How many miles per gallon does a 2016 Lexus RC F get?
The 2016 Lexus RC F is EPA-rated at 16 miles per gallon in city driving, 23 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined.
Beyond the headline numbers, the RC F pairs a 5.0-liter V8 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, prioritizing performance over fuel economy. These figures reflect US-spec models and can vary with driving style, road conditions, and optional equipment.
Official EPA figures
To understand how the RC F performs at the pump, here are the government estimates for the 2016 model with rear-wheel drive and the standard eight-speed automatic:
- City: 16 mpg
- Highway: 23 mpg
- Combined: 18 mpg
These numbers provide a baseline for comparing the RC F to other performance coupes and to its own Lexus stablemates. Real-world results may vary from these estimates depending on usage patterns.
What drives these numbers
The RC F’s powertrain is designed for acceleration and straight-line speed rather than frugality. Key physical factors include the engine displacement and horsepower, weight, aerodynamics, and the eight-speed automatic transmission's shift logic. In the U.S. market, the RC F was offered only with rear-wheel drive (no factory AWD option for this model year), which also influences overall efficiency compared with all-wheel-drive rivals.
What affects mpg on a high-performance coupe?
- Driving style (aggressive acceleration and heavy throttle use lowers mpg)
- Vehicle speed and highway vs. city driving mix
- Ambient temperature and climate-control usage
- Tire condition and load in the vehicle
- Maintenance, fuel quality, and drivetrain health
In practice, actual mileage tends to cluster around the EPA estimates when cruising at steady highway speeds, but can drop notably with spirited driving or heavy city traffic.
Real-world expectations
Owners and testers often report mileage that reflects driving habits more than the sticker figures. On longer highway trips with stable speeds, the RC F can approach the low-to-mid 20s mpg range; in dense urban environments or with repeated launches, the combined figure can drop into the teens. Overall, expect a practical range that centers around 17–20 mpg in mixed conditions for typical daily use.
Summary
The 2016 Lexus RC F, with its 5.0L V8 and eight-speed automatic, is EPA-rated at 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. While not a green choice, the numbers reflect a performance-focused design. Real-world mileage will vary based on driving style, conditions, and maintenance, but the EPA estimates offer a useful baseline for budgeting fuel costs.
What is the real mpg of the Lexus RC F?
When we ran a Lexus RC F in our long-term Fast Fleet, matching Lexus's official combined mpg figure of 26.2 proved tricky; we averaged around 22mpg. For comparison, our long-term Audi RS5 averaged 25.9mpg against an official claim of 32.5mpg.
Is the Lexus RC F reliable?
Very underrated luxury sports car
This vehicle (rcf) was more than I expected, it was luxurious, very good in performance, and not to mention very reliable. I had the car for 4 years, no issues at all. I drove it hard and it responded well. Top notch luxury and performance.
What is the gas mileage on a 2016 Lexus RCF?
This suggests our drive loop skewed more toward highway driving, as the Lexus has an EPA highway rating of 25 mpg, where the M4 automatic is 24 mpg and the ATS-V manual is 23 mpg. In more balanced city/highway driving, the EPA predicts all three cars will get 19 mpg.
What's faster, RC F or LC500?
The RC F, especially the Track Edition, has many aerodynamic features to assist it. Perhaps this is why the LC 500 does the sprint in 4.4 seconds. That's a bit longer than the RC F with 4.2 seconds or the RC F Track Edition with 3.96 seconds.
