One Week Road Test: Lexus NX300 SUV

2018 Lexus NX300

When Lexus introduced their new NX SUV, many car buffs thought it would be nothing but a Toyota RAV with different body shell. We are glad to report this isn't true. Yes, there is some platform sharing going on here, but the factory says that about 80% of the parts are unique to Lexus.

We spent a week test driving our example, racking up about 450 miles. Afterward, it is obvious this is certainly not a rebadged Toyota by any means. 

2018 Lexus NX300 Engine

Those shopping for an NX might have some confusion about the name. Originally, it was called the NX 200t. This is because it had, and still has, a 2.0-liter turbo engine under the hood. Starting in the 2018 model year, the name has changed to NX 300. Lexus has no explanation for this, none that makes sense anyway. So just be informed they are both the same vehicle aside from minor changes. It is not to be confused with the NX 300h hybrid, which still uses a 2.5-liter gas/electric drivetrain. 

The NX 300h puts out 194 horsepower, and fuel economy rating of 33 city, 31 highway, and 30 overall. The NX 300 2.0 liter engine puts out 235 horsepower and rated at 22/28 mpg. The transmission is an 8-speed automatic.  

>>Join the conversation about the NX300 right here in the Club Lexus forum.

2018 Lexus NX300 LED Headlights

The base price starts about $36K. This has the F-Sport package. It includes tuned suspension, sport seats, leather trim, fog lamps, larger 18-inch wheels, and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

As usual, there is a long list of options. With 10-way power seats, heated mirrors, navigation, 10-speaker stereo, power back door, premium paint, lighted door sills, parks assist, moonroof, and more, the total comes to $45,718. We did think charging an extra $1,160 for LED headlights seems a bit brash as they are standard on many less costly Toyota vehicles. And $99 for a cargo mat? This should be standard issue on an expensive vehicle. Still, it is the driving experience that counts, as we will see.

>>Join the conversation about the NX300 right here in the Club Lexus forum.

2018 Lexus NX300 Touchpad Control

Before taking this vehicle out for a drive, we spent some time in the cabin to get familiar with the bells and whistles. There is no knob for the climate control, but the large buttons work just fine. The auto-dimming mirror had an OFF switch. The climate, navigation, info, radio, media, phone, and setup are all controlled by a master touch system. Unfortunately, it is a finger touch unit rather than a stick as used in other Lexus models, and many operators have problems operating this type. It will take lots of practice. Overall quality of materials and workmanship is first rate, as we expect in a Lexus.   

>>Join the conversation about the NX300 right here in the Club Lexus forum.

2018 Lexus NX300 Interior

In our one week drive, we were surprised to find this is an SUV that likes to be driven hard! The steering has a good feel, the suspension sticks to the pavement, and brake performance is about as good as it gets. The ride quality is comfortable enough. With a weight of two tons, this porker kept our 0-60 mph times to just over 7 seconds. This is brisk enough for most situations, but Lexus needs to get another 50 horsepower under the hood! Either that or shed some weight.

Real world fuel economy was 19/21 mpg in city driving, and 24/27 on the highway. This is close enough to the claimed 22/28 on the price sticker, but super premium fuel must be used. 

>>Join the conversation about the NX300 right here in the Club Lexus forum.

2018 Lexus NX300

Overall, the Lexus NX is a nice SUV. It is expensive, but at least we are getting some quality for the price. A bit more reliability than many European brands as well. 

>>Join the conversation about the NX300 right here in the Club Lexus forum.

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