2021 Lexus NX 300h
| MSRP | $46,585 |
|---|---|
| Edmunds suggests you pay | $41,581 |
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2021 Lexus NX 300h Review
- Great fuel economy for a luxury crossover
- Back seat has enough room for adults
- Very quiet cabin at highway speeds
- Infotainment interface can be distracting to use
- Limited cargo capacity
- Blind-spot monitor and auto-dimming exterior mirrors are now standard
- F Sport Black Line trim level added to the NX 300h lineup
- Part of the first NX generation introduced for 2015
The 2021 Lexus NX 300h is a compact hybrid SUV that's comfortable, fuel-efficient, and built with a wealth of high-quality materials in the cabin. It comes packed with all sorts of standard safety tech such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and forward collision mitigation. There are lots of options to choose from too, including heated and ventilated front seats, a 360-degree parking camera and even a 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Clearly, there's a lot to like about the NX 300h. But it's not without fault.
The NX 300h's tech interface is its Achilles' heel, and even the most tech-savvy person will find it difficult to use. Cargo space is also limited in the NX, with only 16.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a sloping rear roof that makes it more difficult to accommodate large items. These drawbacks aren't deal-breakers, though. We still enjoy driving the 2021 Lexus NX 300h, and we're impressed by its ride comfort, fuel economy and build quality.
Our verdict | |
The Lexus NX 300h is a comfortable and quiet hybrid that provides a significant boost in fuel economy without much of a price premium over its conventionally powered counterpart. That said, its frustrating infotainment system, limited cargo space and mediocre performance hamper an otherwise enjoyable driving experience. | |
How does the NX 300h drive? | |
The 300h's power won't impress you, but low-end torque from the electric motor helps it scoot around the city rather quickly. In Edmunds testing, 0-60 mph took 8.8 seconds, which is a bit slow in this class. Brake engagement is solid and the pedal gives good feedback, but the abrupt transition between regenerative and standard brakes is slightly off-putting. At low speeds, the steering is light and helps you get into tight parking spaces with ease. The 300h, despite its lack of sportiness or steering feel, handles competently on curvy mountain roads. | |
How comfortable is the NX 300h? | |
This NX 300h makes a great road-trip car. Both the front and rear seats are comfortable and supportive. And on almost every road surface, the ride quality in the NX 300h is excellent. Big and small bumps alike are soaked up well. The standard automatic dual-zone climate control works quickly and quietly to cool or heat the small cabin, and climate controls are within an arm's reach. On the highway, things are hush-hush in the NX. Road noise is a nonissue, while there's just a bit of wind noise over the roof and the sideview mirrors. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The tall doors and a tall ride height make sliding in and out of the NX a breeze, front or back. The driving position in the NX is relatively comfortable, thanks to a useful range of telescoping adjustments on the steering wheel. The front and rear seats also offer plenty of headroom. On the downside, the Remote Touch infotainment interface could be a deal-breaker for some tech-savvy (or tech-averse) buyers. It's difficult to use and requires lots of focus, which takes your eyes off the road. Plus, the large center console has an array of buttons that are oddly angled in entirely different directions. They never feel natural. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The NX offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There is a quick USB connection for audio or Bluetooth, or you can use the Lexus' Enform app for smartphone integration. The thing is, this capability requires downloading and logging into individual apps, and we're not fans of the complicated setup process. Voice controls in the NX have an easy-to-learn set of prompts and pick up on some natural language. The voice controls can be used for navigation, phone, entertainment, and climate control systems. As for the NX's safety systems, the rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring work well. Adaptive cruise control performs adequately, but it doesn't accelerate very quickly when a gap opens up. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The 300h is limited to just 16.8 cubes behind the rear seats (53.7 cubes when you fold them down). That's far less than similar-size rivals. Interior storage is also disappointing. The thin door pockets have just enough space for a small water bottle, and the cupholders in all four main seating positions are small. There's not much extra console space for other things, such as smartphones. The rear seats are a bit cramped, so installing a large rear-facing child seat will be a challenge. It is easy to find and access the car seat points that serve the outboard seating positions, but the center position uses belts attached to the roof. | |
How economical is the NX 300h? | |
The 300h gets an EPA estimate of 31 mpg combined (33 city/30 highway). That's a big jump over the standard all-wheel-drive NX 300, which is rated at 24 mpg combined (22 city/28 highway). We found real-world fuel economy to be a bit lower but not totally off the mark. | |
Is the NX 300h a good value? | |
If you're willing to eschew some creature comforts to get a lower-price 300h, you can save significantly at the pump over time. A base 300h is a pretty good value. Our test car, however, came with nearly $10,000 worth of options, and the resulting sticker price seemed harder to justify. Build quality and interior materials are merely average considering that price, especially compared to German rivals. Warranty coverage is a bit better than average for a luxury vehicle. | |
Wildcard | |
The 300h has some curb appeal. The fact that it doesn't fall on its face when you go fast around a corner helps too. For something with both fuel efficiency and luxury as requirements, the 300h does well. We wouldn't say it's bursting at the seams with personality, but it's easy enough to live with. | |
Which NX 300h does Edmunds recommend?
The base NX 300h offers quite a bit of standard equipment, especially in the form of driver safety aids, so that's the trim level we recommend. You'll also have access, either in packages or à la carte, to most of the options from the upper trim levels if you want to step things up a bit.
