2015 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2015 Audi S3 vs Lexus RC

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,279/ year to fuel
26 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed dual-clutch · 26 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,693/ year to fuel
22 MPG

The 2015 Audi S3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,279 a year to fuel (26 MPG), versus $2,693 for the 2015 Lexus RC (22 MPG). That's roughly $414 a year, or about $2,072 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Audi S3
  • Lexus RC

Side by side

Audi S3Lexus RC
$2,279 Your annual fuel cost $2,693
26 MPG Combined efficiency 22 MPG
23 MPG City 19 MPG
31 MPG Highway 28 MPG
86 cu ft Passenger volume 84 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
340 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 401 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 3.5L 6-cyl
6-speed dual-clutch Transmission 8-speed automatic
AWD Drivetrain RWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Audi S3 vs Lexus RC across model years

  • Audi S3
  • Lexus RC

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 36 2015 subcompact cars, the Audi S3 ranks 20th and the Lexus RC 25th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Audi S3 or the 2015 Lexus RC?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi S3. The Audi S3 is rated 26 MPG combined and the Lexus RC 22 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Audi S3 vs. the Lexus RC per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,279 for the Audi S3 and $2,693 for the Lexus RC.

Audi S3 vs Lexus RC in other years

More 2015 comparisons

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