The Lexus HS does 34.3 mpg combined (35 city, 33.3 highway), which works out to about $1,120 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid does 35 mpg while 2.4L 4-cyl does 34 — a difference of $32 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Lexus HS engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus HS ranges from 35 down to 34 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $32 a year across 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid | 35 / 34 | 2010–2010 | $1,097 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 35 / 33 | 2011–2012 | $1,129 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus HS burns a gallon every 34.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 350 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.093 |
| Fuel per year | $1,120 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,600 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$374 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,833 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus HS is one of the cars that does better in town than out of it — 35 in the city against 33.3 on the highway. That is $56 a year in favour of the commuter stuck in traffic, and it usually means a hybrid drivetrain recovering energy every time you brake.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 35 mpg | $1,097 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 33.3 mpg | $1,153 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | -1.7 mpg (-5%) | Reversed — it does better in town than on the open road |
How the HS changed over the years
The HS peaked in 2010 at 35 mpg (35 city, 34 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2012 at 34 — 1 mpg apart, or $32 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2012 car does 34.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 35 / 33 | 1 | $1,129 | |
| 2011 | 35 / 33 | 1 | $1,129 | |
| 2010 | 35 / 34 | 1 | $1,097 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Lexus HS — 2 engines across 2010–2012. 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 $1,833. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus HS get?
34.3 mpg combined on average — 35 in the city and 33.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2010–2012.
How much does a Lexus HS cost in fuel per year?
About $1,120 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,600 over five years, or 0.093 dollars a mile.
Which HS engine is the most economical?
The 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid at 35 mpg, against 34 for the 2.4L 4-cyl — a difference of about $32 a year.
Is the HS good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world HS 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 HS is $1,833 against the $1,120 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 35 and 34 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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