The Lincoln LS does 18.5 mpg combined (16.1 city, 23 highway), which works out to about $2,076 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl does 19.7 mpg while 3.9L 8-cyl does 17.6 — a difference of $233 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Lincoln LS engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Lincoln LS ranges from 19.7 down to 17.6 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $233 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 16.8 / 23.8 | 2000–2005 | $1,949 | |
| 3.9L 8-cyl | 15.4 / 22.3 | 2000–2006 | $2,182 |
What that actually costs
The Lincoln LS burns a gallon every 18.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 649 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.173 |
| Fuel per year | $2,076 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,380 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$309 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,185 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Lincoln LS gives up 6.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23 out there against 16.1 in town, a 43% drop worth $715 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 | 16.1 mpg | $2,385 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23 mpg | $1,670 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.9 mpg (43%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the LS changed over the years
The LS peaked in 2004 at 19.5 mpg (16.5 city, 24 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2000 at 17.5 — 2 mpg apart, or $225 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2006 car does 18. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2005 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2004 | 16.5 / 24 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2003 | 17 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,969 | |
| 2002 | 15.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 15.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 15.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,194 |
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 13 EPA ratings of the Lincoln LS — 2 engines across 2000–2006. 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 $4,185. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Lincoln LS get?
18.5 mpg combined on average — 16.1 in the city and 23 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2006.
How much does a Lincoln LS cost in fuel per year?
About $2,076 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,380 over five years, or 0.173 dollars a mile.
Which LS engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 19.7 mpg, against 17.6 for the 3.9L 8-cyl — a difference of about $233 a year.
Is the LS good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world LS figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Lincoln LS is $4,185 against the $2,076 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 21 and 17 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.