This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2020 Lexus GS 350. 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 36% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2020 model year (36 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2020 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus at 141 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $4,250 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 2020 Lexus GS 350. 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 23 MPG
City MPG 20 MPG
Highway MPG 28 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,000
Tailpipe CO₂ 388 g/mi
Fuel type Premium

How the 2020 Lexus GS 350 compares

The 2020 Lexus GS 350 returns 23 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 36 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 36%.

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2020 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus at 141 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Lexus GS 350 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2020 model year (across all classes) returns 27.2 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 2020 model year is on its own page.

2020 Lexus GS 350
23 MPG
Class average, 2020
36 MPG
Class best, 2020
141 MPG
Average new car, 2020
27.2 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 652.2 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,500
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,000
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,000

Year-over-year MPG for the Lexus GS 350

The EPA has rated the Lexus GS 350 across 13 model years, from 2007 Lexus GS 350 through 2020 Lexus GS 350. 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.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2013 Lexus GS 350 at 23 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2020 23 MPG this page
2019 23 MPG 2019 Lexus GS 350
2018 23 MPG 2018 Lexus GS 350
2017 23 MPG 2017 Lexus GS 350
2016 23 MPG 2016 Lexus GS 350
2015 23 MPG 2015 Lexus GS 350
2014 23 MPG 2014 Lexus GS 350
2013 23 MPG 2013 Lexus GS 350
2011 21 MPG 2011 Lexus GS 350
2010 22 MPG 2010 Lexus GS 350
2009 22 MPG 2009 Lexus GS 350
2008 22 MPG 2008 Lexus GS 350
2007 22 MPG 2007 Lexus GS 350

Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2020

If you are cross-shopping the 2020 Lexus GS 350, 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 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus leads this group at 141 MPG, 118 MPG ahead of the 2020 Lexus GS 350.

Specifications

The 2020 Lexus GS 350 runs a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder 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
3.5L 6-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic (S8)
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Premium
Annual petroleum use
12.9 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2020 Lexus GS 350

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2020 Lexus GS 350.

  • Is the 2020 Lexus GS 350 fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 2020 Lexus GS 350 returns 23 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year by about 36%.
  • What MPG does the 2020 Lexus GS 350 get?
    The EPA rates the 2020 Lexus GS 350 at 23 combined MPG, 20 MPG in city driving, and 28 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 2020 Lexus GS 350 per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,000 for the 2020 Lexus GS 350. 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 2020 Lexus GS 350 require premium gas?
    Yes. The EPA lists the 2020 Lexus GS 350 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 350 become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2007 Lexus GS 350, 22 MPG) and most recent (2020 Lexus GS 350, 23 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2020 Lexus GS 350 emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 388 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,820 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2020 Lexus GS 350?
    City driving returns 20 MPG and highway driving returns 28 MPG, a gap of 8 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 2020 Lexus GS 350?
    The 2020 Lexus GS 350 has a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI).
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2020 Lexus GS 350 have?
    The 2020 Lexus GS 350 comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2020 Lexus GS 350 compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2020 model year is the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus at 141 combined MPG. The Lexus GS 350 returns 23 MPG, a gap of 118 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.