The Luxurious Of Plug-In Tech

Within the U.S. immediately, there is no such thing as a scarcity of luxurious utility autos to think about. Virtually each upscale automotive model provides a variety of various SUVs, from maneuverable compact choices to three-row behemoths that tower above lesser autos to myriad merchandise in between. And Lexus, after all, isn’t any exception.

Base Trim Engine

2.5L I4

Base Trim Transmission

CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

203 hp

Base Trim Gasoline Financial system (metropolis/freeway/mixed)

41/37/39 MPG

Base Trim Battery Kind

Lead acid battery

Make

Lexus

Mannequin

NX

Phase

Compact Luxurious SUV

Infotainment & Options

9 /10

Toyota’s luxurious division provides an enormous array of SUVs, together with the compact NX, which is out there with a whopping three completely different powertrains. You will get this machine with a gasoline engine, as a standard hybrid, or perhaps a variant – particularly, the NX 450h+ – that’s motivated by a super-efficient plug-in hybrid system. And that final mannequin is what we’re exploring right here. This model of the NX is a tantalizingly small utility automobile with wonderful on-road refinement, robust all-electric vary, and loads of consolation, although you do pay for the privilege. The mannequin supplied for testing checks out for $66,764, together with greater than $4,300 in choices and $1,175 in vacation spot charges.

2025 Lexus NX 450h+ Luxurious First Impressions

With its big hourglass-shaped grille, angular options, and basic design, the NX matches proper in with the broader Lexus lineup. This automobile just isn’t unattractive, however there’s extra occurring right here than I usually take care of.

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The headlamps look fearsome (triple-beam LED models are normal on this mannequin, as are LED fog lights), there’s lots occurring with the bumpers, and when considered from sure angles, the NX appears very extensive on the base and far narrower up high, which gives an virtually pyramidal form.

Exterior Dimensions

The NX 450h+ rolls on normal 20-inch wheels which might be handled to a darkish grey metallic end, which appears to be like fairly good with the out there Nori Inexperienced paint. This small SUV can also be provided with just a few different daring colours, together with Copper Crest, a shiny reddish-brown; Redline, a fiery crimson; and my favourite, a fully electrical blue known as Grecian Water. So many daring and attention-grabbing colours provided on a luxurious automobile are virtually unprecedented, particularly should you’re looking for a German product lately.

Driving Impressions And Efficiency

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The NX’s avant-garde design and trim dimensions counsel this SUV is sporty and fascinating to drive, although that’s not the case. No, the automobile just isn’t sloppy or free feeling, however neither is it one thing you’ll get up early on a Saturday morning to take out in your favourite winding street. As a substitute, the NX 450h+ is clean and refined like a conventional Lexus.

This utility automobile’s suspension does an outstanding job filtering out roadway harshness and enormous suspension inputs, all with out flopping round in turns. The cabin additionally stays impressively quiet at velocity, aside from the $395 optionally available roof crossbars that whistle noticeably – not loudly, however you undoubtedly can hear wind speeding round them. In truth, throughout my first drive, I assumed the sunroof was cracked open barely, but it surely was absolutely closed.

Matching its experience high quality, the NX 450h+’s steering feels gentle and clean. The ratio is properly balanced – neither too fast nor too sluggish – and minimal roadway harshness could be felt.

Acceleration And Braking

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This plug-in hybrid is powered by a drivetrain that’s constructed round a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, an engine utilized in scads of different Toyota and Lexus fashions. By itself, this unit delivers a decent 181 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, however the engine is aided by an electronically managed repeatedly variable computerized transmission (eCVT) that’s comprised of a particular planetary gearset and two motor-generators.

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Other than that, this Lexus additionally has a 3rd motor-generator on the rear axle, offering normal all-wheel drive. Total, the NX 450h+ has a formidable 304 system horsepower, which is sufficient to propel this SUV to 60 mph in a manufacturer-estimated 6.0 seconds flat, a legitimately fast time.

Efficiency Specs

That spectacular acceleration is delivered when the engine and electrical motors are working collectively, once you get the total 304 system horsepower. However this Lexus is a plug-in hybrid, so you possibly can run it purely on electrical energy if you need – and you need to! Doing this dramatically will increase the automobile’s effectivity, although the efficiency is considerably decreased. No, the NX 450h+ just isn’t unbearably sluggish, but it surely’s noticeably much less vigorous.

