2022 head-to-head · Subcompact Car

2022 BMW i4 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
2022 BMW i4Electric
$834/ year to fuel
109 MPGe
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,370/ year to fuel
25 MPG

The 2022 BMW i4 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $834 a year to fuel (109 MPGe), versus $2,370 for the 2022 Lexus RC (25 MPG). That's roughly $1,536 a year, or about $7,678 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

  • BMW i4
  • Lexus RC

Side by side

BMW i4Lexus RC
$834 Your annual fuel cost $2,370
109 MPGe Combined efficiency 25 MPG
109 MPGe City 21 MPG
108 MPGe Highway 31 MPG
30.9 kWh Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) —
301 mi Driving range —
90 cu ft Passenger volume 84 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 10 cu ft
0 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 356 g/mi
10/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
10/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
10 hrs Charge time at 240V —
Electric Powertrain Gas
Electricity Fuel Premium gasoline
Electric motor (250 kW) Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Single-speed Transmission 8-speed automatic
RWD 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.

BMW i4 vs Lexus RC across model years

  • BMW i4
  • 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

Per EPA interior volume figures, the BMW i4 has more passenger space (90 vs. 84 cu ft).

Among 34 2022 subcompact cars, the BMW i4 ranks 2nd and the Lexus RC 20th for lowest fuel cost.

Because the BMW i4 is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Lexus RC; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2022 BMW i4 or the 2022 Lexus RC?

Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i4. The BMW i4 is rated 109 MPGe combined and the Lexus RC 25 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2022 BMW i4 vs. the Lexus RC per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with 18¢/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $834 for the BMW i4 and $2,370 for the Lexus RC.

BMW i4 vs Lexus RC in other years

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