2025 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2025 Lexus ES vs Tesla Model 3

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
$1,661/ year to fuel
28 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$664/ year to fuel
137 MPGe

The 2025 Tesla Model 3 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $664 a year to fuel (137 MPGe), versus $1,661 for the 2025 Lexus ES (28 MPG). That's roughly $997 a year, or about $4,983 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

  • Lexus ES
  • Tesla Model 3

Side by side

Lexus ESTesla Model 3
$1,661 Your annual fuel cost $664
28 MPG Combined efficiency 137 MPGe
24 MPG City 145 MPGe
33 MPG Highway 128 MPGe
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 24.6 kWh
— Driving range 363 mi
97 cu ft Passenger volume 97 cu ft
14 cu ft Cargo volume 15 cu ft
320 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 11.7 hrs
Gas Powertrain Electric
Regular gasoline Fuel Electricity
2.5L 4-cyl Engine / motor Electric motor (192 kW)
8-speed automatic Transmission Single-speed
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.

Lexus ES vs Tesla Model 3 across model years

  • Lexus ES
  • Tesla Model 3

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 Tesla Model 3 has more cargo space (15 vs. 14 cu ft).

Among 42 2025 midsize cars, the Lexus ES ranks 21st and the Tesla Model 3 1st for lowest fuel cost.

Because the Tesla Model 3 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 ES; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Tesla Model 3?

Measured by cost to drive, the Tesla Model 3. The Lexus ES is rated 28 MPG combined and the Tesla Model 3 137 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2025 Lexus ES vs. the Tesla Model 3 per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,661 for the Lexus ES and $664 for the Tesla Model 3.

Which has more cargo space?

The Tesla Model 3, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Lexus ES vs Tesla Model 3 in other years

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