2012 Lexus RX MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Lexus RX gets up to 21 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 29 mpg as a hybrid, across 4 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Lexus RX · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

21MPG combined

18 city 25 highway

$3,200 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas)

3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

29MPG combined

31 city 28 highway

$2,850 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $5.48 a gallon (premium gas)

3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT

Best version costs $2,250 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,850 to $3,350 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

Fewer complaints than a typical RX year

The 2012 drew 15 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 32 for a typical RX year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

Years to avoid: 2010; best years: 2018, 2021, and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every RX year ranked The 2012 RX's recalls and problems

Every 2012 RX version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best EPA listing: RX 450h · Premium fuel	29 mpg	31 / 28	$2,850
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT EPA listing: RX 450h AWD · Premium fuel	28 mpg	29 / 27	$2,950
Gas
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: RX 350	21 mpg	18 / 25	$3,200
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: RX 350 AWD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,350

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas and $5.48 a gallon for premium gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT	$2,834	$236	$14,172
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$2,936	$245	$14,679
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,193	$266	$15,964
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,352	$279	$16,762

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Lexus RX MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 21 to 25 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 25 since 2023. Hybrid: 29 to 36 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 36 since 2023.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2012: gas 21 mpg · hybrid 29 mpg

Show as a table

Lexus RX best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	21	30
2011	21	29
2012	21	29
2013	21	29
2014	21	29
2015	21	29
2016	23	30
2017	23	30
2018	23	30
2019	23	30
2020	23	30
2021	23	30
2022	23	30
2023	25	36
2024	25	36
2025	25	36
2026	25	36

Every RX year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 RX compares

2012 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX This page Best: hybrid	29 mpg	21 mpg	$2,850
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,400
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Honda Pilot Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Nissan Murano Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Dodge Durango Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
GMC Acadia Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Buick Enclave Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$4,850

2012 RX recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 48 owner complaints for the 2012 RX.

Owners most often describe unintended acceleration (7 complaints, 15%), then stalling (5). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 RX recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2012 Lexus RX's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid gets 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 28 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2012 RX hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.47 a gallon), the hybrid costs $2,950 a year to fuel against $3,350 for the gas model: $400 a year, or $2,000 over five years.

Does the 2012 Lexus RX need premium gas?

Some versions do. EPA lists the 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid versions on premium, the rest use regular.

How does the 2012 RX's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 21 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 29 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.