Tank Ledger

Lexus RC 350 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Lexus RC 350 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 2015 to 2025. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2018) and its thirstiest returned 21 mpg (2015). The EPA record holds 22 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

23best combined mpg (2018)
21worst combined mpg (2015)
23latest year best (2025)
22configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
2015222 mpg21 mpg#47 of 71 (34th pct)All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2016222 mpg21 mpg#50 of 71 (30th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2017222 mpg21 mpg#59 of 88 (33th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2018223 mpg21 mpg#50 of 82 (40th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2019223 mpg21 mpg#53 of 85 (38th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2020223 mpg21 mpg#54 of 87 (38th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2021223 mpg22 mpg#51 of 79 (36th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2022223 mpg22 mpg#53 of 74 (29th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2023223 mpg22 mpg#52 of 75 (31th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2024223 mpg22 mpg#47 of 69 (32th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars
2025223 mpg22 mpg#35 of 59 (41th pct)Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Lexus RC 350 placed highest in 2025 at #35 of 59, and lowest in 2017 at #59 of 88. It spent 0 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 22 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20253.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20253.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20243.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20243.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20233.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20233.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20223.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192622522.713.5$3,5004075/10
20223.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20213.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192622522.713.5$3,5004074/10
20213.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503855/10
20203.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192621547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20203.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503885/10
20193.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI182421547.614.2$3,7004364/10
20193.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503885/10
20183.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI182421547.614.2$3,7004224/10
20183.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI202823500.012.9$3,3503885/10
20173.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192621547.614.2$3,7004154/10
20173.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI192822522.713.5$3,5003965/10
20163.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192621547.614.2$3,7004155/10
20163.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI192822522.713.5$3,5003965/10
20153.5L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) PremiumSIDI & PFI192621547.614.2$3,7004135/10
20153.5L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI & PFI192822522.713.5$3,5004015/10

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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2017 → 201822 → 23 mpg+1 mpg500 gal

What RC 350 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2025 Lexus RC 350 burns 500 to 523 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$1,500$1,568$68
$3.50/gal$1,750$1,830$80
$4.00/gal$2,000$2,091$91

EPA’s own estimate for the 2025 model year is $3,350 to $3,500 a year in fuel, or $5,500 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 23 mpg the Lexus RC 350 is 1 mpg below the median, which is worth about $73 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.