The 3RX Gas Mileage Thread
12-08-15, 06:32 AM
#646
Driver
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: TX
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is an interesting thread because I am currently looking at RX 350s. A new one is out of my price range but a 2-3 year old, maybe a Lexus Certified if what we have decided to focus on. I recently talked with a guy who had bought a 2015 and after 9000 miles only averaged 15 MPG and he finally had had enough so traded it on a new Highlander. He claimed better mileage on it, 20 at least.
Gas mileage is kind of important to me and if I bought a used 2012-2014 RX and averaged in the 15-17-18 MPG would be a bit upset. I thought with a vehicle advertising 18-24 it should consistently get around 20 and close to the 24 for trips.
Gas mileage is kind of important to me and if I bought a used 2012-2014 RX and averaged in the 15-17-18 MPG would be a bit upset. I thought with a vehicle advertising 18-24 it should consistently get around 20 and close to the 24 for trips.
12-08-15, 02:02 PM
#648
This is an interesting thread because I am currently looking at RX 350s. A new one is out of my price range but a 2-3 year old, maybe a Lexus Certified if what we have decided to focus on. I recently talked with a guy who had bought a 2015 and after 9000 miles only averaged 15 MPG and he finally had had enough so traded it on a new Highlander. He claimed better mileage on it, 20 at least.
Gas mileage is kind of important to me and if I bought a used 2012-2014 RX and averaged in the 15-17-18 MPG would be a bit upset. I thought with a vehicle advertising 18-24 it should consistently get around 20 and close to the 24 for trips.
Gas mileage is kind of important to me and if I bought a used 2012-2014 RX and averaged in the 15-17-18 MPG would be a bit upset. I thought with a vehicle advertising 18-24 it should consistently get around 20 and close to the 24 for trips.
12-13-15, 01:27 AM
#650
Advanced
I use 93 octane Shell V-power gas and my 2011 RX350 AWD averages about 22-23 mpg in the city and about 26 mpg or so on the highway if the Eco light remain on.
If I floor the gas around town, then the gas mileage drops to about 16-18 mpg in the city.
I have 18in wheels and used 36psi front tire pressure and 38psi rear tire pressure cold.
I tried the recommended cold 32 psi all around and the car handling was just too soft and vague for my taste with the non-OEM tires that came with my car.
If I floor the gas around town, then the gas mileage drops to about 16-18 mpg in the city.
I have 18in wheels and used 36psi front tire pressure and 38psi rear tire pressure cold.
I tried the recommended cold 32 psi all around and the car handling was just too soft and vague for my taste with the non-OEM tires that came with my car.
Last edited by carguy75; 12-13-15 at 01:31 AM.
12-13-15, 06:45 AM
#651
Driver
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: TX
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use 93 octane Shell V-power gas and my 2011 RX350 AWD averages about 22-23 mpg in the city and about 26 mpg or so on the highway if the Eco light remain on.
If I floor the gas around town, then the gas mileage drops to about 16-18 mpg in the city.
I have 18in wheels and used 36psi front tire pressure and 38psi rear tire pressure cold.
I tried the recommended cold 32 psi all around and the car handling was just too soft and vague for my taste with the non-OEM tires that came with my car.
If I floor the gas around town, then the gas mileage drops to about 16-18 mpg in the city.
I have 18in wheels and used 36psi front tire pressure and 38psi rear tire pressure cold.
I tried the recommended cold 32 psi all around and the car handling was just too soft and vague for my taste with the non-OEM tires that came with my car.
12-13-15, 01:47 PM
#652
Advanced
Like I mentioned, the ride is better to me than when it was 32psi cold.
The ride is a little stiffer over bumps, but I usually buy sport suspensions so I actually prefer a firmer ride.
The steering response is also improved with more psi than when I had the tires set at 32psi.
The stock psi recommendation seem to be more for maintaining Lexus ride comfort than performance.
I like a nimble car with good mpg which seems to be better with more psi.
FYI, that is why set the front psi to 36 and the rear to 38, so I can obtain a more neutral balance because the front tires will usually warm up to about 2 psi more than the rear tires when driving.
