GasTankSize
Makes Gas prices Fuel system recalls Calculators Guides About

2020 Subaru Outback Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

SUV 7 trims listed 1 fuel-system recall ← 2019 2021 →

Fuel tank capacity

18.5gal · 70 L

The 2020 Subaru Outback has a fuel tank capacity of 18.5 gallons (70 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 555–611 highway miles or 426–481 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

18.5 gal · Bigger than 53% of 2020 models we list.

Highway range
555–611 mi
City range
426–481 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
26–29 MPG
EPA size class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle

2020 Subaru Outback fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Engine
no difference

All 7 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl CVT · AWD MPG 26 / 33Range 481 / 611 mi 2.5L 4cyl CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 26 / 33 481 / 611 mi
Limited 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl CVT · AWD MPG 26 / 33Range 481 / 611 mi 2.5L 4cyl CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 26 / 33 481 / 611 mi
Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT · AWD MPG 23 / 30Range 426 / 555 mi 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 23 / 30 426 / 555 mi
Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT · AWD MPG 23 / 30Range 426 / 555 mi 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 23 / 30 426 / 555 mi
Premium 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl CVT · AWD MPG 26 / 33Range 481 / 611 mi 2.5L 4cyl CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 26 / 33 481 / 611 mi
Touring 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl CVT · AWD MPG 26 / 33Range 481 / 611 mi 2.5L 4cyl CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 26 / 33 481 / 611 mi
Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT · AWD MPG 23 / 30Range 426 / 555 mi 2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT AWD 18.5 gal70 L 23 / 30 426 / 555 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 2020 Subaru Outback goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 29 MPG, a full 18.5-gallon tank covers about 537 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full18.5611481
3/413.9458361
1/29.3305241
1/44.6153120
1/82.37660

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 517 gallons, roughly 28 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 26.4 MPG in the Outback (10 drivers), about 488 miles on a full 18.5-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
26–29 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
308–343 g/mi
EPA greenhouse score
5–6 of 10
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 2020 Subaru Outback

$78.99 to fill the 18.5-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
18.5 galRegular$4.27$78.99$59.25

By region, 18.5-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$74.37
Midwest$4.27$78.99
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$68.45
Rocky Mountain$4.46$82.51
West Coast$5.42$100.27
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$108.96

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 18.5-gallon tank$78.99
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$2,209

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

Outback tank size in other years

The 2020 Outback uses the same 18.5 gal tank as every Outback since 2010.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2025 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2024 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2023 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2022 Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
2021 Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
2020 Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
2019 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2018 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2017 Outback 18.5 gal 592 mi
2016 Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
2015 Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
Subaru Outback fuel tank by model year
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
← 2019 Subaru Outback Every Outback year 2021 Subaru Outback →

2020 Subaru Outback vs similar 2020 SUVs

At 18.5 gallons, the Outback's largest tank ranks fourth of the seven 2020 SUVs compared here. The Dodge Journey carries the most (20.5 gal) and the Honda CR-V Hybrid the least (14.0 gal).

2020 modelTankLongest highway range
Dodge Journey 20.5 gal 513 mi
Hyundai Santa Fe 18.8 gal 545 mi
Kia Sorento 18.8 gal 545 mi
Subaru Outback 18.5 gal 611 mi
Volkswagen Tiguan 15.3–15.9 gal 444 mi
Jeep Cherokee 15.8 gal 490 mi
Honda CR-V Hybrid 14.0 gal 490 mi

Other 2020 SUVs of a similar size, one model per brand.

2020 Subaru Outback fuel system recalls

NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 2020 Subaru Outback, out of 6 recalls in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.

Delivery · Fuel pumpJul 29, 2021 · NHTSA 21V587000 · Subaru Of America, Inc. · 175,968 vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.

All Subaru fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2020 Subaru Outback?

The 2020 Subaru Outback holds 18.5 gallons (70 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 2020 Subaru Outback gas tank hold?

The 2020 Subaru Outback tank holds 70 liters, or 18.5 gallons in US gallons.

How far can a 2020 Subaru Outback go on a full tank?

About 555–611 miles on the highway and 426–481 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 2020 Subaru Outback go on a quarter tank?

About 153 highway miles or 120 in town from the 18.5-gallon tank, which has roughly 4.6 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 2020 Subaru Outback really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 26.4 MPG in the 2020 Subaru Outback (10 drivers), which works out to about 488 miles on a full 18.5-gallon tank.

What gas does the 2020 Subaru Outback take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 2020 Subaru Outback?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 18.5-gallon tank from empty costs $78.99. It ranges from $68.45 in the Gulf Coast to $108.96 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 2020 Subaru Outback?

About 115 pounds for the 18.5-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 2020 Subaru Outback have a bigger gas tank than the Hyundai Santa Fe?

No. The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe holds up to 18.8 gallons; the 2020 Subaru Outback holds up to 18.5.

Has the 2020 Subaru Outback had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 2020 Subaru Outback: 21V587000 (delivery · fuel pump). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Subaru fuel system recalls).
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 2020 Subaru models

Ascent19.3 gallons BRZ13.2 gallons Crosstrek13.2–16.6 gallons Forester16.6 gallons Impreza13.2 gallons Legacy18.5 gallons WRX15.9 gallons