The Lexus GS does 21.5 mpg combined (19 city, 25.4 highway), which works out to about $1,786 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.5L 6-cyl does 26.4 mpg while 4L 8-cyl does 18 — a difference of $678 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Lexus GS engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus GS ranges from 26.4 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $678 a year across 8 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 24 / 30 | 2007–2020 | $1,455 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22 / 32 | 2016–2019 | $1,477 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 22 / 25 | 2007–2010 | $1,670 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 17 / 24 | 2008–2011 | $1,920 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 16 / 24 | 2016–2020 | $2,021 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.5 / 22.7 | 1993–2006 | $2,032 | |
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 16 / 22 | 2001–2007 | $2,098 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 15.7 / 21.7 | 1998–2000 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus GS burns a gallon every 21.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 558 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.149 |
| Fuel per year | $1,786 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,930 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$144 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,699 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus GS gives up 6.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.4 out there against 19 in town, a 34% drop worth $509 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 19 mpg | $2,021 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25.4 mpg | $1,512 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.4 mpg (34%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the GS changed over the years
The GS peaked in 2015 at 31 mpg (29 city, 34 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2001 at 18 — 13 mpg apart, or $894 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2020 car does 21. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 / 26 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2019 | 19.3 / 28 | 3 | $1,692 | |
| 2018 | 22.3 / 30 | 3 | $1,518 | |
| 2017 | 22.3 / 30 | 3 | $1,518 | |
| 2016 | 22.3 / 30 | 3 | $1,518 | |
| 2015 | 29 / 34 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2014 | 29 / 34 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2013 | 29 / 34 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2011 | 19.5 / 24.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2010 | 19.3 / 25 | 3 | $1,770 | |
| 2009 | 19.3 / 25 | 3 | $1,770 | |
| 2008 | 19.3 / 25.3 | 3 | $1,770 | |
| 2007 | 19 / 24.7 | 3 | $1,803 | |
| 2006 | 17.5 / 25 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2005 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2002 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 21.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 16.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 1998 | 16 / 22 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 1997 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1996 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1995 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 54 EPA ratings of the Lexus GS — 8 engines across 1993–2020. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,699. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus GS get?
21.5 mpg combined on average — 19 in the city and 25.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1993–2020.
How much does a Lexus GS cost in fuel per year?
About $1,786 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,930 over five years, or 0.149 dollars a mile.
Which GS engine is the most economical?
The 3.5L 6-cyl at 26.4 mpg, against 18 for the 4L 8-cyl — a difference of about $678 a year.
Is the GS good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world GS figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Lexus GS is $3,699 against the $1,786 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 31 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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