Lexus NX 300h Now Offers More Features for Less

When it comes to safety features, no other vehicle in the $40,000 range can compete with the 2018 NX 300h.

When automakers update a vehicle for a new model year, it usually includes some minor exterior changes and a handful of new interior features. Despite the minor changes, pricing usually increases for the vehicle. While that’s the case for the majority of vehicles, it’s not what happened with the 2018 Lexus NX 300h.

As Cars Direct reports, pricing for the 2018 NX 300h decreased, but the crossover’s list of standard features, especially ones that are centered on safety, increased. The 2017 NX 300h was priced at $40,715 (all prices include the $995 delivery fee), which made it a $3,235 increase over an all-wheel-drive NX 200t. For the 2018 model year, though, upgrading to a hybrid costs just $950, as the NX 300h is priced at $39,330.

Despite the $1,385 decrease in pricing, the new NX 300h now comes with the automaker’s Safety System+ as part of its standard equipment. The system adds various safety features, including Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Automatic High Beam (AHB), and Lane Departure Alert (LDA).

The majority of features are available as part of an optional package on other automakers’ vehicles and can cost upwards of $2,000, making this a heck of a good deal. And it gets even better since the NX 300h received some minor exterior and interior tweaks, as well.

With a lower price tag that’s more in line with the gasoline-powered models, more safety features, and a fresh look, the NX 300h becomes the benchmark for hybrid crossovers.