2016 Lexus RX MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Lexus RX gets up to 23 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 30 mpg as a hybrid, across 4 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Lexus RX · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

23MPG combined

20 city 27 highway

$2,700 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas)

Fuel economy score5/10

3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

30MPG combined

30 city 28 highway

$2,600 a year to fuel15,000 miles a year at EPA's $5.01 a gallon (premium gas)

Fuel economy score7/10

3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT

Best version costs $2,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,600 to $2,850 a year. Compared with 2015, the best gas version is up 2 mpg and the best hybrid version is up 1 mpg.

More complaints than a typical RX year

The 2016 drew 42 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 32 for a typical RX year.

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

Every RX year ranked The 2016 RX's recalls and problems

Every 2016 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 · AWD · CVT Best EPA listing: RX 450h AWD · Premium fuel	30 mpg	30 / 28	$2,600
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT EPA listing: RX 450h · Premium fuel	30 mpg	31 / 30	$2,600
Gas
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: RX 350	23 mpg	20 / 27	$2,700
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic EPA listing: RX 350 AWD	22 mpg	19 / 26	$2,850

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas and $5.01 a gallon for premium gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT	$2,505	$209	$12,525
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT	$2,505	$209	$12,525
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,609	$217	$13,043
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic	$2,727	$227	$13,636

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

2016: gas 23 mpg · hybrid 30 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 2016 RX compares

2016 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.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX This page Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,600
Nissan Murano Best: hybrid	29 mpg	24 mpg	$2,150
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,200
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: diesel	25 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Ford Explorer Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,450
GMC Acadia Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,450
Buick Enclave Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,450

2016 RX recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 93 owner complaints for the 2016 RX.

Owners most often describe a shattered sunroof (10 complaints, 11%), then oil leaks (5). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars for the versions it has rated.

See the 2016 RX recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2016 Lexus RX's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid gets 30 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 30 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2016 RX hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $2,600 a year to fuel against $2,850 for the gas model: $250 a year, or $1,250 over five years.

Does the 2016 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 2016 RX's MPG compare with the 2015?

For 2016, the best gas version is rated 23 mpg, up 2 from 21 and the best hybrid version is rated 30 mpg, up 1 from 29.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 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.