The Lexus NX does 32.5 mpg combined (33.3 city, 32 highway), which works out to about $1,182 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 36.1 mpg while 2.4L 4-cyl does 24 — a difference of $536 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Lexus NX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus NX ranges from 36.1 down to 24 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $536 a year across 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 38.1 / 34.5 | 2019–2026 | $1,064 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 34.3 / 31.5 | 2015–2025 | $1,171 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22 / 28 | 2019–2021 | $1,536 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 / 28 | 2026–2026 | $1,600 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus NX burns a gallon every 32.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 369 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.098 |
| Fuel per year | $1,182 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,910 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$312 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,250 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus NX is one of the cars that does better in town than out of it — 33.3 in the city against 32 on the highway. That is $47 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 | 33.3 mpg | $1,153 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 32 mpg | $1,200 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | -1.3 mpg (-4%) | Reversed — it does better in town than on the open road |
How the NX changed over the years
The NX peaked in 2024 at 37.5 mpg (39.5 city, 35 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2021 at 28 — 9.5 mpg apart, or $347 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 32. 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 | 31.5 / 33 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2025 | 33.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,146 | |
| 2024 | 39.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,024 | |
| 2023 | 39.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,024 | |
| 2022 | 39.5 / 35 | 2 | $1,024 | |
| 2021 | 27.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,371 | |
| 2020 | 27.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,371 | |
| 2019 | 27.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,371 | |
| 2018 | 33 / 30 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2017 | 33 / 30 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2016 | 34 / 30 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2015 | 34 / 30 | 1 | $1,200 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 20 EPA ratings of the Lexus NX — 4 engines across 2015–2026. 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 $2,250. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus NX get?
32.5 mpg combined on average — 33.3 in the city and 32 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2015–2026.
How much does a Lexus NX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,182 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,910 over five years, or 0.098 dollars a mile.
Which NX engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 36.1 mpg, against 24 for the 2.4L 4-cyl — a difference of about $536 a year.
Is the NX 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 NX 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 NX is $2,250 against the $1,182 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 40 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.