Lexus NX review

The Lexus NX family SUV has a rather niche claim to fame – it was the first Lexus model to be available as both a regular hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.

That means you get a choice between the NX 350h version – which you simply fill up with petrol and drive – and the NX 450h, which you can also charge up and drive on electric power alone for reasonable distances.

One key benefit of the NX 450h is that its official electric range is pretty good by plug-in hybrid family SUV standards, and that in turn puts it in a lower company car tax bracket than the equivalent Audi Q5 and the same one as the BMW X3. Plus, in theory, it's capable of a whopping 314mph.

Lexus NX video review

All that sounds terribly sensible, doesn't it? But what about comfort, refinement and how good the Lexus NX is to drive? Read on as we put it to the test against the best family SUVs...

With one electric motor and a 2.5-litre petrol engine producing 241bhp, the regular hybrid Lexus NX 350h’s acceleration is reasonable for a family SUV, with an official 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds. For a bit more pace, you can get a four-wheel-drive version with a second motor, which cuts a second off the sprint time, to 7.7 seconds.

In our tests, the quicker of the two 350h models managed 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds, just outpacing a BMW X3 20 xDrive (7.3 seconds). The smooth and immediate response from the electric motors helps it feel effortless, especially at lower speeds. The single-motor, front-wheel drive version needs to be worked a bit harder to get up to speed.

The NX 450h plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pairs the same engine with a more powerful electric motor for a combined power output of 304bhp. That’s a pretty punchy combination – enough for a 0-60mph time of 5.8 seconds in our tests, beating the Mercedes GLC 300e by half a second and the Honda CR-V by more than two and a half seconds.

With its battery charged, the 450h operates like an electric car. That means quiet and fairly nippy acceleration up to motorway speeds. Officially, it can do up to 45 electric miles (depending on trim) but in our tests the engine was needed after 36.8 miles. That’s similar to a CR-V and a Volvo XC60 T6 Recharge the same day but much less than a GLC 300e (57 miles).

Entry-level versions of the NX have 18in wheels that give you the most forgiving ride. Better still, the suspension has enough control for it to remain calmer than an X3 at all speeds.

The 20in wheels on F-Sport and Takumi models ride comfortably at low speeds, and even over potholes they don’t cause the car to lose composure and send nasty jolts through your backside.

They're less impressive at motorway speeds though – the NX jostles you around, almost as though you're sitting on a washing machine on a slow spin cycle. The experience is gentle and stops short of being irritating, but the Audi Q5 TFSIe is more settled at faster speeds.

F-Sport trim comes with adaptive sports suspension to tighten up the handling. Even with this firmer set-up, the NX is forgiving over ripples, expansion joints and potholes, matching the Mercedes GLC 300e for comfort.

The NX's cornering abilities are good rather than great. It's not a fun and sporty family SUV but it does grip the road well and there's not too much body lean during cornering. Its steering is precise with enough weight and consistency to give you confidence on twisty roads. 

The heavier 450h PHEV feels a little less agile than the 350h, but the adaptive suspension on F-Sport models allows you to improve body control by firming it up at the touch of a button.

The NX balances comfort and composure similarly to the Volvo XC60 and is more nimble than the Mercedes GLC 300e. For outright driver enjoyment, you'll be better off with a BMW X3, with its meatier steering, tighter body control and higher levels of grip.

When the 450h’s battery is charged up and it's running like an electric car, there's just a hint of motor whine. If the battery runs flat (on both the 350h and 450h), the 2.5-litre petrol engine fires into life. You can hear it happening and you’ll notice a small amount of vibration through the steering wheel and seat, mainly because of the contrast with full electric mode.

When you put your foot down harder, the NX's CVT automatic gearbox means the engine revs soar and it sounds rather coarse, while sending vibrations up through the floor. At least the engine fades into the background at a cruise.

