2002 Lexus RX 300: MPG and fuel economy
The 2002 Lexus RX 300 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 18 combined MPG, with 17 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2002 Lexus RX 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
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the 2002 model year is the Ford Focus Station Wagon at 25 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $5,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2002 Lexus RX 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 | 18 MPG |
| City MPG | 17 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 21 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 494 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2002 Lexus RX 300 compares
The 2002 Lexus RX 300 returns 18 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the same model year average 20.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 11%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the 2002 model year is the Ford Focus Station Wagon at 25 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Lexus RX 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 2002 model year (across all classes) returns 18.6 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 2002 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 regular gasoline, which is $3.99/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 833.3 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,650 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,300 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,500 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Lexus RX 300
The EPA has rated the Lexus RX 300 across 5 model years, from 1999 Lexus RX 300 through 2003 Lexus RX 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.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 18 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 18 MPG | 2003 Lexus RX 300 |
| 2002 | 18 MPG | this page |
| 2001 | 18 MPG | 2001 Lexus RX 300 |
| 2000 | 19 MPG | 2000 Lexus RX 300 |
| 1999 | 19 MPG | 1999 Lexus RX 300 |
Compare against other Midsize Station Wagons for 2002
If you are cross-shopping the 2002 Lexus RX 300, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Station Wagons 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 Focus Station Wagon leads this group at 28 MPG, 10 MPG ahead of the 2002 Lexus RX 300.
Specifications
The 2002 Lexus RX 300 runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through front-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 Station Wagons
- Engine
- 3L 6-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 16.5 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2002 Lexus RX 300
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2002 Lexus RX 300.
-
Is the 2002 Lexus RX 300 fuel efficient?
Not particularly. The 2002 Lexus RX 300 returns 18 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the same model year by about 11%. -
What MPG does the 2002 Lexus RX 300 get?
The EPA rates the 2002 Lexus RX 300 at 18 combined MPG, 17 MPG in city driving, and 21 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 2002 Lexus RX 300 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,300 for the 2002 Lexus RX 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. -
What fuel does the 2002 Lexus RX 300 use?
The EPA lists the 2002 Lexus RX 300 as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Lexus RX 300 become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1999 Lexus RX 300, 19 MPG) and most recent (2003 Lexus RX 300, 18 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2002 Lexus RX 300 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 494 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,406 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2002 Lexus RX 300?
City driving returns 17 MPG and highway driving returns 21 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 2002 Lexus RX 300?
The 2002 Lexus RX 300 has a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2002 Lexus RX 300 have?
The 2002 Lexus RX 300 comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2002 Lexus RX 300 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Station Wagons class for the 2002 model year is the Ford Focus Station Wagon at 25 combined MPG. The Lexus RX 300 returns 18 MPG, a gap of 7 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.