Pros

• Beautiful cabin.
• Comes with a lot of appealing functions by default.
• The NX hybrid model, which is available, gets great gas mileage.

Cons

• Some settings can be annoying to use.
• There is not more room for luggage and back seats than most of its rivals.

How does the NX get power? We tested several models and found that the F Sport model has a good mix of features and comfort. It didn’t go from 0 to 60 mph very quickly on our test track, but the turbocharged engine has enough power to get past slower traffic or reach highway speeds. Shifts are smooth with the eight-speed automatic transmission, but they’re not very quick.

Our NX 350 F Sport went 117 feet in our panic-braking test at 60 mph, which was a little more than the usual distance. When moving, the NX’s brakes are smooth and easy to use. It’s easy to drive the NX, but we wouldn’t call it exciting. When we turned corners, our test vehicle’s F Sport option cut down on body roll.

How does it feel to wear the NX? Our test car, the NX 350 F Sport, rides safely and closely without being too stiff. The F Sport also has special seats that are just as soft and comfy as the regular NX seats but with more support. The back seats in our NX test gave better-than-average support and shape, and the warmth and cooling worked well.

Most of the elements that control the temperature are easy to find and use. The three-zone climate system did a great job of keeping the temperature fixed, even though we thought the center vents were too low to be useful on a hot day. There isn’t much wind or noise inside, but we did hear more tire hum than we thought.

How is the state of the inside? The NX’s cabin has some of Lexus’s famously high level of attention to detail, along with some design choices that are hard to understand and sometimes just plain bad. The speed and quality of the 14-inch touchscreen monitor make it stand out.

The shift lever, on the other hand, moves in a strange way that makes it easy to pick neutral when we should have been in the drive. This is made even worse by the fact that the buttons on the driving wheel are not labeled. Lexus did a good job of making them flexible, but their only useful feature is the head-up display, and they need a lot of attention to do simple tasks.

The NX’s driving position is easily adjustable to fit different body types. The back seat doesn’t have as much legroom as the BMW X3 and Acura RDX, but most people will still feel comfortable. The great backup camera and, if available, surround-view video system are another benefit of the big center screen. It makes it easy for NX to move around in tight spaces.

What’s wrong with the tech? The nice-looking 14-inch screen was an extra that we could have chosen for our test car. Quick answers and pictures that are clear and easy to read are good, but the menu layout could use some work. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system was also put in our test car. The update is well worth the extra money if you have it because it’s pretty powerful and has great clarity.

Interestingly, most cell phones don’t have navigation apps, but they do have wireless connections. Lexus charges a fee (every two years at the moment) to keep using the cloud-based service after the free trial time is over. Voice settings on the NX let you do a lot of things, like changing the radio station and turning on the wipers. However, they were disappointed because they took a long time to respond.

The NX comes with Lexus’ Safety System+ 3.0, which has almost all current driver aids. Even though the reaction times were slow, there were no false alarms.

What’s going on with storage? The NX can hold less weight than many of its rivals. The NX only has 22.7 cubes of room behind the back seats, while the BMW X3 and Acura RDX both have 31.1 cubes. That being said, the NX’s large cargo space and lack of wheelwell breaches make it easy to move big, heavy things. The back seats can be folded up automatically.

There is less storage room on the NX than there is on some of its competitors, but there is still enough for personal items. We like the secret storage space under the optional wireless charging pad and the large center console storage space under the armrests.

When looking for a small luxury SUV, towing is only sometimes the most important thing. But keep in mind that the NX 350 can only pull 2,000 pounds when it’s properly equipped. Both the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 can pull the same amount of weight: 3,500 pounds and 4,400 pounds, respectively.

How much fuel does it use? The EPA says that the NX 350 will get 24 mpg on the highway and in the city when it has all-wheel drive. This type of SUV often does that. We got exactly 25 mpg on our 115-mile test route that included both highway and city driving. With a little more city driving, we almost got the same number on another tank of gas. It’s harder to be consistent in this class, but the Lexus will be able to meet its EPA goals. Because it’s in the same class as many other cars, the NX 350 needs premium fuel.

Does the NX have any value? The NX 350 is a good buy. Along with standard all-wheel drive, which other cars in the same price range don’t offer, the NX 350 comes with a huge number of cutting-edge features that help the driver. Another benefit is that the interior is very well put together.

Standard in its class, the Lexus comes with bumper-to-bumper warranties that last for four years or 50,000 miles and engine warranties that last for six years or 70,000 miles. For one year, maintenance is free, and roadside assistance is offered for four years at no extra cost.

At first look, it can take a lot of work to tell what the NX 350 will offer. But the NX isn’t broken in any way, and Lexus has made a lot of adjustments. The engine isn’t very powerful, but the ride is smooth and controlled, which makes up for it. The high levels of comfort and good everyday usability also make up for the smaller interior and lack of cargo room.

We can’t deny that the name always gives us high-quality construction and a stress-free environment. There is no trade-off between sport and luxury in the NX. This is different from other SUVs on the market that put sport ahead of luxury or vice versa.

That being said, the basic NX 350 with the optional Premium package is the best deal all around. Even though it’s one of the cheaper NX sets, it still has a lot of nice features that make it appealing.

Types of Lexus NX

The 2024 Lexus NX is a small, high-end SUV. The NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+ are the most important models. The engine is often the only thing that makes one model in this line different from another, but it can be hard to understand at first. The NX 250 has a 2.5-liter inline-four engine with natural aspiration that makes 203 horsepower. This is the only NX model with front-wheel drive; all the others have all-wheel drive.