NX 300h Receives Some Welcome Upgrades for 2020

Raising the Bar

As automakers continue to create more and more electrified vehicles for our consumption, prospective buyers have many tough decisions on their hands. But Lexus has strengthened its stranglehold on the luxury SUV market in recent years and continues to refine its hybrid offerings as well. Case in point - the newest NX 300h, which ups the ante even higher for its myriad of competitors.

Photos: Lexus 

New Standard

The bulk of the upgrades for Lexus' latest NX 300h revolve around new options and the standardizing of some driver safety functions. That includes Lexus System 2.0, which now comes standard and adds Lane Tracing Assist and Road Sign Assist. NX models with the Lexus Multimedia system also gain Android Auto functionality, which is a big deal for those who don't own iPhones. 

Photos: Lexus 

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

Various Tweaks

Other new standard equipment for 2020 includes a power tilt/telescoping steering column and Active Cornering Assist (ACA). In addition, the Mark Levinson/Navigation system is optional for the first time on Premium, Luxury, and Premium F SPORT models. In terms of color changes, Lexus has added Cadmium Orange to the mix and deleted Silver Lining Metallic and Autumn Shimmer. 

Photos: Lexus 

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

Positive Impression

A few subtle changes take place on the inside of the new NX 300h as well. They include the availability of Arctic White/Black F Sport seats, as well as black accents that replace the old Rioja Red-brown ones. All of these are seemingly subtle changes, but they all added up to a very positive impression from The Northern Virginia Daily following a recent test drive.

Photos: Lexus 

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

Waxing Poetic

The reviewers waxed poetic about the interior, which they called a "cabin reeking with technology and comfort to easily tolerate frustrating urban traffic delays." The "Lexus brand arguably retains industry best value due to quality and reliability," they noted. They were also quick to point out that the hybrid drivetrain delivered a best-in-class 33 mpg on the highway and was perfectly suited for city driving as well.

Photos: Lexus 

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

Cushy Insides

Out on the road, our reviewers found the updated suspension "kept our ride cushioned, and handling was nimble with new cornering technology." Inside, the updated color scheme presented "an upscale ambiance, accented with contrast stitching," and the dash layout was "ergonomically oriented" with a "graphically sharp" screen. 

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

Staying on Top

Ultimately, The Northern Virginia Daily found the new NX 300h to offer "enjoyable urban driving with an upscale cabin, high resale value, and top driver safety aids." These few updates and tweaks are certainly enough to keep Lexus' compact hybrid crossover/SUV at the top of the pack, and you can bet that we'll see many more revisions moving forward. After all, that's how segment leaders stay on top.

Photos: Lexus 

>>Join the conversation about the upgrades to the NX 300h right here in Club Lexus.

For help with your repair and maintenance projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.