As soon as upon a time, hybrids accounted for a tiny slice of the gross sales in a given mannequin vary. Now, they’re dominating Toyota and Lexus showrooms.
Within the case of the mid-sized Lexus NX SUV, patrons have flocked to the NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h plug-in hybrid, resulting in lengthy wait occasions.
The NX 250 sitting on the backside of the vary hasn’t seen fairly the identical fanfare. Though it doesn’t have the identical miserly powertrain as the favored NX 350h, the NX 250 has lots to supply on paper.
It’s near $10,000 cheaper than the subsequent mannequin within the vary, the NX 350h 2WD Luxurious, and nonetheless comes loaded with customary tools.
Lexus doesn’t actually do stripped-out base fashions; though you miss out on a few of the niceties on provide elsewhere within the vary, even the most cost effective NX is a beautiful place to spend time.
Do you actually need hybrid energy?
How does the Lexus NX examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Lexus NX towards equally sized autos.
Lexus
NX
How a lot does the Lexus NX price?
The NX 250 2WD is comfortably the most cost effective mannequin in its vary, even with the Enhancement Pack ($3000) fitted to our tester.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-roads |
|---|---|
| 2024 Lexus NX 250 2WD | $63,400 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350 AWD F Sport | $80,060 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD Luxurious | $71,600 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD Sport Luxurious | $79,100 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD F Sport | $79,100 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h AWD Luxurious | $76,400 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h AWD Sports activities Luxurious | $83,900 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h AWD F Sport | $83,900 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 450h+ AWD F Sport | $95,248 |
To see how the Lexus NX strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
What’s the Lexus NX like on the within?
The small display screen, easier instrument binnacle, and lack of a head-up show out this as a base mannequin, however there’s nonetheless a number of luxurious goodness right here.
The driving place is sweet, providing a commanding view of the highway forward and loads of assist on lengthy journeys.
There’s loads of legroom, however the sunroof does eat into headroom and make for a barely extra claustrophobic area.
Given it’s not a full-length panoramic unit, it’s not essentially vital.
High quality is superb. This being a base mannequin, you possibly can count on a number of tough edges or low cost contact factors however that’s not how Lexus operates.
The fake leather-based trim on the seats is supple, and the steering wheel and stubby gearstick are high quality gadgets.
With no head-up show, you additionally get correct buttons on the steering wheel as an alternative of the fiddly items in costlier fashions.
In comparison with costlier fashions, you do miss out on some package. The 8.0-inch touchscreen seems to be small within the giant, gloss black housing on the dashboard, and the digital instrument binnacle is an easy display screen flanked by analogue gas and temperature gauges, and an oblong journey pc.
The small touchscreen is totally featured. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored flawlessly throughout our week with the automotive, and it’s fast to reply to inputs.
Lexus has moved away from fiddly controls and irritating menus with its newest tech, and has made its vehicles a lot simpler to advocate within the course of.
Lexus will get further factors for together with large temperature dials, and leaving key local weather management capabilities anchored on the base of the show no matter what else you’re doing.
Satellite tv for pc navigation wasn’t activated on our tester, however three years of cloud-based mapping is customary once you activate your Lexus Linked Companies account.
Space for storing up entrance is stable. There’s a wi-fi cellphone charger on the base of the dashboard which could be slid away to disclose a spot for wallets or keys, and a USB-A and USB-C mixture port to maintain your units juiced up.
The underarm bin is deep, the cupholders are the suitable dimension for a Melbourne espresso, and the door bins have room for a big water bottle.
Rear seat area within the NX is par for the category, and represents an enchancment over the past mannequin.
Legroom is respectable behind tall adults, and there’s sufficient headroom to accomodate full-sized adults. Though it’s grown incrementally bigger, a BMW X3 nonetheless has extra space and feels airier due to its extra upright window line.
However the NX isn’t all that far behind anymore. The rear doorways open good and extensive, and there’s a trio of prime tether factors for little one seats.
Twin USB-C ports within the rear imply children will have the ability to preserve their iPads juiced on lengthy highway journeys, and as you’d count on there’s a fold-down central armrest and rear air vents.
The boot opens good and extensive, has has a low loading lip to make sliding heavier gadgets simpler. Though it seems to be a bit flimsy, the bags cowl additionally folds in half to make storage simpler.
| Dimensions | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4660mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Peak | 1660mm |
| Wheelbase | 2690mm |
| Cargo capability | 520 litres (5 seat) 1141 litres (2 seat) |
To see how the Lexus NX strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
What’s below the bonnet?
