Lexus NX Review and Prices

The Lexus NX hybrid looks neat, is built to withstand a meteor hit and has some seriously cutting-edge drivetrain tech.

Nevertheless, it’s something of an outsider in the world of posh SUVs. You want cool chic and in-car tech? The Audi Q5 has those. You want an SUV that looks and drives like a sports car? Try the Jaguar F-Pace. Or how about a smooth auto and relaxed driving experience. Mercedes GLC anyone?

Inside, the look isn’t as polarising as the exterior and more-traditional Lexus values such as build quality and expensive material choice are at play here. Whether it’s the soft leather-wrapped dashboard or the satisfyingly expensive feel of the buttons, you’re sure to enjoy your time in the Lexus NX.

Space for passengers is quite good, especially in the back, where the lack of a hump in the floor means three adults have just about equal amounts of room back there – there’s acres of legroom and decent amounts of headroom, too. Up front, the seats are arguably the best in class, providing better support as well as being more comfortable than just about any similarly-priced alternative.

The Lexus NX is a good leftfield SUV but you owe it to yourself to at least test drive the alternatives

Now that you’ve read about the good stuff, it’s time for the not so good – the engines and the way it drives. Well, it’s only not so good when you drive it back to back with alternatives such as the Q5, F-Pace and GLC; in isolation, the Lexus NX has low running costs thanks to its hybrid-only option, while motorway cruising is as relaxed as you expect a Lexus to be.

However, next to alternative models, the Lexus NX hybrid feels too firm on potholed roads to be comfortable, too soft on twisty tarmac to be enjoyable and every time you want to accelerate on the motorway, the otherwise quiet cabin is filled with the sort of noise that sounds like a dying cow’s last moo.

Another area that sets the Lexus NX behind the competition is the limited engine range – there’s just one, a hybrid. There are no beefy diesel engines so heavy towing is off the table. The actual engine is far from bad – it is powerful enough and has some impressive on-paper fuel economy figures. The problem comes when you ask it to move this spacious SUV along with its substantial amount of standard equipment resulting in real-world fuel economy values that are far from those advertised but still pretty impressive for the size of the car.

In terms of equipment, the Lexus NX hybrid shoots back near the top because like-for-like it ends up cheaper than comparable German alternatives – as standard, you get a seven-inch infotainment screen with reversing camera, DAB digital radio, adaptive cruise control, climate control, blind-spot monitoring as well as a lane-keep assist. An Audi Q5 with a comparable amount of kit is at least a couple of thousand pounds more.

To see what offers you can get on a Lexus NX, check out our deals page.