2009 Lexus GX 470: MPG and fuel economy
The 2009 Lexus GX 470 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 15 combined MPG, with 14 MPG in the city and 18 MPG on the highway. That lands well below the average for cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2009 Lexus GX 470. 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 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2009 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 28 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $12,250 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 2009 Lexus GX 470. 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 | 15 MPG |
| City MPG | 14 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 18 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $4,600 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 592 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2009 Lexus GX 470 compares
The 2009 Lexus GX 470 returns 15 combined MPG. Cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year average 17.7 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 15%.
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2009 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 28 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Lexus GX 470 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2009 model year (across all classes) returns 19.5 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 2009 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 1000 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $2,300 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $4,600 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $7,667 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Lexus GX 470
The EPA has rated the Lexus GX 470 across 7 model years, from 2003 Lexus GX 470 through 2009 Lexus GX 470. 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, hovering close to 15 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 15 MPG | this page |
| 2008 | 15 MPG | 2008 Lexus GX 470 |
| 2007 | 15 MPG | 2007 Lexus GX 470 |
| 2006 | 15 MPG | 2006 Lexus GX 470 |
| 2005 | 15 MPG | 2005 Lexus GX 470 |
| 2004 | 15 MPG | 2004 Lexus GX 470 |
| 2003 | 15 MPG | 2003 Lexus GX 470 |
Compare against other Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD for 2009
If you are cross-shopping the 2009 Lexus GX 470, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD 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 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD leads this group at 28 MPG, 13 MPG ahead of the 2009 Lexus GX 470.
Specifications
The 2009 Lexus GX 470 runs a 4.7-liter 8-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 5-spd, sending power through 4-wheel or all-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
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Engine
- 4.7L 8-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 5-spd
- Drivetrain
- 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 19.8 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2009 Lexus GX 470
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2009 Lexus GX 470.
-
Is the 2009 Lexus GX 470 fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2009 Lexus GX 470 returns 15 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the same model year by about 15%. -
What MPG does the 2009 Lexus GX 470 get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Lexus GX 470 at 15 combined MPG, 14 MPG in city driving, and 18 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 2009 Lexus GX 470 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,600 for the 2009 Lexus GX 470. 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 2009 Lexus GX 470 require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2009 Lexus GX 470 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 GX 470 become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2003 Lexus GX 470, 15 MPG) and most recent (2009 Lexus GX 470, 15 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2009 Lexus GX 470 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 592 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,887 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2009 Lexus GX 470?
City driving returns 14 MPG and highway driving returns 18 MPG, a gap of 4 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 2009 Lexus GX 470?
The 2009 Lexus GX 470 has a 4.7-liter 8-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2009 Lexus GX 470 have?
The 2009 Lexus GX 470 comes with a automatic 5-spd transmission and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2009 Lexus GX 470 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD class for the 2009 model year is the Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD at 28 combined MPG. The Lexus GX 470 returns 15 MPG, a gap of 13 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.