2023 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2023 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.
The 2023 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 $805 a year to fuel (113 MPGe), versus $2,370 for the 2023 Lexus RC (25 MPG). That's roughly $1,565 a year, or about $7,827 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 i4 | Lexus RC | |
|---|---|---|
| $805 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,370 |
| 113 MPGe | Combined efficiency | 25 MPG |
| 115 MPGe | City | 21 MPG |
| 111 MPGe | Highway | 31 MPG |
| 29.8 kWh | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | — |
| 256 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) | 355 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| 8 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 31 2023 subcompact cars, the BMW i4 ranks 1st and the Lexus RC 17th 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 2023 BMW i4 or the 2023 Lexus RC?
Measured by cost to drive, the BMW i4. The BMW i4 is rated 113 MPGe combined and the Lexus RC 25 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2023 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 $805 for the BMW i4 and $2,370 for the Lexus RC.
BMW i4 vs Lexus RC in other years
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