Part of the first NX generation introduced for 2015
After some very minor updates last year, the Lexus NX 300h returns unchanged for 2019. As the hybrid version of the gasoline-only NX 300, it provides excellent fuel economy. Its EPA-estimated 31 mpg in combined city/highway driving is unchallenged among the small luxury crossover SUV segment. The hybrid powertrain doesn't suck the life out of the experience either. There's adequate power, and the added oomph from the electric motors make it feel pleasantly responsive when accelerating from a stop.
Like the regular NX 300, the 300h also has roomy rear seats and a smooth and quiet highway ride. Unfortunately, both NX models suffer from a smaller-than-average cargo capacity and an infotainment system that is often distracting to use. All things considered, though, the 2019 Lexus NX 300h is a sensible choice among entry-level luxury crossovers. It smartly balances refinement, style and comfort with frugality at the gas pump.
The 2019 Lexus NX 300h isn't nearly as sporty as its looks suggest, but it has a lot to offer as a sensible hybrid SUV. It returns great fuel economy and has everything you'd expect from an entry-level luxury crossover.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lexus NX 300h (2.5L 4-cyl. hybrid | CVT automatic | AWD).
Scorecard
Overall
7.1 / 10
Driving
7.0
Comfort
8.5
Interior
6.5
Utility
6.0
Technology
7.0
Driving
7.0
The 300h's low-end electric power and small dimensions help it scoot around quickly in the city. Maximum acceleration leaves a bit to be desired, as does the steering feel, but overall performance is adequate.
Acceleration
6.5
The 300h's power won't wow you, but passing maneuvers can be made with enough planning. In Edmunds testing, 0-60 mph took 8.8 seconds, which is a bit slow in this class.
Braking
7.0
Not much happens when you first press the brake pedal, but braking power is linear and strong. You will notice the transition from the regenerative braking to the friction brakes, but it's only slightly off-putting. In Edmunds brake testing, the 300h came to a stop from 60 mph in 129 feet, which is an average distance for the segment.
Steering
6.5
At low speeds, the steering is light and helps you get into tight parking spaces with ease. Switch to Sport mode and the resistance increases. Feedback, however, is vague in all scenarios. You will have little idea of where on-center is when driving straight or what the wheels are doing when driving around turns.
Handling
7.0
While the 300h's handling isn't sporty, it is impressive for a hybrid SUV. The vehicle changes direction with relative speed and ease, and it's competent on curvy mountain roads.
Drivability
7.5
Thanks to the hybrid powertrain, there's a good burst of electric torque between city stoplights. Up long grades, the engine sounds like it's working hard because of the nature of the hybrid powertrain and continuously variable automatic transmission.
Comfort
8.5
Get settled in for the long haul as this Lexus NX 300h makes for a great road-trip car. Both the front and rear seats are comfortable and supportive. Combine that with a plush ride, a quiet cabin and strong climate control system, and you've got a small SUV that you can easily drive for hours at a time.
Seat comfort
8.5
Both the front and rear seats have comfortable padding and robust side bolsters. The adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat helps on long journeys. Road trips should be a breeze in any seating position.
Ride comfort
8.5
Over almost every road surface, ride quality in the NX 300h is excellent. Big and small bumps alike are soaked up well. The rear suspension gets a bit upset when you hit a large pothole or a bump midcorner, but the NX recovers and resettles itself in short order.
Noise & vibration
8.5
On the highway, things are hush-hush in the NX. Road noise is a nonissue, and there's just a bit of wind noise coming from the roof and the sideview mirrors at highway speeds. Under full-throttle acceleration, the hybrid powertrain drones a bit, but in most low-speed city scenarios you'll barely notice it.
Climate control
8.0
The standard automatic dual-zone climate control works quickly and quietly to cool or heat the small cabin. The controls are within reach, but they are aimed strangely upward. The optional heated and ventilated front seats are a nice touch, and they cool or heat relatively quickly.
