2025 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2025 Lexus RC vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
AWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 9-speed automatic · 37 MPGe + 20 MPG
The 2025 Lexus RC is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $2,370 a year to fuel (25 MPG), versus $2,652 for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid (37 MPGe + 20 MPG). That's roughly $282 a year, or about $1,411 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 RC
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
Side by side
| Lexus RC | Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,370 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,652 |
| 25 MPG | Combined efficiency | 37 MPGe + 20 MPG |
| 21 MPG | City | 36 MPGe / 19 MPG |
| 31 MPG | Highway | 38 MPGe / 22 MPG |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 57 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 320 mi |
| — | All-electric range | 1 mi |
| 84 cu ft | Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| 10 cu ft | Cargo volume | 7 cu ft |
| 356 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 362 g/mi |
| 5/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 5/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 1.2 hrs |
| Gas | Powertrain | Plug-in hybrid |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Premium gas + electricity |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 8-speed automatic | Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| RWD | Drivetrain | AWD |
✓ 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 RC vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid across model years
- Lexus RC
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid
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 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid has more passenger space (93 vs. 84 cu ft); the Lexus RC has more cargo space (10 vs. 7 cu ft).
Among 30 2025 subcompact cars, the Lexus RC ranks 16th and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid 19th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Lexus RC is a conventional gas model, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2025 Lexus RC or the 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid?
Measured by cost to drive, the Lexus RC. The Lexus RC is rated 25 MPG combined and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid 37 MPGe + 20 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2025 Lexus RC vs. the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $2,370 for the Lexus RC and $2,652 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Plug-in Hybrid.
Which has more cargo space?
The Lexus RC, with 10 cu ft of luggage volume versus 7 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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