When it’s time to decelerate, this SUV’s braking system works nicely. The transition between energy-saving regenerative braking and the friction binders is seamless, and the pedal feels nice below your foot, much better than the annoyingly rubbery one within the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid I just lately examined.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 6.0 seconds
• Braking, 70-0 MPH: 175 toes

2025 Lexus NX 450h+ Gasoline Financial system

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The NX 450h+ is extraordinarily fuel-efficient. In keeping with the U.S. EPA, this SUV ought to return a formidable 36 miles per gallon when operated as a standard hybrid, that’s, when the gasoline engine is working with the electrical motors. Suppose you employ this Lexus as designed by profiting from the beneficiant electrical vary, which is estimated at 37 miles (courtesy of an 18.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack). In that case, this automobile is anticipated to return 84 miles per gallon equal (MPGe), an enormous quantity.

In real-world driving, totally on two-lane roads with a little bit of freeway cruising thrown in, and taking full benefit of the electrical vary, this automobile has been getting me round 40 mpg with out even attempting. The effectivity is simply easy.

You possibly can change between numerous powertrain modes utilizing a few buttons on the middle console, although these are in no way intuitive. There’s an EV mode that permits the automobile to run solely on electrical energy if there’s sufficient juice within the battery. This setting will preserve the NX 450h+ in EV mode even should you ground the accelerator pedal. There’s additionally an Auto EV/HV setting that prioritizes electric-only driving however nonetheless permits the engine to interact when further efficiency is required. There’s an HV mode, which ought to run this Lexus like a standard hybrid, and there’s even a cost mode to juice up the battery with the combustion engine when you’re driving. These are nice settings to have, although the management buttons are, sadly, complicated.

Inside Design And Consolation

Pop open a door, and also you’ll see that the NX’s cabin is nicer in individual than it appears to be like in photographs. There’s loads of gentle leather-based on this automobile (a beige known as Macadamia, although different hues are provided), you get a great deal of squishy and attractively textured gentle plastic, and the general structure of the dashboard is considerably driver-focused, however nonetheless engaging and extremely useful.

Inside Dimensions

In relation to consolation, this Lexus impresses. The entrance seats energy modify in eight methods, and the driving force will get four-way lumbar. These chairs are additionally heated and ventilated for added consolation in all 4 seasons, plus the steering wheel is heated, too.

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However what concerning the backseat? Nicely, regardless of this Lexus’ compact dimensions, the aft lodging are surprisingly spacious, plus the decrease cushion is a superb peak above the ground. Six-foot-tall passengers have an honest quantity of legroom, and there’s loads of headroom, too. This automobile additionally options heated outboard seating positions, is fitted with separate air vents on the rear of the middle console, and there are two USB ports and even a separate 12-volt energy outlet. The one actual draw back to the backseat is the narrowness of the rear doorways, which necessitates some gymnast-like contortions whereas getting in or out of the automobile.

Expertise And Ease Of Use

In relation to expertise, the NX provides lots. Decrease-end fashions have a 9.8-inch touchscreen, which is loads giant, however higher-end trims, just like the one seen right here, include a gargantuan 14-inch panel. The infotainment system that runs on there’s responsive and intuitive sufficient, although wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are each supported, so it’s tremendous straightforward to entry your most popular smartphone whereas on the go.

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The NX evaluated right here additionally includes a wi-fi charging pad, a pleasant amenity; there’s a digital rearview mirror, which takes a video feed from the reversing digital camera to provide you a dramatically wider area of view to the again; the driving force is handled to a power-adjustable tilt-and-telescopic steering column; and there’s a whopping six USB ports inside. A ten-speaker audio system is normal tools, however a Mark Levinson setup with 17 sound emitters is out there for an additional $1,020. This audio system is loud and crisp with none distortion or buzziness.

Cargo And Storage House

For those who’ve acquired a giant household or repeatedly haul giant quantities of cargo, you’ll most likely need one thing aside from the Lexus NX. Nonetheless, this SUV within reason spacious for what it’s. You get 22.7 cubic toes of area behind the rear seat and 46.9 once you fold the break up backrest down, which could be robust to do as a result of there are not any distant releases within the cargo space; as an alternative, it’s best to function the latches by means of the rear doorways.