Lexus NX 300h models
The 2021 Lexus NX 300h is a five-seat compact hybrid SUV that's available in three trim levels: base 300h, Luxury and F Sport Black Line. All trim levels come with a hybrid system that includes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and delivers a total of 194 horsepower. The NX 300h is available only with all-wheel drive.
Save as much as $5,073 with Edmunds
2021 Lexus NX 300h pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Base
2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT
Edmunds Suggested Price$41,581
8 for sale in 20147
F SPORT Black Line
2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT
Edmunds Suggested Price$43,457
1 for sale in 20147
Luxury
2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT
Edmunds Suggested Price$46,624
1 for sale in 20147
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Lexus NX 300h.
Trending topics in reviews
- value
- fuel efficiency
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- road noise
- seats
- interior
- comfort
- spaciousness
Most helpful consumer reviews
4/5 stars, Meh
Mike R,
4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
When I test drove the car it was great, loved it! Now I’m 2 months in and have realized it has some shortcomings. The suspension is firm which is nice for handling but a little harsh on speedbumps and potholes. I’d say cabin noise is average, I’m not really blown away, and there’s a little rattle somewhere that really surprised me considering it’s a Lexus! I will say that I’ve been averaging 35mpg (city driver here) which I’m thrilled with, and on regular gas! The cargo area looks decently sized but as the reviews mention the roof slope really does cut in to usability. My biggest complaint is the drivers seat. I’m an average sized guy, and I feel oddly cramped in this car. The console cuts far into the drivers legroom and my knee rests on it in a practically upright position. The seat is pretty heavily bolstered on the hips too, so the whole experience is just that of being kinda cramped. I’m not sure why I didn’t catch it on the test drive! But I got a killer deal on it so for the price I paid, it’s livable and or lease swappable.
2/5 stars, No power and extremely noisy!
Morris,
Luxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
We purchased the 2021 NX Hybrid with the expectation it would live up to the quality of our other six Lexus purchases. Two of the six were hybrids. The lack of power has been extremely frustrating. However, the noise level in the cabin is nothing short of disappointing.
In addition, Lexus has created the new hybrid system which makes excessive noise when the car is driven at low speeds. We were told that the new system was created to let pedestrians know a car is in their vicinity. The outcome is very distracting and downright moronic.
To date, Lexus has failed to even acknowledge the concerns. I am afraid this will be our last Lexus purchase.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite NX 300h safety features:
- Forward Collision Mitigation
- Helps mitigate accidents by alerting you to impending front collisions or deviations from your lane.
- Blind-Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot. Also warns you about oncoming cross-traffic when you're backing up.
- Lexus Enform Safety Connect
- Lets you connect with roadside assistance and can contact the authorities in case of a collision or vehicle theft.
Lexus NX 300h vs. the competition
2021 Lexus NX 300h
2020 Lexus RX 450h
Lexus NX 300h vs. Lexus RX 450h
Essentially the Lexus NX's big brother, the Lexus RX has similar standard equipment, but it is larger, more powerful and more expensive. As such, it might be outside of your target price bracket, but we think it's worth the cost. The RX 450h is also a hybrid, but instead of a small four-cylinder engine like the one in the NX, the RX uses a 3.0-liter V6. It offers significantly more power, but fuel economy only drops slightly, from 31 mpg combined in the NX to 30 mpg combined in the RX.
Lexus NX 300h vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Under the hood of the base Mercedes-Benz GLC is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It isn't a hybrid, but with all-wheel drive, the GLC serves up a respectable EPA estimate of 24 mpg combined and has class-leading credentials in almost every other category. It's extremely comfortable on the highway or in the city, it's quick in a straight line, and it's a joy to drive around curvy roads. There is an available hybrid powertrain for the GLC as well, but it costs significantly more than a base NX 300h.
Lexus NX 300h vs. Toyota Venza
The Lexus NX may be a bit more luxurious than the Venza, and a bit more compact (it's nearly 4 inches shorter from nose to tail), but the Toyota has the Lexus beat where it counts. The Venza is more spacious, more powerful and more efficient. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine leads the Venza's hybrid powertrain, which generates a total of 219 horsepower (25 more hp than the NX). Even with that additional power, the Venza has a significantly higher EPA rating of 39 mpg combined versus the NX's 31 mpg combined.
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FAQ
Is the Lexus NX 300h a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 NX 300h both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.1 out of 10. You probably care about Lexus NX 300h fuel economy, so it's important to know that the NX 300h gets an EPA-estimated 31 mpg. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the NX 300h has 16.8 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Lexus NX 300h. Learn more
What's new in the 2021 Lexus NX 300h?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Lexus NX 300h:
- Blind-spot monitor and auto-dimming exterior mirrors are now standard
- F Sport Black Line trim level added to the NX 300h lineup
- Part of the first NX generation introduced for 2015
Is the Lexus NX 300h reliable?
To determine whether the Lexus NX 300h is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the NX 300h. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the NX 300h's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2021 Lexus NX 300h a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Lexus NX 300h is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 NX 300h and gave it a 7.1 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 NX 300h is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2021 Lexus NX 300h?
The least-expensive 2021 Lexus NX 300h is the 2021 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $40,160.
Other versions include:
- 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $40,160
- F SPORT Black Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $46,910
- Luxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $46,610
What are the different models of Lexus NX 300h?
If you're interested in the Lexus NX 300h, the next question is, which NX 300h model is right for you? NX 300h variants include 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT), F SPORT Black Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT), and Luxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). For a full list of NX 300h models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more