Used 2023 Lexus NX

The Lexus NX is the Japanese luxury brand’s compact SUV offering. It’s hard to stand out in this crowded segment, but the recently redesigned NX stands out as an excellent value with strong resale value, a generous list of standard features, and great safety scores including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

The NX has four engine options, two of which are hybrids. The NX 350h is a conventional hybrid that returns 39 combined mpg, while the NX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid that makes 302 horsepower and can go up to 37 miles on electricity alone.

The Lexus NX primarily competes with the Acura RDX, Infiniti QX50, and Genesis GV70.

With the most recent redesign of the NX, Lexus has not only doubled down on the choice of powertrains it offers buyers but is also doubling down on its hybrid variants. Whereas you could only get the prior NX with either a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or a hybrid, this new model gives you a choice of four powertrains, two of which are hybrids.

The NX 250 with the base engine is the most affordable. It has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, the same unit found in the NX’s mainstream cousin, the Toyota RAV4. Its 203 horsepower and 8-speed automatic transmission get the job done for general commuting duties, but with a 0-60 mph time of 8.2 seconds in front-wheel-drive (FWD) form or 8.6 seconds with all-wheel drive (AWD), don’t go looking to drag race.

Far more peppy is the NX 350, which packs a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 275 horsepower under the hood. Lexus pairs the NX 350 with a snappy 8-speed transmission. This turbo powertrain enables the NX to be a zippy grocery-getter in the city and instills passing confidence when cruising at highway speeds. Moreover, it slices a full 2 seconds off that 0-60 mph time everyone cites. Another perk: Like the hybrid models we’ll discuss next, the NX 350 comes standard with traction-enhancing all-wheel drive.

The lowercase “h” in the NX 350h designates “hybrid,” and again, similar to its Toyota cousin, this NX hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors. Here it brings a combined 239 horsepower to the party. It’s quick, with a 7.2-second 0-60 mph time, yet also comfortable and quiet. In addition to greater fuel efficiency, another benefit of a hybrid powertrain such as this is the effortless assistance of those electric motors. They work like a secret handshake with the gasoline engine to provide smooth acceleration and passing confidence.

Perhaps the biggest news in the latest NX lineup is the NX 450h+, which is Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). This powertrain also does double duty, serving as the motivator for the Toyota RAV4 Prime. And that is not a bad thing. This pairing of a 2.5-liter engine and electric motors generates a total of 302 horsepower and has a battery pack large enough to enable an estimated 37 miles of electric-only range. This makes it both efficient and the most powerful of the NX models, with the ability to scoot to 60 mph in 6 seconds.

What all 2023 Lexus NX models have in common are manners that favor comfortable commuting rather than backroad blazing. It is a true younger brother to the Lexus RX — comfortable, confident, and quiet. It has a bit more athleticism and flair than its larger sibling but otherwise follows Lexus’ successful formula of refined road manners.

The Lexus NX interior was always a quiet and comfortable place to spend your time, and this latest version ups the ante. The driver’s seat remains all-day comfortable and among our favorites in this segment. Rear seat space is a mixed bag in this segment, but the back of the NX is pretty adult-friendly and plenty roomy for kids.

Cargo space is okay but below average for this class. It has 22.7 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 46.9 cubic feet with them folded. Notably, those figures are consistent for even the hybrids despite their housing a battery pack.

As standard, the Lexus NX has a 9.8-inch touchscreen. An even larger 14-inch screen is optional and includes a 3-year trial for the Drive Connect services with cloud-based navigation, destination assistant, and more.

The NX is also available with a panoramic moonroof, 10-inch head-up display, and an ambient lighting package with 64 colors to choose from.

Back up front, we found good space to store necessities like a wallet, water bottle, and phone. Electric door actuators inside and out are cool, but they also play into safety. Combined with exterior sensors, the Lexus can help prevent a passenger from opening the door in front of an approaching vehicle or cyclist. And don’t worry — the system can both be overridden by holding for 3 seconds and still opened with a key if the battery is drained.

The Lexus NX is a distinctive-looking small luxury SUV, mainly because of its prominent front grille. The signature Lexus “spindle” grille was controversial when it first came out, but we think it’s well-executed on the front of the NX.

