The Lexus LX does 14.9 mpg combined (13.4 city, 17.6 highway), which works out to about $2,577 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.4L 6-cyl Hybrid does 20 mpg while 4.7L 6-cyl does 13 — a difference of $1,034 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Lexus LX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus LX ranges from 20 down to 13 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,034 a year across 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl Hybrid | 19 / 22 | 2025–2026 | $1,920 | |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 17 / 22 | 2022–2026 | $2,021 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 12.4 / 17.5 | 2008–2021 | $2,685 | |
| 4.5L 6-cyl | 12 / 14 | 1996–1997 | $2,954 | |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 12 / 15.3 | 1998–2007 | $2,954 | |
| 4.7L 6-cyl | 12 / 15 | 2000–2000 | $2,954 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus LX burns a gallon every 14.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 805 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.215 |
| Fuel per year | $2,577 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,885 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$192 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,898 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus LX gives up 4.2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 17.6 out there against 13.4 in town, a 31% drop worth $684 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 | 13.4 mpg | $2,866 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 17.6 mpg | $2,182 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.2 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the LX changed over the years
The LX peaked in 2026 at 19.5 mpg (18 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2007 at 13 — 6.5 mpg apart, or $985 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 19.5. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2025 | 18 / 22 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2024 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2023 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2022 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2021 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2020 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2019 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2018 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2017 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2016 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2015 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2014 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2013 | 12 / 17 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2011 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2010 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2009 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2008 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2007 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2006 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2005 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2004 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2003 | 12 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2002 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2001 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1999 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1998 | 12 / 15 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1997 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1996 | 12 / 14 | 1 | $2,954 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 32 EPA ratings of the Lexus LX — 6 engines across 1996–2026. 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 $4,898. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus LX get?
14.9 mpg combined on average — 13.4 in the city and 17.6 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1996–2026.
How much does a Lexus LX cost in fuel per year?
About $2,577 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,885 over five years, or 0.215 dollars a mile.
Which LX engine is the most economical?
The 3.4L 6-cyl Hybrid at 20 mpg, against 13 for the 4.7L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,034 a year.
Is the LX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world LX 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 LX is $4,898 against the $2,577 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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