AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8/10
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Safety8/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS7/10
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FEATURES7/10
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POWER8/10
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COMFORT9/10
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DRIVING FEEL6/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8/10
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VALUE8/10
Slotting between the smaller UX and larger RX in Lexus’s sport-utility lineup, the 2023 Lexus NX 350h is the conventional hybrid model in a lineup that ranges from gasoline-only to a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
The NX 350h starts at $52,655, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,205. This tester was further optioned with an Ultra Luxury package for an additional $10,800, which adds as long a list of items as you’d expect for the price. It brought the asking price to $63,455 before taxes.
Styling: 8/10
Lexus’ signature spindle grille has never really grown on me, so I’m not that keen on the NX’s appearance from the front. It’s more attractive in side profile and at the sculpted rear. But it’s the two-tone interior where the designers did their best work, with the touchscreen nestled into an asymmetrical centre stack, and with just enough metal accents to look rich instead of overdone.
Safety: 8/10
The NX hasn’t been crash-tested by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which affects its score here; but it does earn the highest Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
All NX trims come with a suite of driver-assist features, including emergency front braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning and keeping, and emergency steering assist. Its back-up camera, mandatory on all new vehicles, includes a washer. But oddly, while blind-spot monitoring is standard, not all trims include rear cross-traffic alert with it, which is often bundled. My NX 350h tester had it, in addition to the optional front cross-traffic alert, which beeped a warning when I was waiting to pull out of my driveway when cars were coming down the road.
Features: 7/10
The NX 350h comes with a lot of standard items, including wireless phone connectivity, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, faux-leather heated seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-folding mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers.
But my lower score is due to what’s not included, and while there’s a limit to what you get for the NX 350h’s base price – it does start at less than $53,000, after all – there are some items I’d expect from a premium brand. That includes rear cross-traffic alert, as previously mentioned, as well as a power tailgate, and wireless phone charger. The $10,800 Ultra Luxury package adds those, as well as such items as ventilated front seats, 20-inch wheels, 14-inch centre touchscreen (up from the standard 9.8-inch screen), panoramic sunroof, and auto-levelling headlights. But to get a head-up display, leather upholstery, or heated rear seats, you have to take the Executive package, which adds those plus other features for $15,550.
User-Friendliness: 7/10
The NX uses a blend of hard controls and electronic ones, but some of the latter could be easier to use. The shifter looks conventional, but it’s a shift-sideways-then-push-pull, and with an awkwardly placed button for park. Cabin temperature is handled by dials, but you must tap or swipe the centre screen for the fan speed – and it can be slow to function when the glass is cold. In its favour, you do get a dial for stereo volume, and the screen’s functions are fairly intuitive, although many competitors do better at quickly getting you to a home screen and then to the menus you desire.
The door handles are electronic, and from the inside, you press a button to open the door. I guess it looks high-tech and impressive, but I’m not seeing the need for the complexity – especially since the button is accompanied by a lever that mechanically opens the door when you pull it twice, in case your battery dies. Sometimes there really isn’t a need to reinvent the wheel – or the door handle. As well, the driver’s-side wiper stops well short of the A-pillar, and in nasty weather, there’s a wide band of snow or road salt that reduces visibility.
Practicality: 8/10
The NX has the inherent practicality of an SUV with its ease of entry and exit, but with a fairly compact footprint that fits into downtown parking spots. It offers 643 L of cargo space behind the rear seats, and there’s a storage compartment under the floor. The rear seats fold nearly flat, opening the cargo volume to 1,328 L. If that isn’t enough, the NX 350h can tow up to 907 kg (2,000 lb).
Small-item storage is also very good. The wireless charger is in the console under the centre stack, and once your phone is in it, you can pull out a shelf over it. This hides it from prying eyes and also gives you as much storage space again over top of it for parking smaller items.
Comfort: 9/10
The stylish interior is as comfy as it looks, with supportive front seats that feature three levels of heating or (optional) cooling, along with two levels for the heated steering wheel. The second-row seats also have some sculpting to them and stay comfortable on longer drives, and legroom is about average for this size of vehicle.
Power: 8/10
The NX 350h uses a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system that makes a combined 240 hp. Lexus is oddly tight-lipped about torque, but several auto outlets report that it’s 167 lb-ft. There are two electric motors, with the rear one providing all-wheel drive when required for extra traction. Both the front and rear motors provide regenerative braking to self-charge the lithium-ion battery.
The system automatically switches between gasoline, electricity, or a combination, depending on driving conditions. The hybrid system has enough power for city driving and highway passing, but the gasoline engine has a rough and growly disposition on acceleration that’s rather at odds with the fact that this is a premium vehicle.
Driving Feel: 6/10
Lexus is usually well within the luxury ballpark for handling, if a bit too light with the steering, but the NX 350h went the other way for me. Its mushy handling makes it feel as heavy as it is, and it can be wallowy around turns. Add in that harsh engine sound, and it’s less premium sport-ute and more truck-like. The brakes can be grabby and hard to modulate, which I found surprising because Toyota/Lexus is the original mass-market hybrid company and usually gets this exactly right. For as nice as the NX can be in some areas, I found the driving performance to be a disappointment.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The NX 350h is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 5.7 L/100 km in the city, 6.4 on the highway, and 6.0 in combined driving. Contrary to a gas-only vehicle, a hybrid gets better city mileage because it can operate more on its battery. I put a lot of highway miles on my tester and averaged 8.4 L/100 km. It runs on regular-grade fuel.
It doesn’t have a lot of direct competitors, as most of its premium compact rivals are plug-in hybrids, which tend to be heavier thanks to their extra battery weight. The Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring is rated at 7.1 L/100 km in combined driving, while the Volvo XC60 Recharge is 8.5, and the BMW X3 PHEV is rated at 10.1.
Value: 8/10
The NX 350h’s starting price of $52,655 (including delivery fee) is actually less than that of its gas-only NX 350 sibling. That one is $57,605, but it’s more powerful and has several more standard features than the hybrid. (Meanwhile, the less powerful NX 250 is priced at $50,155 before tax.)
As mentioned, most of the NX 350h’s similarly sized premium rivals are plug-in hybrids and are correspondingly more expensive. These include the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring at $62,295; the Volvo XC60 Recharge at $67,570; and the BMW X3 plug-in at $67,985, all including delivery charges.
The Verdict
The 2023 Lexus NX 350h isn’t my favourite of the brand’s hybrid models; while the interior is lovely and comfortable, the driving experience doesn’t always live up to its premium billing. But for those who like its size, fuel economy, interior, and relatively reasonable price tag, it’s worth a trip to the dealer to take it for a test-drive to determine it for yourself.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 hybrid |
| Peak Horsepower | 240 hp net |
| Peak Torque | 167 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 5.7 / 6.4 / 6.0 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 643 / 1,328 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2023 Lexus NX 350h Ultra Luxury |
| Base Price | $50,450 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,205 |
| Price as Tested | $63,555 |
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Optional Equipment
$10,800 – Ultra Luxury Package, $10,800
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