Lexus ES 250 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lexus ES 250 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1990 to 2025. Across those years its best rated version returned 28 mpg (2021) and its thirstiest returned 19 mpg (1990). The EPA record holds 9 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #34 of 46 (27th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #40 of 60 (34th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 2021 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #55 of 116 (53th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2022 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #55 of 121 (55th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2023 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #55 of 117 (53th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2024 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #57 of 101 (44th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 2025 | 1 | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | #52 of 86 (40th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Lexus ES 250 placed highest in 1990 at #34 of 46, and lowest in 2024 at #57 of 101. It spent 3 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 9 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 24 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 320 | 6/10 |
| 2024 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 315 | 6/10 |
| 2023 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 315 | 6/10 |
| 2022 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 315 | 6/10 |
| 2021 | 2.5L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI & PFI | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 315 | 6/10 |
| 1991 | 2.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 16 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1991 | 2.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1990 | 2.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $3,300 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 → 2021 | 19 → 28 mpg | +9 mpg | 411 gal |
What ES 250 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2025 Lexus ES 250 burns 411 to 411 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,232 | $1,232 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,438 | $1,438 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,643 | $1,643 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2025 model year is $2,250 to $2,250 a year in fuel.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 28 mpg the Lexus ES 250 is 3 mpg better the median, which is worth about $173 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Lexus nameplates
Every Lexus model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.