Interior
6.5
While the NX is relatively spacious, the Remote Touch infotainment interface could be a deal-breaker for some tech-savvy — or tech-averse — buyers. The system is difficult to use on a regular basis and drags the NX's score down.
Ease of use
4.0
Operating Lexus' Remote Touch interface is frustrating and counterintuitive. It requires laser-focused attention on the infotainment screen to select the right commands, which is highly distracting while driving. The large center console has an array of buttons that are oddly angled in entirely different directions. They never feel natural.
Getting in/getting out
7.5
Sliding in and out of the NX is a breeze whether you're getting into the front or the back seat. The short doors mean you can exit both rows without worrying too much about opening them and hitting a neighboring parked car. The sill's step-over height is sufficiently low as you enter.
Driving position
7.0
The driving position is relatively comfortable, and the telescoping steering wheel has a wide range of adjustability. But we aren't fond of the angled head restraint, which can't be adjusted. Many drivers will find it uncomfortable.
Roominess
7.0
The front seat offers plenty of headroom. The big back seat also provides generous headroom thanks to a low seat and a reclining rear seatback. But rear-seat footroom is tight under the front seats, and the cabin is relatively scarce on elbow room .
Visibility
7.0
It's easy to see out of the NX's windshield and front windows. But because of the sloping rear roof and massive rear roof pillars, there are big blind spots when looking over your shoulders. The standard rearview camera and optional blind-spot monitor help out significantly.
Quality
6.5
Compared to some of the top-notch German luxury SUVs, the NX is a step behind on build quality. The interior construction is solid, but touchpoint materials could be better for a luxury SUV. Also, our test vehicle had some uncanny squeaks and rattles that were troubling in a brand-new car.
Utility
6.0
While there is a decent amount of cargo space when you fold the rear seats (53.7 cubic feet), the NX is lacking in seat-up cargo space, small-item storage and space for large child seats.
Small-item storage
6.0
There are small cupholders in all four main seating positions and a relatively deep center console up front. But there isn't a great place to store your smartphone otherwise. The thin door pockets have just enough space for a small water bottle.
Cargo space
5.5
The standard NX 300 has just 17.7 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats, but the 300h is further limited to 16.8 cubes. That's far less than size-appropriate rivals and even less than some smaller SUVs. Load-in height is average, but the sloping rear roof could inhibit the fitment of certain tall items.
Child safety seat accommodation
6.5
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 LATCH points that serve the outboard seating positions, but the center position uses belts attached to the roof.
Towing
7.0
With an optional towing package, the 300h is rated to tow a maximum of 1,500 pounds. That's not impressive by SUV standards, but many of the 300h's hybrid competitors aren't rated to tow at all.
Technology
7.0
The available tech in the NX 300h is a mixed bag. The screen is crisp and clear, and audio quality from the optional sound system is enjoyable, but smartphone integration is definitively behind the times. The driver aids and voice controls work well.
Audio & navigation
8.0
The infotainment screen is easy to read and understand, and it has crisp and clear maps for navigation. The optional 10-speaker premium sound system has good audio quality and only distorts at the highest volume. Overall, it's a likable system — apart from the touchpad interface described elsewhere.
Smartphone integration
6.0
The NX offers Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa but no Android Auto. 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.
Driver aids
7.0
Systems such as rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring work well on the NX. The adaptive cruise control performs adequately but doesn't accelerate quickly when a gap opens up, and the closest ACC following distance is only suitable on the wide-open highway.
Voice control
8.0
Voice controls in the NX have a basic, easy-to-learn set of prompts. Even if you forget those, it's good enough to pick up on some natural language. Voice controls can be used for navigation, phone, entertainment and climate control systems. iPhone users get Siri Eyes Free capability, too.
Which NX 300h does Edmunds recommend?
The 2019 Lexus NX 300h is only available in one trim level, so your only decision to make is how to option it. We suggest adding the Comfort package for its heated and ventilated front seats and blind-spot monitoring. Because you can't get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration on the NX, adding the Navigation package may also be a wise choice.