There’s a hint of wind noise by the door mirrors on a motorway, although Premium trim and above come with acoustic front windows to reduce this. Road noise could be quieter, even on the smaller tyres of the entry-level models. Most rival premium-brand family SUVs do a better job of filtering out road noise.

“By hybrid standards, the Lexus NX's brakes are fairly predictable. There's some grabbiness but I found I wasn't having to concentrate too hard to bring the car to a smooth stop.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

The front seats in the Lexus NX are some of the best you’ll find in a family SUV. They’re heavily bolstered and have a wide range of adjustments. On the 350h, they’re electrically adjustable from Premium Plus Pack and up, while all 450h models get electric adjustment for the seat and steering wheel.

The driving position itself isn’t perfect. Some of our taller testers felt slightly hunched over the steering wheel, wishing the dashboard and steering wheel were mounted a bit higher (or the seat dropped lower). A Land Rover Discovery Sport or Volvo XC60 offers a more natural and commanding driving position.

The NX's dashboard has been designed to wrap around the driver and puts everything in your eye line. It works well, with the raised centre console bringing many of the major controls to hand height – for example, you don’t need to use the infotainment touchscreen to adjust the interior temperature because Lexus has fitted some good old-fashioned dials.

The NX isn't quite as easy to see out of forwards as an Audi Q5 or Honda CR-V because its wide windscreen pillars tend to get in the way more at junctions and roundabouts. The low dashboard gives a clear view ahead though.

Smaller side windows mean over-the-shoulder visibility is more compromised than it is in the BMW X3. However, you shouldn’t have any trouble parking because all models come with front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Premium Plus trim and above get an upgraded 360-degree camera.

The NX's infotainment touchscreen comes in two sizes – 9.8in on entry-level NX and Premium Pack models and 14in on other trims. The larger screen has big icons that are well spaced out and easy to hit, and responds quickly to prods. By contrast, the smaller screen is frustratingly slow to respond and struggles to load menus smoothly, making it more distracting than it should.

The rival BMW X3 has the benefit of a rotary controller, which makes the infotainment system less distracting to use while you're driving, while the Mercedes GLC touchscreen is angled to make it easier to reach from the driving seat.

All versions of the NX come with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. Plus, you get a four-year subscription to Lexus online services.

The NX doesn't feel quite as solid inside as an Audi Q5 or Volvo XC60 but it feels consistently more upmarket with its use of materials than a BMW X3. 

Lexus covers most surfaces with soft materials and glossy trim finishers, with a choice of a cream, black, red or tan for the leather bits. They arguably give the car a more special look and feel.

Everything also feels well screwed together, and pretty much everything you touch and press feels ready to stand the test of time and the rigours of daily family use.

“Takumi versions of the NX come with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, which sounds fantastic. If you're a music lover, I'd definitely recommend it.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

As the Lexus NX is a big car, you probably wouldn’t expect to struggle to fit in the front. And you won’t, even if you’re really tall, although the steeper slope of its front windscreen makes it feel a little more confined than the boxier BMW X3.

The optional sunroof (standard on Takumi models) does reduce head room slightly.

Storage space is respectable, with decent-sized door bins, a cubby under the centre armrest and a couple of cupholders by a wireless charging tray for a mobile phone between the front seats.

Two tall passengers will be perfectly comfortable in the back seats of the NX, with plenty of head and leg room, and space for feet under the front seats. It’s slightly more spacious than in the back of an Audi Q5. If you want to stretch out your legs, take a look at the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60.

Three adults in the back of the NX will find it a bit of a squeeze (the same is true in most family SUVs) but you can recline the seatbacks for a more laid-back seating position. Plus, the hump in the floor is reasonably low, whereas in the X3, a middle passenger has very little foot space.

Like most rivals, the NX is a five-seater, with no seven-seater version. If you want to carry more than five people, look at the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mercedes GLB. Of course, there are non-premium seven-seat SUVs too, including the excellent Hyundai Santa Fe.

You can adjust the angle of the rear seatbacks in the NX, plus they split and fold flat in a 60/40 configuration (and lie flush with the boot floor) when you need extra space for luggage.

