The Lexus UX does 39 mpg combined (38.7 city, 39.7 highway), which works out to about $985 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 42.3 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 32.5 — a difference of $274 a year. Against other Hybrid cars it sits above the average of 29.8 mpg.
Every Lexus UX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lexus UX ranges from 42.3 down to 32.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $274 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 43.5 / 41 | 2019–2026 | $908 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 29 / 37 | 2019–2022 | $1,182 |
What that actually costs
The Lexus UX burns a gallon every 39 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 308 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.082 |
| Fuel per year | $985 |
| Fuel over five years | $4,925 |
| Against other Hybrid cars | −$304 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,633 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lexus UX gives up 1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 39.7 out there against 38.7 in town, a 3% drop worth $25 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 | 38.7 mpg | $992 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 39.7 mpg | $967 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +1 mpg (3%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the UX changed over the years
The UX peaked in 2026 at 43 mpg (45 city, 41 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2022 at 37 — 6 mpg apart, or $145 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 43. 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 | 45 / 41 | 1 | $893 | |
| 2025 | 45 / 41 | 1 | $893 | |
| 2024 | 43 / 41 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2023 | 43 / 41 | 1 | $914 | |
| 2022 | 36 / 39 | 2 | $1,038 | |
| 2021 | 36 / 39 | 2 | $1,038 | |
| 2020 | 36 / 39 | 2 | $1,024 | |
| 2019 | 36 / 39 | 2 | $1,024 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 12 EPA ratings of the Lexus UX — 2 engines across 2019–2026. 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 $1,633. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lexus UX get?
39 mpg combined on average — 38.7 in the city and 39.7 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2019–2026.
How much does a Lexus UX cost in fuel per year?
About $985 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $4,925 over five years, or 0.082 dollars a mile.
Which UX engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 42.3 mpg, against 32.5 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $274 a year.
Is the UX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Hybrid cars it sits above the average of 29.8 mpg, computed across 1162 ratings.
Are these real-world UX 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 UX is $1,633 against the $985 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 43 and 32 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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