Lexus NX Review

The original Lexus NX arrived in 2014 and quietly became one of the brand’s more important models. It gave Lexus a proper foothold in the premium mid-size SUV market and attracted buyers who liked the idea of something more discreet than the usual German choices.

This second-generation Lexus NX builds on that formula rather than reinventing it. The styling is sharper, the cabin is more modern and the technology is far better integrated than before, but the core appeal is very familiar. The Lexus NX still feels like the premium SUV for buyers who value comfort, quality and reliability more than image-led showiness.

That gives it a slightly different flavour to key rivals. A BMW X3 tends to sell itself on sharpness and badge appeal, an Audi Q5 leans into all-round polish and the Volvo XC60 majors on Scandinavian style. The Lexus NX comes at the class from a calmer angle. It feels most at home wafting along quietly, isolating you from poor surfaces and getting on with daily life without much fuss.

The current UK line-up is also refreshingly straightforward by premium-SUV standards. The range is split between the Lexus NX 350h self-charging hybrid and the Lexus NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid. The 350h is available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive forms, while the 450h+ comes with all-wheel drive only.

That gives buyers a clear choice. The Lexus NX 350h is the easier version to recommend if you want efficient hybrid running without the hassle or commitment of plugging in. The Lexus NX 450h+ makes more sense if you can charge regularly and want the extra electric range, lower official CO2 figures and stronger performance.

The trim structure is broad enough to cater for different tastes, too. An Urban model now opens the 350h range, while Premium, Premium Plus, F Sport and Takumi grades take things further depending on how plush or visually assertive you want your Lexus NX to feel.

Where the Lexus NX falls short is mostly in the margins. Rear-seat space is fine rather than class-leading, and while the infotainment system is much improved over the old car, some buyers still will not love the sheer dominance of the big touchscreen. Pricing also rises quickly once you move beyond the lower trims or into plug-in hybrid territory.

Even so, the Lexus NX remains one of the more quietly convincing premium SUVs on sale. It is the sort of car that wins you over with its consistency rather than with one headline trick.

For most buyers, the Lexus NX 350h Premium is the best place to start. The self-charging hybrid system gives you strong efficiency without needing to plug in, and Premium trim brings the extra comfort and convenience features many buyers will want without pushing the price too far.

The Lexus NX 350h is the easier recommendation for private buyers because it avoids the much steeper price jump to the plug-in hybrid. It is also a genuinely easy car to live with. You simply fuel it and drive it, while still getting the smooth low-speed manners and efficiency benefits of a hybrid.

The Lexus NX 450h+ makes sense if you can charge at home and your routine involves lots of shorter trips, because its electric range is long enough to make a meaningful difference. It is also the quicker and more effortless version. But unless you are going to exploit the plug-in side properly, it is difficult to justify on value alone.

Trim-wise, Takumi is the most desirable if budget is no concern, but Premium looks like the sweet spot because it gives the Lexus NX a richer feel without drifting too far from the car’s sensible side.

The Lexus NX range starts at £43,960 for the NX 350h Urban and rises to £57,260 for the NX 450h+ Takumi in current UK form.

That puts the Lexus NX right into the heart of the premium mid-size SUV market. It is not a bargain alternative to a BMW X3 or Audi Q5. Instead, it is priced as a direct rival, albeit one that leans more heavily on standard equipment and ownership appeal than on badge theatre.

The difficulty comes when you move up the range. The self-charging hybrid still looks fairly competitive, but the plug-in hybrid versions head rapidly into territory where buyers may start to question whether they really need the extra spend.

The BMW X3 is one of the clearest alternatives if you want a premium SUV with a sharper edge from behind the wheel. The Audi Q5 remains the conservative all-round choice, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC is a strong option if plushness and badge appeal matter most.

The Volvo XC60 is perhaps the closest alternative in spirit, because it also majors on comfort, understated design and a calmer kind of premium appeal. The Genesis GV70 is worth considering if you want something similarly left-field but with a slightly more extrovert flavour.

If you are happy to look beyond premium badges, the Toyota RAV4 is an obvious relation worth mentioning because it shares some of the Lexus NX’s core engineering and hybrid logic, while a Kia Sorento makes more sense if outright family space matters more than brand prestige.

The front of the Lexus NX is a pleasant place to spend time. The seats are broad and supportive, the driving position is high enough to give that commanding SUV feel and there is enough adjustment for most drivers to settle in easily.

Material quality is a strong point too. The cabin feels very solid, and there is a consistent sense that the Lexus NX has been built to last. It is a different kind of luxury to the cleaner, more austere atmosphere you get in some rivals, but it works well.

Rear-seat space is perfectly decent rather than exceptional. Adults fit comfortably enough, and the rear seatbacks can be reclined, which adds a welcome touch of comfort on longer trips. But the Lexus NX is not the most spacious SUV in this class for rear passengers, and cars such as the BMW X3 and Kia Sorento feel more generous.

Boot space is stronger. The Lexus NX offers 545 litres, which is right in line with the premium-class norm and enough for family duties, holiday luggage or a couple of larger suitcases without much drama.

To put that into context, the Lexus NX sits very close to an Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, all of which are around the 550-litre mark. So while it is not a standout class leader, the Lexus NX is comfortably competitive against the cars buyers are most likely to cross-shop. It is only when you compare it with roomier mainstream SUVs such as a Kia Sorento that it starts to look less generous.

