If you’re looking for a luxury car or SUV with impressive gas mileage, Lexus options should be near the top of your list. The premium arm of Toyota has a great range of efficient combustion engines, alongside a wide variety of hybrids, all offering solid mpg figures. But which Lexus models stand above the rest when it comes to gas mileage?
In this article, we’ll rank the best Lexus models in their current range, in order of fuel economy. We’ve also included how many miles you should expect from a full tank and compared these cars to some of the less efficient Lexus models too.
Let’s get started!
Which Lexus Models Have the Best Fuel Economy?
The below list covers the current Lexus models with the best fuel economy. For a fair comparison, we’ve left out the new, all-electric RZ, but all other Lexus models are included here.
5. RX: 21-37 / 28-34
The first Lexus on our list is the RX. This mid-size SUV starts at just under $50,000 and comes in 14 trim levels, combining a variety of powertrains. A handful of RX models are available with front-wheel drive, with most options only included as an all-wheel drive setup.
All RX models come with a 4-cylinder engine, with the internal combustion options featuring a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, putting out 275 bhp. Hybrid options come with a 2.5-liter engine combined with an electric motor, reaching 246 bhp.
All Lexus RX MPG figures:
- 350 FWD: 22 / 29
- 350 premium FWD: 22 / 29
- 350 premium+ FWD: 22 / 29
- 350 Luxury FWD: 22 / 29
- 350 AWD: 21 / 28
- 350h AWD: 37 / 34
- 350 Premium AWD: 21 / 28
- 350h Premium AWD: 37 / 34
- 350 Premium+ AWD: 37 / 34
- 350h Premium+ AWD: 37 / 34
- 350 Luxury AWD: 21 / 28
- 350h Luxury AWD: 37 / 34
- 350 F Sport Handling AWD: 21 / 28
- 500h F Sport Handling AWD: 27 / 28
As expected, the hybrid models produce the best gas mileage, with no turbo and an efficient dual-power system, particularly in the city. The RX numbers are held back by the vehicle weight though, at over 4,000 lbs, and the all-wheel drive system doesn’t help fuel economy either. Overall though, with a sizeable fuel tank, you can comfortably make longer trips in the RX without too many issues.
With a fuel capacity of between 17.2 & 17.8 gallons, you should achieve a journey of:
- Urban driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 370 – 630 miles
- Highway driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 500 – 590 miles
4. NX: 21-41 / 28-37
The next Lexus model on our list is the NX. This small SUV starts at just over $40,000 and includes five trim levels; four combustion options, and a single hybrid model. ICE-only vehicles come with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, and the hybrid model (350h) includes the same engine/motor combination we saw in the RX, with slightly less power.
The NX models also come with two plug-in hybrid options (PHEV) – as these are completely different setups, with a more expensive price tag, we’ll include the NX PHEV as a separate model in our list.
All Lexus NX MPG figures:
- 250 FWD: 26 / 33
- 250 AWD: 25 / 32
- 350 AWD: 21 / 28
- 350 F Sport Handling AWD: 21 / 28
- 350h AWD: 41 / 37
NX models weigh between 3,600-4,000 lbs and combined with a respectable fuel tank, you can make longer journeys without difficulty. If you want the best gas mileage, the 350h hybrid has to be the pick here, but the entry-level 250 NX will meet the needs of most drivers.
With a fuel capacity of 14.5 gallons, you should achieve a journey of:
- Urban driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 300 – 600 miles
- Highway driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 400 – 540 miles
3. ES: 22-43 / 31-44
In third place on our list is the Lexus ES. This large sedan comes with 14 trim levels and starts at just under $44,000. Like most Lexus vehicles, there is a selection of hybrid ES models available, alongside the usual choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Entry-level combustion engine models (250 trims) come with a 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder engine with 203 bhp. Upgrade to the 350 specs will get you a 3.5L V6, with just over 300bhp. Hybrid models (300h) combine the 2.5L engine with an electric motor, for a total of 215 bhp.
All Lexus ES MPG figures:
- 350 FWD: 22 / 32
- 350 Luxury FWD: 22 / 32
- 350 Ultra Luxury FWD: 22 / 32
- 350 F Sport Design FWD: 22 / 31
- 350 F Sport Handling FWD: 22 / 31
- 300h FWD: 43 / 44
- 300h Luxury FWD: 43 / 44
- 300h Ultra Luxury FWD: 43 / 44
- 300h F Sport Design FWD: 43 / 44
- 300h F Sport Handling FWD: 43 / 44
- 250 AWD: 25 / 34
- 250 Luxury AWD: 25 / 34
- 250 Ultra Luxury AWD: 25 / 34
- 250 F Sport Design AWD: 25 / 34
Hybrid ES models come with a smaller fuel tank, offsetting the gas mileage figures slightly. Even with the smaller tank, the ES300h trims are the best choice for anyone wanting the best mpg. As expected, the V6 engine results in the worst fuel economy, but at 26 combined mpg, it’s efficient for an engine this size.
