Lexus NX

Overview: Is the Lexus NX a good compact luxury SUV?

The Lexus NX is a great choice for consumers looking for an all-around compact luxury SUV. The Lexus NX offers the perks of a true compact luxury SUV with its upscale interior, driver assist elements, and composed ride. Aside from offering an appealing cabin, the Lexus NX comes loaded with hordes of desirable standard features.

While the interior of the Lexus NX offers the comfort expected of a compact luxury SUV, it doesn’t have the cargo room of most of its rivals. It makes up for its lack of performance by delivering a plush ride.

Note: equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for a used Lexus NX for sale.

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Related: Are Lexus Good Cars? How To Make The Right Purchasing Decision

Key Features

The Lexus NX offers:

• A choice of two engines, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid
• A considerable driving range with the plug-in hybrid model (NX450h+)
• An interior loaded with plenty of comfort and luxury elements
• An optional 14-inch touchscreen display with clean graphics and quick responses.
• A driving position tailored to suit a wide variety of body types
• A drive leaning more towards comfort than performance

Trims

The current-generation Lexus NX is available in six NX trims, ranging in powertrains, horsepower, features, and more. These trims include the Lexus NX 250, Lexus NX 350 AWD, Lexus NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD, Lexus NX 350 H AWD, Lexus NX 450H+ AWD, and Lexus NX 450H+ F Sport Handling AWD. The Lexus NX 300 was only available in the first generation.

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

As a vehicle model coming from a brand focused on comfort, the Lexus NX doesn’t disappoint. Its seats are soft and comfortable, while other comfort creatures excellently do their job in keeping occupants feel sheltered even during a long drive. Even interior noise levels were reduced to the minimum.

All Lexus are equipped with a massive touchscreen infotainment display: a 9.8-inch display for the base model and a 14.0-inch unit for the higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and function via a wireless connection; while a 10-speaker stereo system is standard. Optionally available on models with the Premium or Luxury packages is a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system.

Compared to rival models, the Lexus NX doesn't offer as much cargo capacity. Nevertheless, it makes up by making the load area-wide and from is free from intrusions. The Lexus NX, however, offers plenty of usable and easily accessible room for personal items.

How It Drives

The 2024 Lexus NX has four powertrain choices. The Lexus NX 250 has a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Lexus NX 33550 comes with a 275-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter mill. The Lexus NX hybrid models have two electric motors combined with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder for 239 hp. Lastly, there’s the 302-hp plug-in-hybrid system derived from the RAV4 Prime.

All Lexus models offer compliant and comfortable drives. Higher-output models – even those with an adaptive suspension system – still favor a stable, comfortable drive over performance.

Safety

The current generation of the Lexus NX was the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ from 2021 to 2023. While the 2024 Lexus NX was only a Top Safety Pick, the consistently high ratings received by the Lexus NX are a testament to its safety attributes.

Reviews

The Lexus NX review from consumers at Edmunds was mixed, but a great majority of owners favor the luxury compact SUV. The compact luxury SUV received an average consumer rating of 4.0 stars out of five. Around 52% and 13% of owners give the compact luxury SUV five-star and four-star ratings, respectively. They cited the reliability of the Lexus NX, as well as its comfortable drive, intuitive climate control, great adaptive cruise control, and well-appointed interior.

Only around 9% of consumer reviews gave the Lexus NX the lowest rating (1 star). They cited Bad dragging engine noise and mileage not reaching the published figures.

Learn more: The Lexus NX Years To Avoid

Lexus NX FAQs

What is the Lexus NX comparable to?

The Lexus NX competes in the compact luxury SUV segment. This means it is comparable to the BMW X3, Genesis GV70, Acura RDX, and Lincoln Corsair. The Lexus NX price is also comparable to the tags of these models.

Does Lexus NX require premium gas?

Not all Lexus NX models require premium. Depending on the year and trim, some models may require premium gas. In other models, premium gas is just recommended.

Is Lexus NX smaller than RX?

The Lexus RX is longer, wider, and higher than the Lexus NX. This means the Lexus NX is smaller than the Lexus RX.

What does the NX stand for in Lexus?

According to Lexus, the name "NX" refers to "Nimble Crossover".

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