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2018 Lexus GS 300: MPG and fuel economy

The 2018 Lexus GS 300 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 26 combined MPG, with 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Midsize Cars class in the same model year.

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2018 Lexus GS 300. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 20% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year (32.6 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG.
  • The Lexus GS 300 has gained 8 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1994 Lexus GS 300 at 18 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $2,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
  • Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2018 Lexus GS 300. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 26 MPG
City MPG 22 MPG
Highway MPG 32 MPG
Annual fuel cost $2,650
Tailpipe CO₂ 345 g/mi
Fuel type Premium

How the 2018 Lexus GS 300 compares

The 2018 Lexus GS 300 returns 26 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 32.6 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 20%.

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Lexus GS 300 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2018 model year (across all classes) returns 25.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2018 model year is on its own page.

2018 Lexus GS 300
26 MPG
Class average, 2018
32.6 MPG
Class best, 2018
136 MPG
Average new car, 2018
25.6 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 576.9 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,325
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $2,650
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $4,417

Year-over-year MPG for the Lexus GS 300

The EPA has rated the Lexus GS 300 across 6 model years, from 1994 Lexus GS 300 through 2019 Lexus GS 300. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

The 1994 Lexus GS 300 returned 18 MPG. The most recent 2019 Lexus GS 300 returns 26 MPG. That is an improvement of 8 MPG over 25 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2019 26 MPG 2019 Lexus GS 300
2018 26 MPG this page
1997 18 MPG 1997 Lexus GS 300
1996 18 MPG 1996 Lexus GS 300
1995 18 MPG 1995 Lexus GS 300
1994 18 MPG 1994 Lexus GS 300

Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2018

If you are cross-shopping the 2018 Lexus GS 300, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric leads this group at 136 MPG, 110 MPG ahead of the 2018 Lexus GS 300.

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
136 MPG 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range
130 MPG 2018 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range
123 MPG 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
116 MPG 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Performance
116 MPG 2018 Honda Clarity EV
114 MPG
2018 Lexus GS 300
26 MPG

Specifications

The 2018 Lexus GS 300 runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Midsize Cars
Engine
2L 4-cylinder turbocharged
Transmission
Automatic (S8)
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Premium
Annual petroleum use
11.4 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2018 Lexus GS 300

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2018 Lexus GS 300.

  • Is the 2018 Lexus GS 300 fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 2018 Lexus GS 300 returns 26 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 20%.
  • What MPG does the 2018 Lexus GS 300 get?
    The EPA rates the 2018 Lexus GS 300 at 26 combined MPG, 22 MPG in city driving, and 32 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Lexus GS 300 per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,650 for the 2018 Lexus GS 300. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • Does the 2018 Lexus GS 300 require premium gas?
    Yes. The EPA lists the 2018 Lexus GS 300 as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
  • Has the Lexus GS 300 become more fuel efficient over time?
    Yes. The first EPA-rated Lexus GS 300, the 1994 Lexus GS 300, returned 18 combined MPG. The most recent 2019 Lexus GS 300 returns 26 MPG, an improvement of 8 MPG over the run.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2018 Lexus GS 300 emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 345 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,175 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2018 Lexus GS 300?
    City driving returns 22 MPG and highway driving returns 32 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
  • What engine is in the 2018 Lexus GS 300?
    The 2018 Lexus GS 300 has a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2018 Lexus GS 300 have?
    The 2018 Lexus GS 300 comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2018 Lexus GS 300 compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2018 model year is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric at 136 combined MPG. The Lexus GS 300 returns 26 MPG, a gap of 110 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.