Tank Ledger

Lexus GS 300 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Lexus GS 300 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1994 to 2019. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (2018) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.

26best combined mpg (2018)
18worst combined mpg (1994)
26latest year best (2019)
7configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1994118 mpg18 mpg#25 of 36 (31th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1995118 mpg18 mpg#28 of 39 (29th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1996118 mpg18 mpg#29 of 36 (20th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1997118 mpg18 mpg#37 of 43 (14th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2006121 mpg21 mpg#29 of 61 (53th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2018126 mpg26 mpg#74 of 125 (41th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2019126 mpg26 mpg#80 of 127 (37th pct)Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize 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 placed highest in 1994 at #25 of 36, and lowest in 2019 at #80 of 127. It spent 1 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 7 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20192.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI, turbocharged223226442.311.4$3,0003475/10
20182.0L 4-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI, turbocharged223226442.311.4$3,0003455/10
20063.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium3.0L 6-cyl192521547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
19973.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS)162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19963.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS)162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19953.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19943.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium(FFS)162118638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
1997 → 200618 → 21 mpg+3 mpg548 gal
2006 → 201821 → 26 mpg+5 mpg442 gal

What GS 300 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2019 Lexus GS 300 burns 442 to 442 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,327$1,327$0
$3.50/gal$1,548$1,548$0
$4.00/gal$1,769$1,769$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2019 model year is $3,000 to $3,000 a year in fuel, or $3,750 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 26 mpg the Lexus GS 300 is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $62 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Lexus nameplates

Every Lexus model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.