The seats in the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60 split in a more flexible 40/20/40 arrangement. Like in the X3, there aren’t any levers in the NX’s boot that allow you to fold down the rear seatbacks remotely, so you have to open the rear doors and reach in to release them. However, Lexus does at least give you a powered tailgate as standard on all trim levels.

The NX has 520 litres of boot space, which is average for the family SUV class. That allows it to swallow seven carry-on suitcases with the parcel shelf and rear seats in place – one more than the Mercedes GLC 300e and matching the Audi Q5 50 TFSIe, the BMW X3 xDrive30e and the Volvo XC60 T6 Recharge.

The NX's boot floor sits flush with the sill at the entrance, so you don’t have to heave heavier items over a load lip. There's also an underfloor storage area for the charging cables and load cover, which you won’t find in most rivals.

“It's a pity the Lexus NX's rear seats don't slide back and forth on runners. I love this feature in the Audi Q5 because it allows you to easily prioritise rear passenger space or boot space.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The Lexus NX 350h certainly isn’t the cheapest family SUV you can buy, but it undercuts the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60 by a healthy margin. The same can be said for the NX 450h – in entry-level specification, it's cheaper than the X3 30e xDrive, the Mercedes GLC 300e and the XC60 T6 Recharge. Check the latest prices on our New Car Deals pages.

The NX is a compelling choice as a company car. The 350h produces less CO2 than a similarly priced mild-hybrid X3 so you'll have lower BIK tax payments. Better still, the 450h's low CO2 emissions and good electric range mean you’ll pay just 8%.

That’s more than the 2% an electric car attracts or the 5% you’ll pay for the GLC 300e, but the NX its lower P11D list price means it’s still a strong choice overall.

If you opt for the 450h plug-in hybrid, you could potentially save a lot on fuel costs. You probably won't get close to its official 314mpg figure, but if you keep the battery topped up and make mainly short journeys it should be very frugal. When the battery runs down, you can expect up to 35-40mpg with careful driving.

In the regular hybrid 350h, we achieved a real-world fuel economy figure of 41.7mpg, against 37.9mpg from a BMW X3 20 xDrive on the same day.

The 450h's battery has a maximum charging rate of 6.6kW so a 0-100% charge takes around two hours and 45 minutes (the plug-in X3 and XC60 are limited to 3.7kW).

The NX's specification structure was revised to make it more straightforward, but whichever model you go for, the standard kit list is impressive. The base spec, called Urban, is only available on the 350h and comes with 18in wheels, keyless entry, heated faux-leather front seats and two-zone climate control.

Premium (which is the entry-level trim for the 450h) adds a heated steering wheel, privacy glass and wireless phone-charging. We recommend ticking the options box for Lexus Link Pro, which introduces built-in sat-nav and a larger infotainment touchscreen.

That combination is our pick of the range, but we wouldn't deter you from stepping up to Premium Plus if you want a head-up display, the larger touchscreen, ambient lighting, real leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and 360-degree view parking camera.

We don't recommend the range-topping Takumi trims. They come with loads of luxuries, including some more upmarket interior finishes, a digital rear-view mirror and 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system upgrade, but push the price too close to that of altogether larger PHEV SUVs, including the Volvo XC90 (which is a seven-seater).

Reliability is arguably one of the biggest reasons to choose a Lexus. The brand finished second out of 31 manufacturers rated in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey and the latest NX finished fourth out of 33 models in the family SUV class. The 2014-2021 NX did even better, coming top of the class.

The NX was awarded five stars out of five for safety by Euro NCAP and it certainly gets lots of kit to help you avoid an accident.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition are standard across the range. Blind-spot monitoring is fitted to Premium trim and above, while Takumi versions get lane-change assist and front cross-traffic alert.

“The Lexus NX has excellent resale values. That helps it cost less per month than rivals if you plan to buy through PCP finance, which in my experience many people will.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

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