DrComputer

In my LS600hL I average about 19 MPG with mostly city (or traffic on the freeway) driving and 24 MPG on road trips.

Mike_TX

As these crummy cellphone pix (taken on different days) show, I often get over 30mpg at 80 mph with my LS460 SWB.

And note that these aren't a trick - they are the mileage since last fillup figures, and with 100 miles or so on the clock, they make the point!




(The speed dropped a couple mph on that last one as I was taking the picture, but I had been running 80 on the interstate prior to both shots.)

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Whipple1

Wow ,thats awsome 33.1 mpg at 70+ mph, your tach was just tippin 1600rpm at that speed, I think thats great for this size car.I need to take a nice trip to check out the mileage,BTW those are nice pics for a cell phone.

Wandl

My LS460 SWB has close to 103k miles on it, drove it up north to Oklahoma (incidentally to trade the car in! But still got it...) and averaged 31mpg at 75-80mph! Crazy!

I did put new plugs and flushed every fluid imaginable (except the tranny) so it is in tip top shape, but it rode as smooth and quiet as ever...though I haven't done the jmcreany window fix yet.

Happy and surprised with this mpg!

LordBowral

Is this another one of those posts with someone trying to start an online dust up ? Why would anyone consider a Hyundai in the same breath as a Lexus LS ?? Its also small V6 engine so doesn't stack up against a larger V8

greg3852

Considering this is a 7 year old thread, I would hope he would have chosen by now....

tbilisi79

12-15 in city. Stop and go 0-30 mph and lots of stop signs .
Highway it's 25-30. Depending on speed .

Tec80

I get 24 driving to work, my '95 Corvette achieved 21 on the same drive and considering they are both dead even in a drag race (but the LS is infinitely more comfortable), I'm happy!

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

That 8 speed transmission is where it's at. In the 04+ 430 with our 6 speed we can get about 27 - 29 mpg when taking it easy. 70 mph or so. If the 430 had an 8 speed it could probably get 35 mpg... lol. Highway mileage on the 460 is excellent for a large V8 sedan. Also, your tank average is a lot more accurate then your current average.

Wandl

Agreed was telling my wife that my car is heavier than hers (Honda Pilot), has a bigger engine (V6 3.5 vs a 4.6L V8) and still gets better mpg (24mpg vs 31mpg on the same route).....the 8 speed tranny makes a huge difference!

Tec80

Surprisingly, the number of speeds in the transmission has nothing to do with highway fuel economy. This is because the cruise RPM selection (via final-drive ratio) will be the same in top gear regardless of what that top gear is. Top gear cruise RPM is selected (via axle ratio) to minimize the need to downshift out of top gear for hills at highway speeds.

Notice the pictures in the previous posts, even with the 8 speed the LS runs 2000RPM at 80, which is no slower than my '95 Corvette with 4-speed auto. More speeds does improve city fuel economy and transient driving, but not for highway cruise.

Devh

Apart from the gearing a lot of the fuel economy comes from the VVT technology and DI injection.
From what I read in the advertising the engine for the LS 460 and only the LS 460 is kind of like the muscle car equivalent of being blue printed.
The mass produce series of engine is made in the US and has proven it's self under severe duty for vehicles that have to go the distance under load.
It is possible that the car at the end of it's life will be driven to the junker still getting 30 miles to the gallon.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

With more gears the gearing is different and this helps for final drive. I am sure other newer technology like DI plays a role but for instance the 430 cruises about 70 mph at 2k rpms. 80 brings it up to 2200 or so and mileage goes down to 23 ish. Ideal mileage on the 430 is between 60 and 70 mph. 1700 - 2000 rpms. On the 460 you can stay in that range all the way 80+ mph. It is impressive.

Devh

If you put an the same 8 speed transmission in the 430 it will not get 35 mpg. That's just not going to happen. It is probable that it will get less not more.
As Tec80 has written it really depends on the final drive ratio. It also depends on the engine torque at a specific RPM to take advantage of the final drive ratio to be at peak efficiency.

The 430 is no longer impressive for the times and sooner then later neither will be the 460 but at it's current state it is a monumental leap with having your cake and eating it too.

Doublebase

If I'm not averaging 26 mpg on a tank of fuel in mixed diving, I'm doing something wrong.if we are talking more highway...I'd be averaging 28. The thing that kills my fuel mileage is the weekend stuff..the around town stuff...stop and go, etc.

My wife's Honda Crv is averaging 22.6 mpg right now...the best we've gotten it to is 26.

I'd consider the LS460 to be excellent in gas mileage, if you don't beat on it.