2020 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2020 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
$2,370/ year to fuel
25 MPG

AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 7-speed dual-clutch · 25 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,469/ year to fuel
24 MPG

The 2020 Audi S3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,370 a year to fuel (25 MPG), versus $2,469 for the 2020 Lexus RC (24 MPG). That's roughly $99 a year, or about $494 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
$2,370 Your annual fuel cost $2,469
25 MPG Combined efficiency 24 MPG
22 MPG City 21 MPG
29 MPG Highway 30 MPG
86 cu ft Passenger volume 84 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
358 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 363 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
7-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 39 2020 subcompact cars, the Audi S3 ranks 21st and the Lexus RC 24th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 Audi S3 or the 2020 Lexus RC?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi S3. The Audi S3 is rated 25 MPG combined and the Lexus RC 24 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 Audi S3 vs. the Lexus RC per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,370 for the Audi S3 and $2,469 for the Lexus RC.

Audi S3 vs Lexus RC in other years

More 2020 comparisons

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