2020 Lexus NX 300 Road Test and Review

2018 Lexus NX300 front three quarter ・ Photo by Lexus

For any luxury brand, a compact crossover SUV is critical to success. They attract younger aspirational buyers to showrooms, retain older loyal customers who no longer need a bigger vehicle, and entice smaller families with the promise of luxury and exclusivity in exchange for similarly priced size and capability.

Introduced for the 2015 model year and based on the previous-generation Toyota RAV4 platform, the turbocharged NX 300 and hybrid NX 300h are those vehicles for Lexus. And now, as the Lexus NX enters its sixth year of production, the company makes important technological and dynamic changes. Active Cornering Assist is now included with every NX, and for vehicles built after October 1, 2019, Android Auto is along for the ride. Additionally, the automaker equips the NX with next-generation Lexus Safety System 2.0 advanced driving assistance systems, and for the first time, Lexus offers premium Mark Levinson sound on selected trim levels.

Gas or Hybrid, Luxury or Sport?

When you buy a 2020 Lexus NX, you need to decide whether you want a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Then you need to determine which trim level you want. The turbocharged Lexus NX 300 comes in base, F Sport, and Luxury trim, while the hybrid NX 300h is available in Base and Luxury trim. Prices kick off at $37,745 for the NX 300 with front-wheel drive, including the destination charge of $1,045. Get the NX 300h Luxury, which includes standard all-wheel drive, and the window sticker reads $47,145, including destination.

My test vehicle was the NX 300 F Sport with front-wheel drive. It had the Premium Package, Navigation Package, a power liftgate, parking sensors, and several accessories including a great looking set of forged aluminum wheels. The price came to just over $47,500.

Photo by Lexus

Splashes of Color

Except for its wildly excessive front overhang, made worse by the F Sport’s unique bumper and lower air dam design, the NX wears its Lexus styling cues in a natural way. I won’t say it looks good. But I will say that the flashy design is probably just right for the younger buyer considering a Lexus for the first time. And for 2020, Cadmium Orange is a new paint color.

Several interior colors are available in NuLuxe leatherette or genuine leather. Depending on the trim level, they include black, white, red, tan, and brown matched with metallic or wood trim. All but the black upholsteries provide strong contrast against the black dashboard, carpets, and door panels, lending the NX a distinctive and upscale appearance.

Photo by Lexus

Roomy for People, Not Cargo

Though it competes against compact crossover suvs, the Lexus NX is quite roomy inside. It feels more like a mid-size SUV from the driver’s seat, and rear passengers get plenty of room for legs and feet. They don’t, however, get USB charging ports. With F Sport trim, the sport-bolstered seats feel a bit snug. The new-for-2020 Arctic White NuLuxe simulated leather is sensational, though, and the Premium Package equips the SUV with seat heating and ventilation.

A cockpit-style dashboard juts out in the center and is topped by a widescreen, tablet-style infotainment display. Traditional round analog gauges are refreshing, and Lexus uses lots of buttons and knobs to help limit interaction with the infotainment screen. Cargo space is tight behind the back seat, measuring just 17.7 cubic feet. That’s not much more than what can fit into a Honda Accord’s trunk. Fold the rear seat down, and the NX hauls 54.6 cubic feet of cargo, about what fits into a Volkswagen Arteon hatchback. 

Photo by Lexus

RTI = Really Terrible Interface?

Equipped with Remote Touch Interface (RTI), a haptic feedback trackpad on which you use your finger like a computer mouse, the NX’s infotainment system is a significant source of aggravation. It requires far too much hand-and-eye coordination while driving, and frequently produces unintended consequences. On a positive note, though, if you take the time to get the system’s various settings set up the way that you want them, and you learn how to use the voice recognition technology, your interaction with RTI is limited.

Also, for the first time, the Lexus NX includes both Apple CarPlay and new-for-2020 Android Auto, in addition to Amazon Alexa integration. Lexus also throws in a year of free Wi-Fi service — as long as you don’t burn through more than 4 gigabytes of data. For 2020, Lexus offers Mark Levinson premium speakers in the NX for the first time. My test car didn’t have this upgrade, but I didn’t really miss it thanks to the standard 10-speaker setup. 