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
2019 Lexus NX 300h models
The 2019 Lexus NX 300h is a five-seat compact hybrid SUV available in just one version. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid system deliver a combined power of 194 hp. It is available only with all-wheel drive. A variety of option packages combine popular features, some of which are available as stand-alone options.
Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED foglights and running lights, keyless ignition and entry, automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, simulated-leather upholstery (Lexus' NuLuxe), a 60/40-split folding and reclining back seat, an 8-inch infotainment display, a touchpad interface, Scout GPS navigation app integration, Lexus Enform connectivity (with 4G Wi-Fi), and an eight-speaker sound system.
Also included are adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and intervention, and automatic high beams.
Available option packages help buyers get the most out of their NX. The Navigation package, for example, comes with a larger 10.3-inch display, Enform Destination Assist, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a 10-speaker audio system. A Comfort package includes heated and ventilated front seats, blind-spot monitoring and auto-dimming side mirrors.
The Premium package includes the items from the Comfort package and adds a sunroof, driver-seat memory settings, 18-inch wheels, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and enhanced LED daytime running lights with integrated turn signals. Finally, a Luxury package incorporates what you get from the Premium package and adds leather seating surfaces, wood interior pieces, automatic wipers and a heated leather steering wheel.
Stand-alone options include a hands-free liftgate, parking sensors, adaptive headlights and power-folding rear seats.
We traded in with the RS450H after owning the car for 8 years and put 80,000 miles. Other than oil changes, tyre changes and put gas in tank, we had absolutely no maintenance issues with this car - just amazingly reliable car. That is one of the many other reasons we bought the NX300h. The gas milage is great. we are getting about 35 mpg combined compared to 23 mpg of the RX450h.
I wanted a hybrid crossover, and checked the Toyota RAV4 first. It was a bit loud and unrefined. I told the salesman I was also considering the Lexus hybrids. He mentioned that they are a different class of autos. Once I drove the Lexus NX300h, I knew what he meant! The 300NX is quiet and refined. Sometimes I can't tell if on elec., or gas, or both unless I am looking at thee … instrument panel.. The car is great whether city or highway driving. I drove to a baseball game in Denver, and the traffic was terrible - however the mileage was 36.1 when I started out, and 36.2 when I got to the ballpark!!! I have checked mileage on two fill ups. I got a 37.8 in the city, and 32.0 mileage on the highway (Denver to Albuquerque).. Both figures are better than the EPA estimates. The touch controls are difficult at times, and hope to get better with time. So far I am a happy customer!
I traded my used 2015 GX460 for this vehicle. The GX was simply too big and the gas mileage too low to justify keeping this car (especially as I have a 2016 RC350 sports car that I use as my fun car). I bought the NX as my daily driver, and decided to get the hybrid so as to have an SUV that gets at least 30mpg overall. The car is excellent in every respect except for two areas. … Acceleration is poor, especially when getting onto the highway. But once the NX gets up to speed it maintains it's speed well. Gas mileage was good the first few months, getting at 30 mpg on each tank of gas (my best was 35.3 mpg). But in the last month the mileage has dropped to between 27 to 28 mpg. I'm still happy with the vehicle, but in hindsight would probably have gotten the gas only version instead of paying the premium for the hybrid. Regardless, the NX is an overall great SUV and do not regret buying one.
This is our first hybrid and we love it! When we shopped for the new car, we had four key criteria - a crossover to sit high enough and easy to get in and out, highly fuel efficient, Apple CarPlay, and reliable! Lexus NX300h beats others and wins! It’s very refined, quiet, comfortable, and luxury! It uses battery to power the car in low speed. With navigation and premium package, the … 10.3 inch screen shines beautifully especially when Apple CarPlay is used for navigation with Google Maps/Waze. The MPG achieved was excellent for a SUV - 31.4 for about 400 miles compared to 21 for Acura MDX in winter months. Highly recommended!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Lexus NX 300h, so we've included reviews for other years of the NX 300h since its last redesign.
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Scorecard