When the car had more air in the front tires of a FWD based car like our RX then it under-steers more in corners or rapid evasive maneuvers.
If I had the FWD model then I would keep the under-steer for safety, however I have the AWD model which will provide extra grip to the rear tires with my more neutral set-up.
The RX will never be a canyon-carver but it can be made a little more nimble.
Now I just have to get rid of the crappy tires that came with my RX and the ride would be perfect.
The tires are actually quiet even though they are cheap Wind-force tires, could be the extra air and less drag when inflated with more air.
The tires sidewalls are just too soft and floaty for my taste, and was even worst(softer) when set to 32 psi which made the floaty ride twice as bad.
Last edited by carguy75; 12-13-15 at 01:55 PM.
12-14-15, 04:47 AM
#653
I have new 2015. Bought 3 weeks ago. I am averaging 20 with combined driving. I am not sure how people can get 14-15, unless it is all stop and go traffic or loading up the car. I drove my cT200h conservatively and used to get 45mpg. After moving to RX350, I drive more aggressively and still averaging 20. I am sure after breaking the car in, it would go up. With my loaner (car was getting tinted), I averaged 23 with combined driving (it had 11000 miles)
12-14-15, 07:29 AM
#654
Rookie
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IN
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have new 2015. Bought 3 weeks ago. I am averaging 20 with combined driving. I am not sure how people can get 14-15, unless it is all stop and go traffic or loading up the car. I drove my cT200h conservatively and used to get 45mpg. After moving to RX350, I drive more aggressively and still averaging 20. I am sure after breaking the car in, it would go up. With my loaner (car was getting tinted), I averaged 23 with combined driving (it had 11000 miles)
--EPA
As many posts herein indicate, mileage can vary substantially, and your dealer will tell you it is ALL normal.
12-14-15, 02:59 PM
#655
Read back a bit in this thread. I had a beautiful AWD 2013 RX 350. I drive very conservative. The best I ever got was about 18 and that was on the open road. My driving is mostly around town. I was at about 16. In the colder weather it would drop down to below 14. I took it into the dealer more than once. Nothing wrong. One service manager told me "to be honest with you,your mpg is about what others get. I know some say better mpg. I can only relay to you what the Lexus dealer told me. My mpg reflected that. I only kept for a year and a few months because I was not going to put up with that mpg. I bought a new 2015 RX450 h. Mpg is great. You could buy a nice 2010-13-14 for not all that much more than the standard RX350 depending on the year. So that's it--- I hope that helps you out.
Be careful when comparing what certain cars claim. Go by results, not claims. Ergo Volkswagon.
12-22-15, 08:29 AM
#656
Maineiack, I have a 2013 RX that I bought new, and have consistently gotten 16-18 mpg locally, and 22-24 mpg on the interstates. I know claims here are all over the place, but those figures should be a good ballpark for a recent model RX. How you drive, and where you buy your gas can make a difference of a couple mpg, but should not be much more. You will get less mileage with gas diluted with ethanol. The more ethanol, the lower the mileage.
Be careful when comparing what certain cars claim. Go by results, not claims. Ergo Volkswagon.
Be careful when comparing what certain cars claim. Go by results, not claims. Ergo Volkswagon.
12-22-15, 09:40 AM
#657
Lexus Champion
Never could get my mpg up to 22-24. Always stayed in the lower range of 18 even on the highway. Cold weather went as low,as 13 city.How bad is that. I'll now stick with my RX450h. Great mpg all around. The 2016 RX350 has the same gas hog engine. Would not expect better mpg. But-- gasoline is only $2.24 per gallon here in NY.
12-22-15, 06:32 PM
#658
Never could get my mpg up to 22-24. Always stayed in the lower range of 18 even on the highway. Cold weather went as low,as 13 city.How bad is that. I'll now stick with my RX450h. Great mpg all around. The 2016 RX350 has the same gas hog engine. Would not expect better mpg. But-- gasoline is only $2.24 per gallon here in NY.
12-23-15, 08:34 PM
#660
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought a 2015 RX back in May. I have over 7k miles and it has me at 19.4 miles per gallon. I do have quite a few highway miles with a couple of trips to San Antonio and multiple trips to Houston from the Hutto (Austin area).