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As for inside storage, there’s a superb quantity of area within the middle console below the double-hinged armrest, which might open from both aspect, and also you get a hidden storage cubby forward of the cupholders. All 4 door panels have nooks to stash stuff, although none of them are notably giant.

2025 Lexus NX 450h+ Vs. Its Opponents

This electrified Lexus SUV competes with different small luxurious utility autos. Rivals embrace the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Infiniti QX50, and Volvo XC40. The one drawback is, many of the NX 450h+’s rivals are usually not fitted with fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid powertrains, besides one specific competitor.

How The 2025 Lexus NX 450h+ Compares To The 2025 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring

• Lincoln

  Mannequin

  Corsair Grand Touring

  Engine

  2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid

  Horsepower

  266 HP

  Torque

  N/A

  Vary

  28 miles electric-only

  Transmission

  CVT

  
  

The Lexus NX 450h+ and Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring are intently matched rivals, each of which characteristic plug-in hybrid powertrains. I reviewed the Lincoln not way back, and actually appreciated this automobile’s stylish exterior styling, unpretentious expertise, and out there BlueCruise, which provides hands-free driving functionality on sure stretches of pre-mapped divided freeway. The Corsair is a compelling product, although the Lexus just isn’t with out its personal convincing benefits.

Efficiency

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All issues thought of, the Grand Touring’s efficiency is sweet, although its powertrain is “solely” rated at 266 hp, practically 40 lower than the NX 450h+. For those who’re in a rush, this Lexus is noticeably faster than the Lincoln, plus its engine sounds considerably smoother and fewer strained.

This Lexus additionally has considerably extra all-electric vary than its American rival, once more, an estimated 37 miles on a full cost. As compared, the Lincoln, with its appreciably smaller 14.4 kWh battery pack, is simply anticipated to supply 27 miles of electrical vary.

Not surprisingly, the NX 450h+ additionally has a slight gasoline effectivity benefit over the Lincoln, which, in mixed driving, is rated at 33 mpg and 76 MPGe in comparison with 36 and 84, respectively, for the Lexus.

Consolation

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Personally, I choose the design of the Lincoln’s inside over what you get within the Lexus. The cabin is cleaner and extra typical, although surprisingly, the Lexus has an edge in seat consolation. The Corsair’s out there ($1,285 further) 24-way power-adjustable Excellent Place entrance seats are good, however somewhat firmer than I’d like. The Lexus’ chairs are supportive however a contact plusher, which is extra snug for me. Each autos supply heated and ventilated entrance chairs, and heated outboard spots within the rear. Consolation within the backseat ought to just about be a wash, neither automobile having a giant benefit.

Expertise

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Not surprisingly, in terms of expertise, these SUVs are very evenly matched. They each supply heated steering wheels, have an out there premium sound system, and so they’ve acquired an almost similar suite of superior driver help applied sciences.

The Lincoln’s is certainly not small (clocking in at 13.2 inches), however the NX does have a barely bigger touchscreen. Countering this, the Corsair’s driving modes are far simpler to decipher. Additionally, this Lincoln has appreciably extra cargo area than the Lexus, 27 cubic toes behind the again seat and 56.2 cubes with the backrest folded. Additionally, hands-free driving is a implausible characteristic to have, one thing the Lexus can’t supply, although its typical adaptive cruise management system is superb.

Our Advice For Which Mannequin You Ought to Purchase

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So, which automobile is a better option, the NX 450h+ or Corsair Grand Touring? Nicely, the Lexus has extra all-electric vary, delivers higher estimated gasoline effectivity, its engine sounds smoother, and this automobile has extra energy, which interprets into noticeable faster acceleration. The Lincoln, compared, has classier styling, considerably extra cargo area, its driving modes are simpler to know, and this SUV is out there with a hands-free driving help, which the Lexus doesn’t supply. Total, these autos are very intently matched, and the one which’s greatest for you relies upon largely in your private preferences. In order for you sporty and youthful, get the Lexus, if understated class is your factor, think about the Lincoln.