The 2024 Lexus RC 300 AWD gets 22 MPG combined, and frankly, this car isn’t about fuel efficiency. It’s about the Lexus brand, the smooth V6 engine, the sleek coupe design, and the all-weather security of all-wheel drive. This is a personal luxury car, not a fuel-sipping vehicle. The gas mileage, while not the best in its class, is a trade-off buyers understand for everything else the car offers.

City and highway performance

The EPA estimates offer a closer look, with 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The lower city MPG is due to the frequent stops and starts where the six-cylinder engine works harder and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts more often. The highway number, while better, isn’t great, probably because the AWD system adds weight and drag. Expect this number to be close to what you get in real-world highway driving.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA estimates the annual fuel cost for the 2024 Lexus RC 300 AWD at $2,650. This is figured on 15,000 miles per year and national average gas prices. Remember, this is just an estimate. Your actual fuel costs will depend on how you drive, the fuel you use (premium is recommended for best performance), and local gas prices. Still, the $2,650 gives you a benchmark for comparing the RC 300 AWD’s running costs with other cars in its class.

Real-world expectations

EPA estimates are a starting point, but real-world MPG is often different. Your MPG can depend on driving style, traffic, and even the weather. If you accelerate hard, your fuel economy will drop quickly. Frequent short trips also hurt fuel economy because the engine doesn’t have time to warm up. Hard acceleration and braking waste a lot of gas. Expect the RC 300 AWD to get MPG close to the EPA numbers if you drive carefully and don’t focus only on performance. To see RC MPG across all years, there are many resources online.

How it compares

The RC 300 AWD’s fuel economy puts it in a certain spot in the luxury coupe market. The BMW 430i xDrive coupe, for example, gets 28 MPG combined with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine. That’s much better than the RC 300 AWD. Still, some drivers like the smooth sound of a naturally aspirated V6, even if it means using more gas. The Infiniti Q60 AWD has similar performance and a slightly better 22 MPG combined. For all Lexus fuel economy data more information is available online. Ultimately, the choice depends on what you want.

Tips to maximize efficiency

Avoid hard acceleration and braking. The RC 300 AWD is fun to drive fast, but that will really hurt your fuel economy. Accelerate smoothly and slowly, and watch traffic so you don’t have to brake hard. This will save gas and make your brakes last longer.

Keep your tires inflated properly. Low tires cause more rolling resistance, which reduces fuel economy. Check your tire pressure often and fill them to the recommended pressure, found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door.

Use cruise control on the highway. Keeping a steady speed on the highway can really improve fuel economy. Cruise control helps you avoid speed changes that waste gas. If the road is hilly, watch out for the cruise control shifting down a lot, because that can cancel out some of the gas savings.

Don’t idle. Idling gets you zero miles per gallon. If you’re going to be stopped for more than a minute or two, turn off the engine. Modern cars, including the RC 300 AWD, start again quickly and easily.

Remove extra weight. Carrying extra weight in your car hurts fuel economy. Take out anything from your trunk or backseat that you don’t need. The heavier your car, the more gas it takes to accelerate and keep up speed.