The 2022 Subaru WRX EPA Fuel Economy Sticker Is Off By Over $11,000

If you buy a 2022 Subaru WRX and look at the window sticker, you’ll be deceived into thinking the five-year annual fuel cost for the performance car is around $3,410. But the actual 5-year fuel cost is closer to $19,430. Why is there a $11,420 difference between the sticker and reality?

A new study from Consumer Reports reveals the 2022 Subaru WRX EPA’s fuel economy sticker on the performance sports car is two years out of date. When the EPA gave Subaru the estimates, the cost of gas was $3.00, while today, the average price for a gallon of gas is $4.89, according to AAA.

The 2022 Subaru WRX is designed to run on premium fuel which is even higher today at $5.61 per gallon. The stickers use regular gas prices, even when a model calls for more expensive premium fuel. That’s about a sixty percent difference. Check out the difference in the 2022 WRX window sticker vs. reality.

2022 Subaru WRX EPA fuel economy window sticker

EPA’s combined fuel economy: 22 mpg on premium
EPA’s estimated annual fuel cost: $1,600
EPA’s estimated five-year fuel cost: $3,410
Estimated annual cost at $5.70/gal: $8,010
Estimated five-year cost at $5.70/gal: $19,430.
The five-year difference in window sticker vs. reality: $11,420

Consumer Reports says it’s not Subaru’s fault. The printed window sticker estimates “are out of whack” because fuel costs used in the calculations are provided two years in advance to automakers by the Environmental Protection Agency.

How do you get accurate information for the 2022 WRX fuel mileage?

Consumer Reports says, “To get the most accurate information at the dealership, car buyers need to use their smartphone to access a QR code printed on each window sticker; it provides direct digital access to more accurate market information.”

Photographing the code opens fueleconomy.gov, the official government source for fuel-economy information run by the EPA and Department of Energy. The site provides near-current fuel pricing, updated weekly, and an interactive calculator that can predict future costs based on a gas price and the WRX’s MPG.

What is the 2022 WRX fuel mileage?

The EPA’s 2022 Subaru WRX fuel mileage estimates with the 6-speed manual get 19/26 city/highway and 22 combined mpg, a drop of one mpg over the 2021 model. The 2021 WRX 2.0-liter engine had 20/27 city/highway and 23 combined mpg.

The 2022 Subaru WRX with the Subaru Performance Transmission (CVT automatic) improves one mpg city/highway. The 2022 WRX CVT gets 19/25 city/highway and 21 combined mpg. The 2021 WRX 2.0-liter engine with the CVT had 18/24 city/highway and 21 combined mpg.

The EPA tested the 2022 WRX using 91 octane premium unleaded gasoline. If you look at the fuel economy sticker on the window of the 2022 Subaru WRX, don’t believe the EPA’s fuel economy numbers. They are two years out of date.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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