Lexus NX Review 2023

If you're looking for a slightly left-field competitor to the best SUVs around, the Lexus NX is an excellent choice. You don't really lose out in terms of standard equipment or interior quality (it feels just as upmarket as competitors) and it also has the advantage of two very efficient hybrid engines. Sure, it's quite expensive (but so are rivals) and you'll get more space if you're willing to compromise on the premium badge. It's cheap to run, though and Lexus has a legendary reliability record.

Deciding between the Lexus NX 350h and NX 450h+ depends on your requirements. If you're looking for hassle-free motoring, without the need to plug the car in, go for the Lexus NX 350h. It's a very efficient choice with little effort and also has a significant price advantage over the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid.

If you cover a lot of short journeys, have the ability (and desire) to charge a car at home and the idea of silent running appeals, push the budget for the NX 450h+. It's also quicker than the NX 350h, if that matters.

In terms of trim levels, again, it probably comes down to your personal desires. We've only sampled the Lexus NX F Sport but we suspect it'll be at its best in a more comfort-minded trim. The NX Takumi is the most desirable model, in our eyes, but it's not cheap...

While Lexus might have been the original hybrid premium brand, there's now no shortage of very impressive electrified competitors. The Volvo XC60, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Jaguar F-Pace and Mercedes GLC are all available with some sort of hybrid power.

You may also want to look at the new Genesis GV70 (if you're in the market for an SUV that'll stand out from the crowd), while, if you're not fussed about a premium badge, there are some excellent mainstream competitors. These include the Hyundai Santa Fe, the excellent Kia Sorento and even the NX's close relation, the Toyota RAV4.

If you're splashing £50,000 (or more) on a premium SUV, you want it to feel a bit special. And the new Lexus NX certainly ticks that box.

Standard NX models come with artificial leather seats, while pricier trim levels come with actual cow skin. A leather gear shift lever is standard across the range, while spec-dependent inlays brighten up the dash.

Everything feels well finished and there isn't a flimsy finish to be found in the cab of the NX. Going by older Lexus models, we have no doubt that it will still be feeling fresh years down the line – the brand's reputation for dependability extends to the quality of its cabins.

If you want evidence that the Lexus NX has moved on significantly compared to its predecessor, look no further than the infotainment.

High-spec models come with Lexus Link Pro, a huge 14-inch HD touchscreen navigation system. If you prefer a TomTom stuck on the dash and a CD player providing your tunes, you'll hate it, but it's actually one of the more intuitive systems we've used. It's quick, too, while you can shout 'hey Lexus' at it when it would be too distracting to scroll through menus on the move.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard which means you can mirror apps from your phone onto the car's in-built display. On lower-spec Lexus NX models, you'll find a smaller (but not actually that small) 9.8-inch display which we're yet to sample.

The Lexus NX is slightly bigger than its predecessor at 4660mm long, 1865mm wide (with the mirrors folded) and 1670mm tall, so, unsurprisingly, it's a bit more spacious inside. 

The boot can handle 545 litres of luggage, which is pretty standard for a premium SUV of this size (the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Audi Q5 can all take 550 litres). Lexus knows its market, saying that the NX's boot is big enough for three golf bags or two large suitcases. If you need a bit more space, you might be better looking at a mainstream alternative like the Kia Sorento.

Front-seat passengers aren't going to have any gripes with the space on offer in the Lexus NX. You sit high up (not something that can be taken for granted in all SUVs), while there's a wide centre console separating the driver and passenger. There's a decent amount of storage under the centre armrest, while two chunky cup holders will prevent any awkward spillages.

There's a reasonable amount of room in the rear, while the seatbacks can be reclined for extra comfort. That's a bit of a novelty in this class.

There are two engine setups available in the Lexus NX: a hybrid (badged the Lexus NX 350h) and a plug-in hybrid (badged the Lexus NX 450h+). Both use the same 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor. The Lexus NX 350h has a total power output of 244PS while the NX 450h+ produces a combined 309PS.

The Lexus NX 350h is likely to be bigger seller. It's refined and genteel to drive, with the CVT automatic gearbox only creating a din during sharpish acceleration. The Lexus NX 450h+ is equally impressive and, despite its heavy weight, will cover 0-62mph in a fairly brisk 6.3 seconds. The Volvo XC60 T8 is quicker, but you're much better to sit back and enjoy the slightly more relaxed nature of the Lexus NX.

The majority of Lexus NX models sold in the UK will be four-wheel drive. It's the only drivetrain available in the Lexus NX 450h+, although entry-level NX 350h models are offered with power going to the front wheels. That's fine if you're on a budget, but the fuel consumption penalty of a four-wheel-drive Lexus NX is minimal.

