What is the best Lexus IS 250/IS 250C for fuel economy?

The strongest year was 2010 at 24 mpg combined, against 21 mpg in 2010. That is a 3 mpg spread across the nameplate's history.

How much does a Lexus IS 250/IS 250C cost to fuel each year?

At 11,500 miles a year the 2013 model uses between 479 and 479 gallons, or $1,677 to $1,677 at $3.50 a gallon.

What does the Lexus IS 250/IS 250C emit?

EPA reports 369 to 369 grams of tailpipe CO2 per mile for the 2013 model year, or about 4.2 to 4.2 tons over a year of driving.

Lexus IS 250/IS 250C MPG by year — every rating on record

The Lexus IS 250/IS 250C has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 2010 to 2013. Across those years its best rated version returned 24 mpg (2010) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (2010). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

24best combined mpg (2010)

21worst combined mpg (2010)

24latest year best (2013)

7configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model year	Configurations	Best combined	Worst combined	Class rank that year	Drivetrains	Fuel	EPA class
2010	2	24 mpg	21 mpg	#23 of 63 (65th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	Subcompact Cars
2011	2	24 mpg	22 mpg	#20 of 60 (68th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	Subcompact Cars
2012	2	24 mpg	22 mpg	#18 of 62 (72th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	Subcompact Cars
2013	1	24 mpg	24 mpg	#22 of 71 (70th pct)	Rear-Wheel Drive	Premium	Subcompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Lexus IS 250/IS 250C placed highest in 2012 at #18 of 62, and lowest in 2010 at #23 of 63. It spent 4 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 7 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
2013	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium	SIDI	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$3,250	369	6/10
2012	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium	SIDI	19	27	22	522.7	13.5	$3,500	403.95454545454544	n/a
2012	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium	SIDI	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$3,250	370.2916666666667	n/a
2011	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium	SIDI	19	27	22	522.7	13.5	$3,500	403.95454545454544	n/a
2011	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium	SIDI	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$3,250	370.2916666666667	n/a
2010	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium	PR	18	26	21	547.6	14.2	$3,700	423.1904761904762	n/a
2010	2.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium	PR	21	29	24	479.2	12.4	$3,250	370.2916666666667	n/a

What IS 250/IS 250C fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2013 Lexus IS 250/IS 250C burns 479 to 479 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	$1,438	$1,438	$0
$3.50/gal	$1,677	$1,677	$0
$4.00/gal	$1,917	$1,917	$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2013 model year is $3,250 to $3,250 a year in fuel, or $5,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 24 mpg the Lexus IS 250/IS 250C is exactly at the median.

All Subcompact 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.