RX - 4th Gen (2016-2022) Discussion topics related to the 2016 and up RX350 and RX450h models

4RX Mileage Thread

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Old 03-17-22 | 06:17 PM
  #361  
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Apparently it’s possible to average 30+ MPG after 30+ miles on 2017 RX 350. Light footed and using regular gas. 80% freeway
  • Do no drive faster than 65mph
  • Accelerate gently no more than 2000RPM
  • ECO Mode, Turn Fans Off. Windows open.
  • Tires pressures were 33PSI Cold.
  • Avoid braking where you can. Don’t accelerate in the first place. It’s a waste of gas.
  • Advanced, but use judgement to keep momentum of the vehicle going. This is dangerous and you should not attempt if you are a beginner driver.
    • This means slowing down but not slowing down to a stop on red lights.
    • Try to park your car on your first attempt: Do not reverse, or reposition incessantly.



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Old 03-17-22 | 06:31 PM
  #362  
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Originally Posted by Lexus4rx
Apparently it’s possible to average 30+ MPG after 30+ miles on 2017 RX 350. Light footed and using regular gas. 80% freeway
  • Do no drive faster than 65mph
  • Accelerate gently no more than 2000RPM
  • ECO Mode, Turn Fans Off. Windows open.
  • Tires pressures were 33PSI Cold.
  • Avoid braking where you can. Don’t accelerate in the first place. It’s a waste of gas.
  • Advanced, but use judgement to keep momentum of the vehicle going. This is dangerous and you should not attempt if you are a beginner driver.
    • This means slowing down but not slowing down to a stop on red lights.
    • Try to park your car on your first attempt: Do not reverse, or reposition incessantly.


Windows open will cause turbulence and increase consumption. Use the AC and close windows, modern AC units are more efficient today.
Old 03-18-22 | 09:18 PM
  #363  
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Originally Posted by GSFRX350
Windows open will cause turbulence and increase consumption. Use the AC and close windows, modern AC units are more efficient today.
not much turbulence you drive below 65mph
AC and fan uses lot of power (which could be going to wheels instead)

second day of going office and coming back
it was raining, which uses more gas due to friction between tire and water

consistently averaging near 30mpg
being gentle on the accelerator gives highest mpg increase





Old 03-18-22 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Lexus4rx
not much turbulence you drive below 65mph
AC and fan uses lot of power (which could be going to wheels instead)

second day of going office and coming back
it was raining, which uses more gas due to friction between tire and water

consistently averaging near 30mpg
being gentle on the accelerator gives highest mpg increase

The AC on an engine like the RX has no discernable effect on the fuel consumption. Small motors yes, but not a larger engine. Drive a small car, turn the AC on/off and you can feel the difference, in the RX you feel nothing, there's ample power there to overcome the AC's resistance.

Wind turbulence can have a larger effect, manufacturers spend millions on designing things like side mirrors to give them an edge in cutting through the air.

Friction between tire and water??? If it's wet there is LESS friction, hence you can lose control easier, the tire will let go sooner.
Old 03-19-22 | 09:35 AM
  #365  
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An AC compressor WILL use power to cool the refrigerant. Regardless of engine size.

A small engine might struggle, bit a more powerful engine won't struggle, but none the less the AC compressor will use power off the engine. This power is generated using burning gasoline.

I find sunroof to have the least negative impact to the cars drag and efficiency.

When i use or RX in summer i get about 20% better fuel economy when i turn HVAC off and use sunroof compared to when HVAC is on.

On ES Hybrid the effect is even more because at times when the engine would be able to turn off it runs to make power to feed the AC compressor.
Old 03-30-22 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by toyotaman7
An AC compressor WILL use power to cool the refrigerant. Regardless of engine size.

A small engine might struggle, bit a more powerful engine won't struggle, but none the less the AC compressor will use power off the engine. This power is generated using burning gasoline.

I find sunroof to have the least negative impact to the cars drag and efficiency.

When i use or RX in summer i get about 20% better fuel economy when i turn HVAC off and use sunroof compared to when HVAC is on.

On ES Hybrid the effect is even more because at times when the engine would be able to turn off it runs to make power to feed the AC compressor.
My experience has been precisely the opposite. In both my wife's 2020 RX 350 and my 2021 RX 450h, the A/C is permanently set to Eco mode and the cabin temperature set to 73 degrees. I have noticed no discernible difference in MPG whether the A/C is on or off. On a 1,700 mile road trip last summer, my RX 450h averaged 40 MPG with the A/C on most of the entire trip.
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Old 03-31-22 | 05:02 PM
  #367  
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Originally Posted by DocRock
My experience has been precisely the opposite. In both my wife's 2020 RX 350 and my 2021 RX 450h, the A/C is permanently set to Eco mode and the cabin temperature set to 73 degrees. I have noticed no discernible difference in MPG whether the A/C is on or off. On a 1,700 mile road trip last summer, my RX 450h averaged 40 MPG with the A/C on most of the entire trip.
u cannot compare 450h with 350h as it as electric battery
Old 04-16-22 | 09:14 AM
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Octane has nothing to do with the cleanliness if the engine. That's all the gas you use. Octane is just the detonation quotient for at what pressure the gas will ignite . High octane the higher the combustion pressure before detonation, In the old days if you had compression of 10 or more you needed higher octane to prevent pre ignition . Low octane gas would ignite a t a lower pressure but in a lot of case today they have pre ignition preventers built in that senses when to ignite so you can use ow octane gas on cars with compression of 9-10
Old 04-16-22 | 02:15 PM
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Just an FYI, the 2020 RX450h specs indicate a Compression Ratio of 13.0:1.
Old 04-26-22 | 05:54 AM
  #370  
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Default Post Your RX 350 Gas Mileage

I'd like to compare mine. I know EPA always puts out near unattainable numbers, especially with living in hilly areas, stop/go city driving, and my wife's desire to not always take it easy (lol). We have a 2017 and it seems to average 20-21 mpg, which seems awfully low. I moved it out of Eco mode, where before, the mpg was sitting at 19.1 mpg.

What are you guys getting?
Old 04-26-22 | 06:26 AM
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Following this. Just got a 2020 with 12k miles on it. Getting 300 miles per tank. Seems low. Wife an I are easy drivers.
Old 04-26-22 | 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by LaHoot
Following this. Just got a 2020 with 12k miles on it. Getting 300 miles per tank. Seems low. Wife an I are easy drivers.
I guess I shouldn't complain too much (though with 80% highway driving, I would have expected closer to 25 average mpg), because we have a Nissan Armada that is currently averaging 13.1 mpg (wtf right?)...but still.
Old 04-26-22 | 07:35 AM
  #373  
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Originally Posted by LaHoot
Following this. Just got a 2020 with 12k miles on it. Getting 300 miles per tank. Seems low. Wife an I are easy drivers.
What is your MPG? Paper-and-pencil, not dashboard.
Old 04-26-22 | 09:51 AM
  #374  
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We've had two GEN4 RX350's. Both equipped with AWD and 18" wheels. Both driven in hilly northern ( NY and PA ) areas.
Mileage calculations done from actual fill-up info using an Excell spreadsheet.

The 2016 got an average of 20.760 MPG for the 28k miles we had it.

The 2018 is getting a average of 20.671 MPG. Currently at 54,112 miles.

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Old 06-13-22 | 06:43 AM
  #375  
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Originally Posted by mikemu30
Agreed - our 17 with nearly 70K on the clock still looks new and drives perfectly. But I'm getting tired of filling that tank at $5/gallon.
Is your 2017 not economical and does it burn a lot of gas? Do you use regular or premium gas?


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