Lexus LS 400 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lexus LS 400 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 1990 to 2000. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (1995) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1990). The EPA record holds 11 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 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #32 of 51 (38th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1991 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #32 of 57 (45th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1992 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #32 of 50 (37th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1993 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #30 of 48 (38th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1994 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #26 of 36 (29th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1995 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #24 of 39 (39th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1996 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #24 of 36 (34th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1997 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #26 of 43 (40th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1998 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #30 of 47 (37th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1999 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #33 of 56 (42th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2000 | 1 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #32 of 51 (38th 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 LS 400 placed highest in 1995 at #24 of 39, and lowest in 1999 at #33 of 56. It spent 0 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 11 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 | 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 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1998 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 4.0L 8-cyl | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1997 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1996 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 24 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1995 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 23 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1994 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1993 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1992 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1991 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1990 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 → 1995 | 18 → 19 mpg | +1 mpg | 605 gal |
What LS 400 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2000 Lexus LS 400 burns 605 to 605 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 | $1,816 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,118 | $2,118 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,421 | $2,421 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2000 model year is $4,100 to $4,100 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 LS 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.