Lexus SC 300/SC 400 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Lexus SC 300/SC 400 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1992 to 1998. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (1996) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1992). The EPA record holds 20 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 3 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #58 of 69 (16th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1993 | 3 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #55 of 64 (14th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1994 | 3 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #46 of 56 (18th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1995 | 3 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #37 of 50 (27th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1996 | 3 | 19 mpg | 18 mpg | #30 of 38 (22th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1997 | 3 | 19 mpg | 18 mpg | #28 of 37 (25th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | #35 of 42 (17th 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 SC 300/SC 400 placed highest in 1997 at #28 of 37, and lowest in 1992 at #58 of 69. It spent 0 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | 3.0L 6-cyl | 17 | 22 | 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 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1997 | 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 |
| 1997 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1996 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1996 | 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 |
| 1996 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 17 | 22 | 19 | 605.3 | 15.7 | $4,100 | 467.7368421052632 | n/a |
| 1995 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1995 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1995 | 4.0L 8-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1994 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | 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 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1993 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 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 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1992 | 3.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 16 | 21 | 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 | 20 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 → 1996 | 18 → 19 mpg | +1 mpg | 605 gal |
What SC 300/SC 400 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1998 Lexus SC 300/SC 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 1998 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 Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 19 mpg the Lexus SC 300/SC 400 is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $441 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- 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.