Once upon a time, hybrids accounted for a tiny slice of the sales in a given model range. Now, they’re dominating Toyota and Lexus showrooms.
In the case of the mid-sized Lexus NX SUV, buyers have flocked to the NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h plug-in hybrid, leading to long wait times.
The NX 250 sitting at the bottom of the range hasn’t seen quite the same fanfare. Although it doesn’t have the same miserly powertrain as the popular NX 350h, the NX 250 has plenty to offer on paper.
It’s close to $10,000 cheaper than the next model in the range, the NX 350h 2WD Luxury, and still comes loaded with standard equipment.
Lexus doesn’t really do stripped-out base models; although you miss out on some of the niceties on offer elsewhere in the range, even the cheapest NX is a lovely place to spend time.
Do you really need hybrid power?
How much does the Lexus NX cost?
The NX 250 2WD is comfortably the cheapest model in its range, even with the Enhancement Pack ($3000) fitted to our tester.
| Model | Price before on-roads |
|---|---|
| 2024 Lexus NX 250 2WD | $63,400 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350 AWD F Sport | $80,060 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD Luxury | $71,600 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD Sport Luxury | $79,100 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h 2WD F Sport | $79,100 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h AWD Luxury | $76,400 |
| 2024 Lexus NX 350h AWD Sports Luxury | $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 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Lexus NX like on the inside?
The small screen, simpler instrument binnacle, and lack of a head-up display out this as a base model, but there’s still lots of luxury goodness here.
The driving position is good, offering a commanding view of the road ahead and plenty of support on long journeys.
There’s plenty of legroom, but the sunroof does eat into headroom and make for a slightly more claustrophobic space.
Given it’s not a full-length panoramic unit, it’s not necessarily a must-have.
Quality is excellent. This being a base model, you could expect a few rough edges or cheap touch points but that’s not how Lexus operates.
The faux leather trim on the seats is supple, and the steering wheel and stubby gearstick are quality items.
With no head-up display, you also get proper buttons on the steering wheel instead of the fiddly units in more expensive models.
Compared to more expensive models, you do miss out on some kit. The 8.0-inch touchscreen looks small in the large, gloss black housing on the dashboard, and the digital instrument binnacle is a simple screen flanked by analogue fuel and temperature gauges, and a rectangular trip computer.
The small touchscreen is fully featured. Wireless Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly during our week with the car, and it’s quick to respond to inputs.
Lexus has moved away from fiddly controls and frustrating menus with its latest tech, and has made its cars much easier to recommend in the process.
Lexus gets extra points for including big temperature dials, and leaving key climate control functions anchored at the base of the display regardless of what else you’re doing.
Satellite navigation wasn’t activated on our tester, but three years of cloud-based mapping is standard when you activate your Lexus Connected Services account.
Storage space up front is solid. There’s a wireless phone charger at the base of the dashboard which can be slid away to reveal a spot for wallets or keys, and a USB-A and USB-C combination port to keep your devices juiced up.
The underarm bin is deep, the cupholders are the right size for a Melbourne coffee, and the door bins have room for a large water bottle.
Rear seat space in the NX is par for the class, and represents an improvement over the last model.
Legroom is decent behind tall adults, and there’s enough headroom to accomodate full-sized adults. Although it’s grown incrementally larger, a BMW X3 still has more space and feels airier thanks to its more upright window line.
But the NX isn’t all that far behind anymore. The rear doors open nice and wide, and there’s a trio of top tether points for child seats.
Dual USB-C ports in the rear mean kids will be able to keep their iPads juiced on long road trips, and as you’d expect there’s a fold-down central armrest and rear air vents.
The boot opens nice and wide, has has a low loading lip to make sliding heavier items easier. Although it looks a bit flimsy, the luggage cover also folds in half to make storage easier.
| Dimensions | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4660mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 1660mm |
| Wheelbase | 2690mm |
| Cargo capacity | 520 litres (5 seat) 1141 litres (2 seat) |
To see how the Lexus NX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
With no turbocharger and no hybrid assistance, the 250 is the entry point to the NX range.
| Specifications | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4cyl petrol |
| Power | 153kW |
| Torque | 243Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto |
| Driven wheels | FWD |
| Weight | 1705kg (kerb) |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 7.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 67 litres |
| Fuel requirement | 91 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 158g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 |
| Braked tow capacity | 1000kg |
To see how the Lexus NX lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Lexus NX drive?
