2017 Lexus NX 300h

The following is a list of compact luxury hybrid crossover SUVs: the 2017 Lexus NX 300h. That concludes the list. Indeed, if you're looking for the best possible fuel economy from this popular segment, the NX 300h is where you can start and end your search. But depending on your other priorities, it may or may not be the best choice for you overall.

Beyond its fuel economy, the NX 300h has a lot to offer. It has a quiet, impeccably crafted cabin that looks pretty cool and has plenty of backseat space. As a crossover SUV, the 300h has an elevated ride height you might be looking for compared to hybrid cars, and its manageable size makes it easy to park and drive around town. The NX's driving experience also strikes an agreeable balance between comfort and driver involvement.

The NX 300h does come up short on cargo space, though. That could be a problem if you're frequently using your vehicle to haul a lot of stuff. The bigger but pricier Lexus RX 450h hybrid is, therefore, an alternative. So too are a pair of diesel-powered competitors, the BMW X3 xDrive28d and Jaguar F-Pace 20d, which offer nearly the same fuel economy but more interior space and sportier performance. So although the NX 300h is the only vehicle of its kind, know that there are alternatives in roughly the same ballpark.

Every NX 300h comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, a driver knee airbag, side curtain airbags and a front passenger under-cushion airbag that prevents an occupant from sliding out from under the seat belt. Also standard is Lexus Enform Safety Connect, which includes automatic collision notification, an emergency call button and a stolen vehicle locator.

Optional features include a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, a lane departure warning system and a forward collision mitigation system (included with adaptive cruise control) that warns of a possible collision and can automatically apply the brakes in the event of driver inaction.

In crash testing, the government gave the NX 300h its highest five-star rating for overall crash protection, including a four-star front-impact rating and five-star side-impact rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the NX the highest possible rating of Good for the vehicle's performance in the small- and moderate-overlap front-impact tests as well as Good score for the side-impact, roof strength and seat/head restraint (whiplash protection) tests.

The 2017 Lexus NX 300h is a five-passenger compact SUV available in a single trim level. The NX 200t conventionally powered model is reviewed separately.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED foglights and running lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, automatic dual-zone climate control, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with two-way driver lumbar adjustment, simulated-leather upholstery (Lexus' NuLuxe), a power-adjustable and leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split folding and reclining backseat, Bluetooth, a 7-inch Lexus Display Audio knob-and-screen interface, Scout GPS Link navigation smartphone app connectivity, one USB port and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD and satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a media player interface.

Other packages are also available, but their availability can vary by region, so you'll want to check with your local dealer. They also often require selecting additional packages as well. Things start off with the Comfort package, which really adds only driver-seat memory settings. To that, you can add the Premium package, which includes 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, upgraded running lights, heated and ventilated seats, and blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems (available separately). To both of those packages, the Luxury package adds a power liftgate, automatic wipers, leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel. A power-folding rear seat can be added to the Luxury package.

Additional options include front and rear parking sensors (Intuitive Parking Assist), a lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control (bundled with forward collision mitigation), upgraded LED headlights and wireless smartphone charging. Some of the extras in the above package content can be available separately. There's also the Navigation package, which adds a full Lexus navigation system, the Remote Touch infotainment interface, a variety of smartphone apps and two additional speakers.

The 2017 Lexus NX 300h features a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors supplied by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Together, they produce a maximum output of 194 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, though its reliance solely on one of the electric motors to drive the rear wheels ultimately makes it less capable than other all-wheel-drive SUVs in regard to maximum traction.

In Edmunds performance testing, an NX 300h went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. That's a decent time for a hybrid, but it does make the NX 300h one of the slowest luxury crossovers available. Still, our Edmunds consumer reviews suggest that, in the real world, many owners are satisfied with the NX 300h's acceleration.

You'll certainly like the NX 300h's best-in-class fuel economy. The EPA estimates it will achieve 31 mpg combined (33 city/30 highway). Only the diesel-powered BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace come close to that.