With no turbocharger and no hybrid help, the 250 is the entry level to the NX vary.
| Specs | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4cyl petrol |
| Engine outputs | 153kW |
| Electrical motor outputs | 243Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Pushed wheels | FWD |
| Weight | 1705kg (kerb) |
| Gasoline financial system (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
| Gasoline financial system (as examined) | 7.5L/100km |
| Gasoline tank capability | 67 litres |
| Gasoline requirement | 91 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 158g/km |
| Emissions customary | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capability | 1000kg |
To see how the Lexus NX strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability software.
How does the Lexus NX drive?
It’s initially jarring urgent the beginning button and having a naturally aspirated engine buzz to life, moderately than beginning with the shrill beep we’ve come to count on from Lexus hybrids.
However when you’re previous that reality, that is truly a fairly refined engine.
Doing the driving most mid-sized SUV homeowners do – the college, purchasing, and Saturday sports activities runs – it’s very succesful, slurring round at low revs with out making an excessive amount of noise or fuss.
The auto start-stop system takes some time to have interaction after you begin the automotive, however as soon as energetic it’s clean and good. There’s no studying curve right here; no dual-clutch awkwardness or hybrid handover to consider when you’re hopping out of an older automotive.
This isn’t a sporty crossover. Nor ought to or not it’s, given Lexus homeowners are likely to favour consolation and refinement over outright dealing with prowess.
The chubby steering wheel is connected to a light-weight, fluid steering setup that makes the NX simple to pilot on the town, and the suspension has been arrange for compliance as an alternative of rock-solid physique management.
It’s not busy or unyielding like some rivals with a sporty set of wheels and suspension tune, and the mixture of small wheels and chubby tyres on our tester did a pleasant job conserving harsh metropolis potholes at bay.
Put your foot down and also you’re conscious the naturally aspirated engine must work more durable than the turbocharged 350 above it within the vary, not to mention the 350h.
It’s a bit coarse at greater revs, and the automated transmission must kick down one, two, three gears at 80km/h once you need extra efficiency.
As soon as it’s within the energy band there’s sufficient get-up-and-go, however this isn’t easy in the best way turbocharged alternate options could be.
At a cruise it’s properly settled, although. Journey high quality stays wonderful, and Lexus has a few of the greatest sound deadening within the enterprise on the open highway.
Large crests and dips are handled in a single swift motion, which makes the NX really feel planted and managed once you get away from the confines of city.
With the sleek, good adaptive cruise management sustaining a spot to the automotive in entrance and the lane-keep help nudging you again between the white strains, that is a straightforward automotive to drive lengthy distances.
What do you get?
NX 250 and NX 350h Luxurious highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Energy tailgate
- Computerized LED headlights with auto-levelling
- Computerized high-beam
- 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10-speaker sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated door mirrors
- Rear spoiler
- Roof rails
- Keyless entry and begin
- 8-way energy entrance seats with 2-way driver’s lumbar assist
- Inside ambient lighting
- Rain sensing wipers
- 10-way energy driver seat adjustment
- 8-way energy passenger seat adjustment
Enhancement Pack ($3000) provides:
- Sunroof (tilt and slide)
- Palms-free energy tailgate
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
Is the Lexus NX secure?
The Lexus NX obtained a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on testing carried out by Euro NCAP.
| Class | Lexus NX |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 91 per cent |
| Youngster occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Weak highway consumer safety | 83 per cent |
| Security help | 92 per cent |
Commonplace security tools consists of:
- 10 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Daytime bicycle owner detection
- Junction help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Protected exit help
- Lane departure alert
- Lane Tracing Help (lane centring)
- Emergency Steering Help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Visitors signal recognition
- Reversing digital camera
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
Each new NX additionally comes with a three-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Linked Companies.
How a lot does the Lexus NX price to run?
The Lexus NX is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee just like the broader Lexus vary.
| Operating prices | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 3 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped value servicing | 5 years |
| Whole capped value service price | $2475 |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus NX
The NX 250 is an instance of a base mannequin finished proper.
No, it’s not as environment friendly because the hybrid or as punchy because the turbocharged NX 350, nevertheless it’s additionally considerably cheaper than each.
The engine has sufficient pep to deal with day by day duties, and it’s impressively specced for the worth. Some base fashions really feel low cost and nasty; as in the event that they’re punishing you for saving some cash.
Lexus hasn’t finished that, and the NX feels each bit as particular as you’d hope. It’s quiet and refined on the freeway, and the construct high quality is rock stable.
You probably have the funds, the hybrid remains to be the higher expression of what Lexus can do within the NX. However patrons who need a Lexus expertise on a tighter funds aren’t lacking out on a lot right here.
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