2011 Lexus GS 450h: MPG and fuel economy
The 2011 Lexus GS 450h is a hybrid rated at 23 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 22 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2011 Lexus GS 450h. 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
- The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2011 model year is the Lexus CT 200h at 42 MPG.
- The Lexus GS 450h has gained 8 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2007 Lexus GS 450h at 23 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 2011 Lexus GS 450h. 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 | 22 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 25 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 386 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2011 Lexus GS 450h compares
The 2011 Lexus GS 450h returns 23 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 24.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 5%.
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2011 model year is the Lexus CT 200h at 42 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Lexus GS 450h alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2011 model year (across all classes) returns 20.8 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 2011 model year is on its own page.
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 450h
The EPA has rated the Lexus GS 450h across 11 model years, from 2007 Lexus GS 450h through 2018 Lexus GS 450h. 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 2007 Lexus GS 450h returned 23 MPG. The most recent 2018 Lexus GS 450h returns 31 MPG. That is an improvement of 8 MPG over 11 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 31 MPG | 2018 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2017 | 31 MPG | 2017 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2016 | 31 MPG | 2016 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2015 | 31 MPG | 2015 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2014 | 31 MPG | 2014 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2013 | 31 MPG | 2013 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2011 | 23 MPG | this page |
| 2010 | 23 MPG | 2010 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2009 | 23 MPG | 2009 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2008 | 23 MPG | 2008 Lexus GS 450h |
| 2007 | 23 MPG | 2007 Lexus GS 450h |
Compare against other Compact Cars for 2011
If you are cross-shopping the 2011 Lexus GS 450h, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact 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 Lexus CT 200h leads this group at 42 MPG, 19 MPG ahead of the 2011 Lexus GS 450h.
Specifications
The 2011 Lexus GS 450h runs a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (av-s6), 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
- Compact Cars
- Engine
- 3.5L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S6)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 12.9 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2011 Lexus GS 450h
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2011 Lexus GS 450h.
-
Is the 2011 Lexus GS 450h fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2011 Lexus GS 450h returns 23 combined MPG, and the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year sits at 24.2 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2011 Lexus GS 450h get?
The EPA rates the 2011 Lexus GS 450h at 23 combined MPG, 22 MPG in city driving, and 25 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 2011 Lexus GS 450h per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,000 for the 2011 Lexus GS 450h. 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 2011 Lexus GS 450h require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2011 Lexus GS 450h 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 450h become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Lexus GS 450h, the 2007 Lexus GS 450h, returned 23 combined MPG. The most recent 2018 Lexus GS 450h returns 31 MPG, an improvement of 8 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2011 Lexus GS 450h emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 386 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,796 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2011 Lexus GS 450h?
City driving returns 22 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 3 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2011 Lexus GS 450h?
The 2011 Lexus GS 450h has a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2011 Lexus GS 450h have?
The 2011 Lexus GS 450h comes with a automatic (av-s6) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2011 Lexus GS 450h compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2011 model year is the Lexus CT 200h at 42 combined MPG. The Lexus GS 450h returns 23 MPG, a gap of 19 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.