2021 Lexus RX MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Lexus RX gets up to 23 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 30 mpg as a hybrid, across 6 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Lexus RX · 6 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

31 city 28 highway

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

Fuel economy score6/10

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 $2,950 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

One of the best RX years by owner complaints

The 2021 drew 10 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 32 for a typical RX year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.

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

Every RX year ranked The 2021 RX's recalls and problems

Every 2021 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	31 / 28	$2,600
3.5L 6-cyl hybrid · AWD · CVT · L EPA listing: RX 450h L AWD · Premium fuel	29 mpg	29 / 28	$2,650
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
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · L EPA listing: RX 350 L	22 mpg	19 / 26	$2,850
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic · L EPA listing: RX 350 L AWD	21 mpg	18 / 25	$2,950

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 · AWD · CVT · L	$2,591	$216	$12,957
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
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic · L	$2,727	$227	$13,636
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 8-speed automatic · L	$2,857	$238	$14,286

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

2021: 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 2021 RX compares

2021 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.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	34 mpg	26 mpg	$1,850
Lexus RX This page Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,600
Ford Explorer Best: hybrid	27 mpg	24 mpg	$2,300
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
GMC Acadia Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Kia Telluride Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Hyundai Palisade Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Passport Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Buick Enclave Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950

2021 RX recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 72 owner complaints for the 2021 RX.

Most-reported area: air bags (47 complaints, 65%). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 to 5 stars, depending on the version.

See the 2021 RX recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2021 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 gets 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 with AWD.

How much fuel does the 2021 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 2021 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 2021 RX's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 23 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 30 mpg, the same as the year before.

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.