For those seeking a quiet, comfortable and refined SUV, the Lexus NX ticks those boxes very nicely indeed. You're well insulated from any outside disturbance, with very little in the way of wind or road noise making its way into the cabin.

The Lexus NX uses an e-CVT transmission, which isn't usually good news for refinement. We found that the Lexus NX 450h+ test car has enough power for building speed fairly rapidly, though, without the need to floor the accelerator pedal. This avoids the usual din of a CVT gearbox during maximum acceleration.

The Lexus NX is the brand's first model to be fitted with the third generation of its Safety System+. This brings with it an extensive list of driver-assist functions intended to prevent a collision. Highlights include lane keep assist, dynamic radar cruise control and a pre-collision system.

A blind spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert are standard on F Sport and Takumi models (optional on the base Lexus NX), while an extended safety pack with front cross traffic alert and lane change assist is standard on the Takumi (optional on the F Sport).

On top of this, there are lots of airbags dotted around the cabin, while the outer rear seats are fitted with ISOFIX child seat mounting points.

One clever safety feature we haven't seen before (on any model) is the e-latch electronic door opening system. To open doors from inside, you press a button, which then checks with the car's blind spot monitoring system to see if there are any vehicles approaching on the outside. If there is, it stops you from opening the door and, hopefully, prevents a collision.

The Lexus NX was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2022.

If you're looking for a reliable SUV, your search should end here. Lexus always performs well in reliability surveys and regularly comes top for reliability in the HonestJohn Satisfaction Index. Lexus (and sister brand Toyota) has decades of experience making hybrid cars that have earned a strong reputation for dependability.

Insurance groups for the Lexus NX 350 and NX 450h+ range from group 31-41. The standard trim NX 350 falls into groups 30 and 31. F Sport trim covers groups 35-40 with the Lexus NX 450h+ in Takumi trim falls into group 41. 

Whether you choose the hybrid NX 350h or plug-in hybrid NX 450h+, all Lexus NX models are classed as alternatively fuelled vehicles. That means you'll get a £10/year discount in your annual road tax, bringing it down to £145/year (after the first year).

That's the end of the good news. Any car with a list price of more than £40,000 (that's all Lexus NX models) gets stung by an additional premium car tax for five years (from the second time the car's taxed). That means you'll pay £480 a year in VED. That's no worse than rivals, though – and if you want to avoid this, you might want to consider a pure-electric alternative like the BMW iX3.

Standard equipment on the entry-level Lexus NX includes a 9.8 touchscreen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a 10-speaker Pioneer audio system (including CD player) and leather seats (heated in the front). You also get a powered tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-LED headlights with automatic main beam, rain-sensing wipers and the Lexus Safety System+ suite of safety and driver assistance systems.

You can build on the standard Lexus NX grade with the Premium Pack, which adds privacy glass, keyless entry, LED cornering lights and front fog lights, one-colour ambient interior lighting, a heated steering wheel and a wireless phone charger. The Premium Pack also adds a Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist, as well as front and rear sensors with approaching vehicle detection, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats with two-way power lumbar support for the driver (Lexus NX 450h+).

On top of that, there's the Premium Plus Pack. That adds four-eye LED headlights, headlight cleaners, 20-inch alloy wheels with run-flat tyres, smooth leather upholstery, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats (NX 350h), heated rear seats, heated and ventilated front seats, digital cockpit, panoramic camera, head-up display and customisable ambient lighting.

The Lexus NX F Sport builds on the Premium Plus Pack with 20-inch F Sport alloy wheels and adaptive suspension. F Sport exterior styling includes a black mesh grille, black roof rails and black door mirror covers. Inside, you'll find an F Sport leather steering wheel, a leather gear lever and aluminium sports pedals. You can also build on the Lexus NX F Sport with the Takumi Pack, which adds a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system (on the Lexus NX 350h), a digital rear-view mirror, automated parking and additional features of the Safety System+ (Front Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist). There's also a panoramic sunroof on the NX 350h and a standard sunroof on the NX 450h+.

The top-spec Lexus NX Takumi features the same specification as the Premium Plus Pack but builds on it with 20-inch Machined alloy wheels, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system (on the NX 350h), a digital rear-view mirror and automated parking. The Lexus Safety System+ is expanded to include Front Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist, while you also get a card key in addition to the standard key. Inside, there's a black wood inlay on the dash, four-way adjustable lumbar support, and a panoramic sunroof on the NX 450h (a standard sunroof on the NX 450h+).