History/Overview
The Lexus NX arrived in 2015 and was, at the time, the company's smallest. It's now the second smallest, with the UX slitting in underneath, but this crossover hasn't grown. It offers gas and hybrid electric powertrains, offering some thrift with its luxury trimmings.
What's New / Key Changes from Last Year
For 2021, Lexus has given the NX and active safety system upgrade to add blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. The Mark Levinson audio system adds a new amplifier, and the horn pad has been revised.
Available Trims
The Lexus NX comes as the NX 300 or the NX 300h. The NX 300 uses a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine matched to a six-speed transmission and AWD. The hybrid NX 300h gets a 2.5L engine assisted by electric power. It has a CVT and all-wheel drive.
Standard Features
NX 300 comes with eight-way power-adjust front seats that are heated. The wheel is leather, and there is dual-zone automatic climate control. Passive keyless entry is included while infotainment is an 8.0-inch display that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
LED lights are standard and the safety suite includes lane departure alert with steering assist, pre-collision detection with cyclist and pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, auto high beams, and rear cross traffic alert.
The hybrid is similarly equipped, but lacks LED headlights.
Key Options
Six option packages are available on the gas version of the NX. Premium adds power tilt and telescope wheel, 18-inch alloys, power roof, heated wheel, ventilated front seats and seat memory, and a 120V power outlet.
Luxury adds rain sensing wipers, auto-leveling premium LED headlights, parking sensors, navigation, leather, 10.3-inch screen, and wood trim. Executive adds wireless charging, heated rear seats, panoramic camera views, Mark Levinson audio, power folding rear seats, and a power tailgate.
F Sport Series 1 takes the base model and adds power tilt/telescope wheel, sport suspension, driver seat memory, ventilated front F Sport seats, and F Sport accents including grille and badging.
F Sport Series 2 adds rain sensing wipers, navigation, parking sonar, and 10.3-inch display. F Sport Series 3 adds an adaptive suspension, wireless charging, heated rear seats, Mark Levinson Audio, and power hatch.
The NX 300h's options are limited to Premium and Executive packages that add the same lists of luxury and convenience items. There is also an F Sport Blackline Edition that adds the features of F Sport Series 3 minus adaptive suspension.
Fuel economy
Lexus's fuel consumption estimates for the NX 300 are 10.7/8.5 L/100 km (city/highway); the NX 300h is rated at 7.2/7.9 L/100 km.
Competition
The NX's competitors include the Acura RDX, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, BMW X1 and X2, Cadillac XT4, Volvo XC40, Lincoln MKC/Corsair and Infiniti QX50.
