Lexus MPG By The Numbers VS. BMW

Lexus GS 350 VS BMW 535i

Mid-sized luxury vehicles are very enjoyable to drive around when you have a small family that you want to be able to transport comfortably. While these vehicles don't normally strive to get a great fuel economy, there is something to be said for a vehicle that is better on gas.

We'll take a look at the fuel economy numbers for the Lexus GS 350 and the BMW 535i over a five year period. Both of these vehicles have a 6-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission to keep the test as fair as possible.

GS 350 - 6 Cylinder (Automatic)

2009 - 19/26

2010 - 19/26

2011 - 19/26

2012 - 19/28

2013 - 19/28

The GS 350 doesn't improve its fuel economy in city driving conditions at all and stays at the same 19 mpg in 2013, that it has in 2009. As far as highway driving is concerned the car has improved by two points, from 26 in 2009 to 28 in 2013. This isn't a dramatic improvement, but it is certainly something that you would notice.

It is clear that Lexus hasn't put as much effort into improving the fuel economy of their GS 350 as they have some of their other vehicles such as the IS that has seen greater efficiency improvements, but at least they are making improvements, and they aren't moving in the opposite direction.

BMW 535i - 6 Cylinder (Automatic)

2009 - 17/26

2010 - 17/26

2011 - 19/28

2012 - 20/30

2013 - 20/30

Over the last five years BMW has improved the in-city economy of their 535i from 17 to 20 and their highway economy from 26 to 30. These are drastic improvements that give the car a slight edge over the Lexus GS 350.

It is clear that BMW has made a commitment to boost the efficiency of their 535i and future improvements should also be expected. 

If you are after a vehicle that has all of the latest tech gadgets then the GS 460 is probably the car for you, but the BMW 535i is being improved upon in the fuel efficiency department more for those who are interested in that.

Impressions Of The GX460

The Lexus GX 460 is an Impressive Vehicle

Anyone who is interested in a rugged off-road vehicle that has all the modern features that you would expect from a luxury vehicle should take a serious look at the Lexus GX 460. Not only does it have all of the power to handle off-roading, but it also has the benefit of being very comfortable and coming loaded with useful technology that makes driving it even more enjoyable.

The Power

The V-8 engine in this Lexus provides just over 301 horsepower to the vehicle which is more than enough to get it up the steepest hills that you can throw at it.

Off Road Handling

When you decide to take this Lexus off the road it has all the technology that you need to make sure you operate the vehicle safely. There are computer controlled mechanisms that will drive the vehicle for you, so that you aren’t pressing the gas or the brake too much while going up and down rough terrain.

While this is not as exciting as driving on your own, for anyone who is more worried about safety than excitement, these functions make driving in poor conditions much more enjoyable and relaxing.

The Technology

There is a whole slew of technology packed into the GX 460 which is good since it has a price tag of just over $50,000. It comes with a very nice 9-speaker surround sound radio that delivers great sound throughout the vehicle. It also has a backup camera to make getting out of the driveway, and parking the vehicle in tight conditions a little bit more manageable.

While you are driving down the highway the vehicle has cruise control sonar that functions very well. You can pick the speed that you want to travel at, and even if a vehicle in front of you is traveling at a slower speed you won't have to disengage the cruise control. Instead the vehicle will sense that there is a vehicle ahead and it will slow you down so that you don't hit them.

The interior of this SUV is very spacious for those in both the first and second rows. It also has a very modern appearance, and the soft suits are highly adjustable so that you can get them at exactly the position that is comfortable for you. The only complaint that we have is the third row seats don't provide much in the way of leg room, and it may not be suitable if adults or teenagers are going to have to ride in the third row on a regular basis.

Overall it is a very powerful SUV that is highly capable in all driving conditions, the extra bells and whistles don't hurt either.