The shape of the load bay also helps. The opening is wide enough, the floor is usefully flat and there is not the sort of awkwardly styled tail that can make some coupe-SUV rivals more frustrating to pack. That makes the Lexus NX easier to live with than some style-led alternatives, even if the outright litre figure is merely competitive rather than exceptional.

Overall, the Lexus NX’s practicality is good enough for most buyers, but it is the quality and comfort that stand out more than any packaging masterstroke.

The Lexus NX measures 4,660mm long, 1,865mm wide and 1,670mm high.

That gives it the sort of footprint you would expect for a mid-size premium SUV. The Lexus NX is slightly larger than its predecessor, which helps with cabin room and overall presence, but it still sits neatly below bigger seven-seat SUVs in both size and role.

The Lexus NX was a big step forward for the brand because it finally introduced an infotainment system that feels properly current.

Lower trims get a 9.8-inch central touchscreen, while upper trims use a much larger 14-inch set-up. Both are easier to use than older Lexus systems, with clearer graphics, quicker responses and better integration of everyday functions. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard.

The good news is that Lexus has not surrendered everything to the screen. There are still physical controls for climate functions, which makes the Lexus NX easier to operate on the move than some rivals with more minimalist dashboards.

The downside is simply size. The larger 14-inch display dominates the dashboard and will not be to every taste, especially if you prefer something a little less visually intrusive.

Material quality is one of the Lexus NX’s biggest strengths. Tahara artificial leather is standard lower down the range, while the pricier versions add more overtly luxurious upholstery and trim.

Everything feels dense, well screwed together and built to survive the long haul. That sense of durability is a big part of what makes the Lexus NX feel reassuringly premium rather than merely decorative.

The current Lexus NX line-up centres on two electrified powertrains.

The Lexus NX 350h is the more straightforward choice, and for many buyers it will also be the better one. It delivers enough performance for everyday family use, moves between petrol and electric running smoothly enough in normal conditions and gives you the benefits of hybrid efficiency without asking you to plug in. That all makes it a very easy SUV to recommend if you simply want low-stress ownership.

The front-wheel-drive 350h is the range’s value-led option, but the all-wheel-drive version is a little quicker and better suited to buyers who want extra reassurance in poor conditions. The fuel-economy penalty is noticeable on paper, though not dramatic enough to make the AWD version hard to justify if you prefer the extra traction.

The Lexus NX 450h+ is the more impressive version on paper and in outright performance. With 309PS and a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, it is meaningfully quicker than the regular hybrid and feels more effortless as a result. More importantly, the ability to cover up to 47 miles on electric power alone means the plug-in hybrid can work very well as an electric-first car for shorter daily use if you charge it regularly.

That creates a fairly clear split in the range. The Lexus NX 350h is the simpler, easier ownership proposition and probably the one that suits most private buyers best. The Lexus NX 450h+ is the more desirable and more technically impressive car, but it only really makes financial sense if you can use the battery properly and exploit its electric range.

Comfort is the Lexus NX’s strongest dynamic quality. The suspension deals with poor roads very well, and the overall balance between body control and ride comfort is impressively well judged.

This is not an especially sporty SUV, and that is absolutely fine. The Lexus NX has enough grip and composure to feel secure, but it is at its best when driven smoothly rather than enthusiastically.

Refinement is generally very good too. Wind and road noise are kept well in check, and the hybrid system is at its best around town or in gentler cruising. Like many e-CVT-equipped hybrids, the Lexus NX can get louder and more strained under heavy acceleration, but in normal driving it is one of the more relaxing SUVs of its type.

The plug-in hybrid is the smoothest version of the lot, especially when running on electric power, and that only reinforces the Lexus NX’s comfort-led character.

The Lexus NX earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2022. That gives it the sort of reassuring safety result buyers should expect in this class.

The Lexus NX was also the first model to get the third generation of Lexus Safety System+, which brings a broad spread of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technology. Features such as lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and the clever Safe Exit Assist system all add to the sense that the Lexus NX has been designed with low-stress family use in mind.

The Lexus NX 350h returns up to 49.5mpg in front-wheel-drive form, which is a strong result for a petrol SUV of this size and power.

All-wheel-drive versions are a little less efficient, returning between 44.1mpg and 47.1mpg, but they still compare well with conventional petrol rivals.

The Lexus NX 450h+ is the headline grabber, with up to 47 miles of electric range. That is enough to cover plenty of daily commutes and school-run duties without using any petrol at all if you charge regularly.

Charging the plug-in hybrid via a 7kW wallbox takes about two and a half hours, which makes it easy to top up overnight or while parked at home during the day.

Lexus backs the NX with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, but the stronger selling point is the brand’s service-activated warranty scheme. As long as the car is maintained through the Lexus dealer network, cover can continue up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000 miles, so the intervals are fairly conventional, but the payoff is a reassuring aftercare package that’s stronger than many premium SUV alternatives.

Insurance groups run from 35 to 43 depending on model and trim. That puts the Lexus NX squarely into the expected territory for a premium SUV of this size and value.

The self-charging hybrid sits at the lower end of that spread, while pricier plug-in hybrid versions are inevitably more expensive to insure.

From the second year onwards, the Lexus NX pays the standard VED rate for petrol and hybrid cars, which is now £200 a year.

The more important issue is the Expensive Car Supplement, because every current Lexus NX sits above the £40,000 list-price threshold for non-zero-emission cars. That means all versions attract the extra charge from years two to six, taking annual VED to £640 over that period before it drops back to the standard rate.