The Lexus RX does 25.8 mpg combined (25.3 city, 26.8 highway), which works out to about $1,488 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 mpg while 3L 6-cyl does 18.4 — a difference of $1,020 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Lexus RX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus RX ranges from 36 down to 18.4 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,020 a year across 7 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 | 37 / 34 | 2023–2026 | $1,067 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl Hybrid | 31.2 / 28 | 2010–2022 | $1,280 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 27.7 / 24.7 | 2006–2008 | $1,477 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 25 / 26.8 | 2007–2022 | $1,506 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 22 / 29 | 2023–2026 | $1,536 | |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 17 / 23.3 | 2004–2006 | $1,920 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 17 / 21.4 | 1999–2003 | $2,087 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus RX burns a gallon every 25.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 465 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.124 |
| Fuel per year | $1,488 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,440 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$442 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,900 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus RX gives up 1.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.8 out there against 25.3 in town, a 6% drop worth $85 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 | 25.3 mpg | $1,518 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.8 mpg | $1,433 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +1.5 mpg (6%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the RX changed over the years
The RX peaked in 2026 at 30.5 mpg (29.5 city, 31.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 18 — 12.5 mpg apart, or $874 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 30.5. 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 | 29.5 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2025 | 29.5 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2024 | 29.5 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2023 | 29.5 / 31.5 | 2 | $1,259 | |
| 2022 | 25.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2021 | 25.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2020 | 25.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2019 | 25.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,449 | |
| 2018 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2017 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2016 | 31 / 30 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2015 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2014 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2013 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2012 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2011 | 31 / 28 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2010 | 25 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2008 | 22.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2007 | 23 / 24 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2006 | 22.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2005 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 17 / 21 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1999 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 40 EPA ratings of the Lexus RX — 7 engines across 1999–2026. 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 $2,900. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus RX get?
25.8 mpg combined on average — 25.3 in the city and 26.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1999–2026.
How much does a Lexus RX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,488 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,440 over five years, or 0.124 dollars a mile.
Which RX engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 36 mpg, against 18.4 for the 3L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,020 a year.
Is the RX 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 RX 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 RX is $2,900 against the $1,488 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 36 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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