It’s initially jarring pressing the start button and having a naturally aspirated engine buzz to life, rather than starting with the shrill beep we’ve come to expect from Lexus hybrids.
But once you’re past that fact, this is actually a pretty refined engine.
Doing the driving most mid-sized SUV owners do – the school, shopping, and Saturday sports runs – it’s very capable, slurring around at low revs without making too much noise or fuss.
The auto start-stop system takes a while to engage after you start the car, but once active it’s smooth and smart. There’s no learning curve here; no dual-clutch awkwardness or hybrid handover to think about if you’re hopping out of an older car.
This isn’t a sporty crossover. Nor should it be, given Lexus owners tend to favour comfort and refinement over outright handling prowess.
The chubby steering wheel is hooked up to a light, fluid steering setup that makes the NX easy to pilot in town, and the suspension has been set up for compliance instead of rock-solid body control.
It’s not busy or unyielding like some rivals with a sporty set of wheels and suspension tune, and the combination of small wheels and chubby tyres on our tester did a nice job keeping harsh city potholes at bay.
Put your foot down and you’re aware the naturally aspirated engine needs to work harder than the turbocharged 350 above it in the range, let alone the 350h.
It’s a bit coarse at higher revs, and the automatic transmission needs to kick down one, two, three gears at 80km/h when you want more performance.
Once it’s in the power band there’s enough get-up-and-go, but this isn’t effortless in the way turbocharged alternatives can be.
At a cruise it’s nicely settled, though. Ride quality remains excellent, and Lexus has some of the best sound deadening in the business on the open road.
Big crests and dips are dealt with in one swift movement, which makes the NX feel planted and controlled when you get away from the confines of town.
With the smooth, smart adaptive cruise control maintaining a gap to the car in front and the lane-keep assist nudging you back between the white lines, this is an easy car to drive long distances.
What do you get?
NX 250 and NX 350h Luxury highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Power tailgate
- Automatic LED headlights with auto-levelling
- Automatic high-beam
- 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10-speaker sound system
- Dual-zone climate control
- Heated front seats
- Heated door mirrors
- Rear spoiler
- Roof rails
- Keyless entry and start
- 8-way power front seats with 2-way driver’s lumbar support
- Interior ambient lighting
- Rain sensing wipers
- 10-way power driver seat adjustment
- 8-way power passenger seat adjustment
Enhancement Pack ($3000) adds:
- Sunroof (tilt and slide)
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Wireless phone charger
Is the Lexus NX safe?
The Lexus NX received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP.
| Category | Lexus NX |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 91 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 89 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 83 per cent |
| Safety assist | 92 per cent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 10 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Daytime cyclist detection
- Junction assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Safe exit assist
- Lane departure alert
- Lane Tracing Assist (lane centring)
- Emergency Steering Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition
- Reversing camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Tyre pressure monitoring
Every new NX also comes with a three-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Connected Services.
How much does the Lexus NX cost to run?
The Lexus NX is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty like the broader Lexus range.
| Running costs | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 3 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped price servicing | 5 years |
| Total capped price service cost | $2475 |
CarExpert’s Take on the Lexus NX
The NX 250 is an example of a base model done right.
No, it’s not as efficient as the hybrid or as punchy as the turbocharged NX 350, but it’s also significantly cheaper than both.
The engine has enough pep to handle daily duties, and it’s impressively specced for the price. Some base models feel cheap and nasty; as if they’re punishing you for saving some money.
Lexus hasn’t done that, and the NX feels every bit as special as you’d hope. It’s quiet and refined on the highway, and the build quality is rock solid.
If you have the budget, the hybrid is still the better expression of what Lexus can do in the NX. But buyers who want a Lexus experience on a tighter budget aren’t missing out on much here.
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