Lexus GS 300/GS 400 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lexus GS 300/GS 400 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 1998 to 2000. Across those years its best rated version returned 20 mpg (1999) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1998). The EPA record holds 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 | 19 mpg | 18 mpg | #29 of 47 (39th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1999 | 2 | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | #28 of 56 (51th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2000 | 2 | 19 mpg | 18 mpg | #31 of 51 (40th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | 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 GS 300/GS 400 placed highest in 1999 at #28 of 56, and lowest in 2000 at #31 of 51. It spent 1 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 4.0L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2000 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1999 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 4.0L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1999 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 18 | 23 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1998 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 4.0L 8-cyl | 15 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1998 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 → 1999 | 19 → 20 mpg | +1 mpg | 575 gal |
| 1999 → 2000 | 20 → 19 mpg | -1 mpg | 605 gal |
What GS 300/GS 400 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2000 Lexus GS 300/GS 400 burns 605 to 639 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 | $1,816 | $1,917 | $101 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,118 | $2,236 | $118 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,421 | $2,556 | $135 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2000 model year is $4,100 to $4,300 a year in fuel, or $9,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
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 19 mpg the Lexus GS 300/GS 400 is 6 mpg below the median, which is worth about $508 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.