Photo by Lexus

Safely Sophisticated

Aside from the new Android Auto smartphone integration, the big tech news for the 2020 NX is the inclusion of Lexus Safety System 2.0 (LSS 2.0) as standard equipment. This upgraded technology adds a lane-centering assist system to the NX, as well as road sign recognition, low-light pedestrian detection, and daytime cyclist detection.

During testing, LSS 2.0 proved itself refined in operation. It smoothly maintained the distance to traffic ahead, vehicle speed, and lane centering, and retained its composure even if other cars suddenly entered the gap in front of the NX. In combination with helpful blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems, this technology encourages rather than discourages its use. The NX has also earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In fact, it got the highest possible ratings in every single assessment. That means this is an exceptionally safe SUV.

Photo by Lexus

Unexpectedly Good to Drive

Turbocharging. It does an SUV good. The Lexus NX 300 might be based on RAV4 bones, but it drives differently. And with F Sport trim, it gets a sport suspension, unique Sport driving modes, paddle shifters for the transmission, and an Active Sound Control system that pipes in modified engine sound through the SUV’s stereo speakers.

The NX 300’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder generates 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque while burning premium gas. A snappy six-speed automatic transmission sends power to just the front wheels unless you get the optional all-wheel-drive system. Lexus says acceleration to 60 mph takes 7.2 seconds, but the NX 300 feels quicker than that. According to the EPA, the NX 300 with front-wheel drive should get 25 mpg in combined driving. I averaged 23.1 mpg on my testing loop, using Sport mode and the transmission’s satisfying paddle shifters on the mountainous portion of the drive. 

Photo by Lexus

Designed for the Daily Grind

If you decide to explore the road less traveled, the NX F Sport is willing to hustle as long as you drive it smoothly. Even then, however, the SUV’s limits are relatively low, in spite of the new-for-2020 Active Cornering Assist system. Especially within the context of its primary competition, this Lexus is more about show than it is go.

That’s likely just fine by Lexus NX buyers, who, drawn to the F Sport’s more dynamic design, nevertheless want a comfortable and quiet ride combined with secure and confidence-inspiring handling in the urban and suburban environments where it spends most of its time. Dynamically, this is where the NX shines brightest, serving as a hushed commuter vessel with a ride quality, steering effort levels, and brake pedal modulation that do not draw attention to themselves. Lexus does offer an optional adaptive damping suspension for the NX, and with the F Sport’s more aggressive driving modes, paddle shifters, and a decent set of tires, it could make for a fun back-road run. But as tested, the NX 300 was a better daily driver than it was a canyon carver.

Photo by Lexus

No Shortage of Alternatives

Among compact luxury SUVs, the Lexus NX excels in terms of safety and reliability, provides more than the usual passenger room, and looks like nothing else on the road. Changes for 2020 improve the SUV’s technology, too.

Unfortunately for Lexus, there is no shortage of alternatives in this popular segment. The most popular competitors include the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. In addition to these, you’ve got the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Buick Envision, Cadillac XT4, Infiniti QX50, Jaguar E-PACE, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Lincoln Corsair, and Volvo XC60. You could also cross-shop this with the Mazda CX-5 Signature, which comes with a far more powerful turbocharged engine and matches the Lexus for interior quality at a much lower price point.

Photo by Mazda

Lots of Reasons to Recommend the Lexus NX

Styling is what draws a person to a vehicle, so if you’ve read this far you must like how the Lexus NX looks. Add a record for reliability, the best possible safety ratings, a roomy and comfortable cabin, a rewarding turbocharged engine, and satisfying dynamics for the daily drive, and this Lexus could be perfect for you in spite of its age.

However, the RTI is inexcusably awful. And cargo space is not this SUV’s strength. If neither of these flaws dissuades you, the 2020 Lexus NX is a fundamentally appealing compact luxury crossover SUV for most people, most of the time.

Photo by Lexus