2020 Lexus RC
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2020 Lexus RC is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 5 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 19 to 24 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 to $4,200 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Subcompact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 19-24 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 24 / 19 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,300-$4,200 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 363-459 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 5-5 / 10 |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2020 RC costs about $3,300 to $4,200 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $3,710. Over five years that is about $18,550 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, this RC configuration spends about $5,000 more on fuel over five years.
For context, the average combined economy of subcompact cars in this dataset is about 27 MPG. The RC sits roughly 6 MPG below that mark at its midpoint, making it thirstier than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC 300 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
| RC 350 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 23 MPG | $3,450 |
| RC 300 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 21 MPG | $3,800 |
| RC 350 AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 21 MPG | $3,800 |
| RC F | 5.0L 8-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 19 MPG | $4,200 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2020 RC records tailpipe CO₂ of 363-459 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 5-5 out of 10. The EPA classifies it as subcompact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2020 RC up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2020 Lexus RC overview.
← All Lexus RC years ← All Lexus models
Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.