Subaru Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Across 4 Subaru models, 5-year depreciation, fuel and national-average insurance run from about $34,263 for the Crosstrek to $51,926 for the Ascent (75,000 miles). Depreciation is the biggest line for every one, and the Forester is cheapest to fuel at $11,124.
Subaru models compared
5 years, 75,000 miles, bought new. Total = depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance ($6,410).
| Model | Depreciation | Fuel / energy | 5-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosstrek | $16,493 | $11,360 | $34,263 |
| Forester | $17,580 | $11,124 | $35,114 |
| Outback | $24,216 | $12,978 | $43,604 |
| Ascent | $31,021 | $14,495 | $51,926 |
— = no citable figure. Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage; see car insurance cost by state.
Subaru maintenance schedule
Subaru's published oil-change interval: 6,000 miles or 6 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Subaru doesn't publish service prices.
Oil changes
Normal: 6,000 miles or 6 months
Severe or special conditions: 3,000 miles or 3 months (repeated short trips, extremely cold weather, repeated towing)
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6,000 miles or 6 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 12,000 miles or 12 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 30,000 miles or 30 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 36,000 miles, then every 30,000 (66k, 96k, 126k) |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Every 60,000 miles or 60 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 72,000 miles or 72 months |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| 137,500 miles or 11 years (first) |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
| Severe-condition notes |
| 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) |
More Subaru research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Subaru?
Across 4 Subaru models, 5-year depreciation, fuel and national-average insurance run from about $34,263 for the Crosstrek to $51,926 for the Ascent (75,000 miles). Depreciation is the biggest line for every one, and the Forester is cheapest to fuel at $11,124.
Is Subaru maintenance expensive?
Subaru's published oil-change interval: 6,000 miles or 6 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Subaru doesn't publish service prices.
Sources and method
Each model line follows the same formula as the model pages: depreciation from CarWhere’s used-market study, fuel from EPA ratings × EIA national prices, insurance from NAIC’s national average. Maintenance comes from the manufacturer’s own schedule.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- 2025 Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Booklet — 2025 MY All Vehicles, Federal/California (techinfo.subaru.com) — Subaru