 1.4L 4-cyl turbo
CVT Transmission 5-speed manual
AWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs Volkswagen Jetta across model years

  • Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport
  • Volkswagen Jetta

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport has more passenger space (97 vs. 94 cu ft); the Volkswagen Jetta has more cargo space (16 vs. 12 cu ft).

Among 51 2016 compact cars, the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport ranks 16th and the Volkswagen Jetta 12th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport or the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Jetta. The Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport is rated 31 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Jetta 33 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs. the Volkswagen Jetta per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport and $1,409 for the Volkswagen Jetta.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Jetta, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs Volkswagen Jetta in other years

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