The overall design has been toned down slightly compared to the previous generation. Some of the awkward angles and ridges that ran along the previous NX have been smoothed over. This one looks similar and much better at the same time.

At the rear, L-E-X-U-S is spelled out across the liftgate. No, this won’t replace the long-serving Lexus logo — Lexus officials assure us it’s here to stay and figures prominently in the grille.

When optioned in F Sport trim, the NX sports 21-inch gloss-black wheels, trim-specific front and rear bumpers, black roof rails, and several exterior colors not available on the rest of the NX range.

1. Lexus Interface multimedia system
The standard 9.8-inch or optional 14-inch touchscreens in the NX are high-tech and user-friendly. We love that wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard.

2. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0
This standard safety tech suite has a wide range of standard active safety features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, and more.

3. Turbo engine option
The turbocharged engine in the NX 350 is a popular choice for good reasons. It gives the NX satisfying thrust while retaining a quiet and comfortable ride and pretty good fuel economy. All-wheel drive comes standard with the turbo engine.

4. NX 350h hybrid
The NX 350h is a conventional hybrid with no plugging in required. It gets an outstanding fuel economy rating of 41 city/37 highway mpg and it starts at under $45,000.

5. NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid
The plug-in hybrid NX 450h+ excels at both performance and efficiency. It puts out over 300 horsepower, making it fun to drive, and it achieves an all-electric range of up to 37 miles.

6. F Sport Handling
The F Sport Handling Package is available for the NX 350 and the NX 450h+. It improves the driving experience with Active Variable Suspension and front and rear performance dampers, plus you get a sporty appearance package inside and out.

The Lexus NX has always come with an impressive array of standard equipment. Standard comfort and tech features on the entry-level NX 250 include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, dual-zone climate control, heated side mirrors, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, synthetic leather seating surfaces, and the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite of active safety features.

Having so much as standard is a plus point with the 2023 Lexus NX. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t load on the extras if you want to make this small SUV more luxurious.

Stepping up to higher trim levels allows an NX shopper to add features like an interior ambient lighting system, panoramic moonroof, leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, great-sounding Mark Levinson audio system, and a hands-free power liftgate. They’re all there if you want them — and don’t mind paying more, of course.

The range-topping NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid model comes loaded with features that are optional on lower trims. Among them are the larger 14-inch infotainment screen and cloud-based navigation system, a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, and a 10-inch head-up display.

Yet more features can be added, such as a digital key that allows your phone to act as a key, wireless phone charging, a digital rearview mirror, and even a slick new camera system called Panoramic View Monitor with a setting that creates an “underfloor see-through view.” We live in some amazing times.

The 2023 Lexus NX has a choice of four powertrains.

Starting with the NX 250, under the hood you’ll find a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission. While it comes in front-wheel-drive (FWD) format as standard, NX shoppers can add all-wheel drive (AWD) to the base trim.

Stepping up to the NX 350 nets a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine that delivers more power and torque, plus standard AWD. This is the most popular powertrain option.

For NX shoppers who prefer a dose of electrified propulsion in their SUV, there are the NX 350h and NX 450h+.

The NX 350h is a standard hybrid. It uses a gasoline-fed 2.5-liter 4-cylinder coupled to two electric motors and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Its performance lies in between the NX 250 and NX 350, and AWD is standard.

Last but hardly least, the NX 450h+ is the most powerful choice, thanks to its 302-horsepower gas-electric powertrain. This combines a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, CVT, AWD, and two electric motors. While that sounds similar to the hybrid version, the NX 450h+ has the benefit of an estimated 37 miles of electric-only driving range.

NX 250
2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
8-speed automatic transmission
Front- or all-wheel drive
203 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
184 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26 mpg/33 mpg (FWD), 25 mpg/32 mpg (AWD)

NX 350
2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
8-speed automatic transmission
All-wheel drive
275 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
317 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22 mpg/29 mpg

NX 350h
Gas-electric hybrid with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
All-wheel drive
Total horsepower: 239
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 41 mpg/37 mpg

NX 450h+
Gas-electric hybrid with 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
All-wheel drive
Total horsepower: 302
All-electric range: 37 miles
EPA combined fuel economy: 36 mpg

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The NX comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you get a hybrid model, the hybrid components are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. These warranties are about typical for the segment.