With a fuel capacity of between 13.2 & 15.9 gallons, you should achieve a journey of:
- Urban driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 350 – 570 miles
- Highway driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 500 – 580 miles
2. UX: 41-43 / 38-41
The runner-up on our list is the Lexus UX. This is Lexus’ entry-level SUV, starting at $37,000, with a choice of six trim levels. Unlike the other models we’ve looked at so far, the UX is only available as a hybrid, with a single combination of a 2.0L engine and electric motor. All trim levels come with 181 bhp, with small differences in the mpge figures.
All Lexus UX MPG figures:
- 250h FWD: 43 / 41
- 250h Premium FWD: 43 / 41
- 250h F Sport FWD: 43 / 41
- 250h AWD: 41 / 38
- 250h Premium AWD: 41 / 38
- 250h F Sport AWD: 41 / 38
If you’re after fuel economy above all else, the front-wheel drive options are the best choice here. The fuel economy is strong across all models, though, with combined mpg figures sitting around 40 for each trim level. The only disappointment with the UX is the small fuel tank, at only 10.6 gallons. This makes longer journeys more difficult than other Lexus models, but if you need a car for the city, this is a great choice.
With a fuel capacity of 10.6 gallons, you should achieve a journey of:
- Urban driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 430 – 460 miles
- Highway driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 400 – 440 miles
1. NX PHEV: 84 combined
Our final Lexus model, with the best fuel economy figures, is the NX PHEV. This plug-in hybrid is expensive, starting at just under $60,000, but it can’t be beaten on miles per gallon. With two trim levels available, the NX PHEV combines a motor with a 2.5L engine, producing just over 300 bhp.
All Lexus NX PHEV MPGe figures:
- 450h+: 84 combined
- 450h F Sport Handling: 84 combined
As with most PHEV models Lexus only gives us a combined gas mileage of 84 mpge. In reality, we’ve heard figures around 60-65 mpge from owners, but that’s still an impressive figure for a mid-size SUV. The NX PHEV keeps the same fuel tank as the standard NX too, making longer journeys almost effortless.
With a fuel capacity of 14.5 gallons, you should achieve a journey of:
- Combined driving distance on a single tank of fuel: 1,218 miles
Which Lexus Models Have the Worst Fuel Economy?
We’ve covered the Lexus models with the best fuel economy, but what about the other end of the list? These are the current Lexus vehicles with the worst fuel economy…
3. RC F: 16 / 24
In third place is the RC F. An upgraded, track-focused version of the RC coupe, the RC F comes with a 5 Liter V8, putting out 472 bhp. As you’d expect from an engine like that, a combined mpg of just 20 isn’t going to win any awards, but this isn’t a car built for economy.
Starting at just under $70,000 with a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds, it’s safe to say no one is buying an RC F to drive it slowly.
2. LX: 17 / 22
The Lexus LX is next on our list, with a combined mpg of 19. This is the largest vehicle Lexus currently sells, and probably one of its most controversial, with a front grille that divides opinions. Regardless of the design, there’s no debating the gas mileage figure here.
With a twin-turbo V6 engine, and weighing over 5,500 lbs, the LX was never going to be an economical vehicle. Still, if you have the $90,000+ needed to buy one of these, you’re probably not worried about the fuel economy.
1. GX: 15 / 19
Top of this mini list is the Lexus GX. Slightly smaller than the LX and weighing in just over 5,000 lbs, you might be surprised that this model comes in worst for fuel economy. The reason for this is an incredibly thirsty V8 engine, resulting in a combined mpg of just 17.
It’s almost guaranteed that we’ll see hybrid options in the future for this model, but for now, if you want a GX, you’ll have to put up with regular trips to the fuel station.
FAQs
Which Lexus has the best fuel economy?
Overall the Lexus NX has the best fuel economy, with a combined 84 MPGe. This is a plug-in hybrid model, though – the Lexus UX has the best gas mileage of any standard Lexus, with a combined 41 mpg
Which Lexus has the worst fuel economy?
With a combined 17 MPG, the Lexus GX has the worst fuel economy of any Lexus model. This isn’t surprising, with a 4.6L engine in a large SUV.
Which Lexus has the largest fuel tank?
The Lexus GX has the largest fuel tank in the current range, with 23 gallons.
Summary
Overall, Lexus’ approach to hybrid options and their efficient 4-cylinder engines make them one of the best luxury brands for gas mileage. There are still some models with a focus on performance, like the RC F, but we are slowly seeing Lexus move towards a more efficient range, which is only good news for mpg figures.
5. RX: 21-37 / 28-34
4. NX: 21-41 / 28-37
3. ES: 22-43 / 31-44
2. UX: 41-43 / 38-41
1. NX PHEV: 84 combined
If you liked this article and want to see more gas mileage figures or find out more about Lexus models, check out the links below:
Which Subaru Has The Best Fuel Economy?
Lexus Premium Package Explained
Which Honda Has The Best Fuel Economy?
The Lexus Luxury Package Explained
Which BMW Has The Best Fuel Economy?
