2020 Lexus NX 300h Review

Name: 2020 Lexus NX 300h Review
Brand: Lexus

Price Range: $21,035 - $32,510

Lexus NX 300h Base 4dr SUV Exterior. Options Shown.

+102

The 2020 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.

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2020 Lexus NX 300h Review

by Travis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Great fuel economy for a luxury crossover
Back seat has enough room for adults
Very quiet cabin at highway speeds

Cons

Infotainment interface can be distracting to use
Limited cargo capacity

What's new

Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 added as standard
Lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and forward collision mitigation added
New Android Auto smartphone integration
Part of the first NX generation introduced for 2015

Overview

Comfortable, quiet and available with plenty of high-tech safety features, the 2020 Lexus NX 300h is an appealing small luxury SUV that also happens to get great fuel economy. For 2020, it gets updates such as the addition of lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and forward collision mitigation, all as standard. It's also equipped with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration this year, which is a welcome addition.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.95 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$117/mo

$171/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Inside, the NX is relatively spacious, especially for the driver, but there's limited cargo capacity behind the rear seats. The sloping rear roofline means it'll be hard to load large items in the trunk. Plus, it creates a pretty big blind spot. And for buyers concerned with in-car tech, the standard Lexus infotainment system will be a sore spot. It's difficult to use, with lots of buttons and a frustrating touchpad that's probably our least favorite on the market.

Tech and cargo issues aside, we do like the 300h. It's one of the most efficient small luxury crossover SUVs you can buy. It's also an intriguing choice compared to the standard NX 300 — the small increase in initial cost can be offset at the pump over time. It's worth a look if you want a solidly constructed and easy-to-drive luxury crossover that also gets more than 30 mpg in combined city and highway driving.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

7.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7/10

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

Comfort

8.5/10

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.

Interior

6.5/10

How’s the interior? Tall doors and a tall ride height make sliding in and out of the NX a breeze, in front or back. The driving position in the NX is relatively comfortable, thanks to a useful range of telescopic adjustments of the steering wheel. The front and rear seats also offer plenty of headroom.

On the downside, the Remote Touch infotainment interface could be a dealbreaker 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.

Technology

7/10

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. 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 has adequate performance, but it doesn't accelerate very quickly when a gap opens up.

Storage

6/10

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.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? 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.

Value

7.5/10

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

7.5/10

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 on its 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?

There's only one trim level for the NX 300h, so buyers can't be choosers, but there are some options worth looking at. We recommend the Comfort package for amenities such as blind-spot monitoring and heated/ventilated front seats. Buyers who want an SUV that's a bit more dynamic can opt for the Navigation or Mark Levinson audio packages, which add 10- and 14-speaker stereos, respectively.

Compare 2020 Lexus NX 300h trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2020 Lexus NX 300h models

The 2020 Lexus NX 300h is a five-seat compact hybrid SUV available in a single trim level with some available option packages and stand-alone items. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid system deliver a combined power of 194 horsepower. It is available only with all-wheel drive.

Standard equipment on the 300h includes 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED foglights and running lights, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation, lane departure warning and intervention, keyless ignition and entry, power-folding mirrors, a rearview camera, automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, simulated-leather upholstery (Lexus' NuLuxe) and a 60/40-split folding and reclining back seat.

Tech features include in-car Wi-Fi, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 (pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and mitigation), Lexus Enform Safety Connect emergency communications, an 8-inch infotainment display with a touchpad interface (Remote Touch), smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa), and an eight-speaker sound system.

The Navigation package 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 bundles together heated and ventilated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, and auto-dimming side mirrors.

The Premium package includes Comfort package items and adds a sunroof, driver-seat memory functions, 18-inch wheels, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and enhanced LED daytime running lights with integrated turn signals.

Stand-alone options include a hands-free liftgate, parking sensors, adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, and power-folding rear seats.

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Lexus NX 300h Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.5

30 reviews

5(73%)

4(17%)

3(0%)

2(3%)

1(7%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

One of the best SUV

rich, 02/25/2019

2019 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

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.

Happy with my hybrid NX300h

Dan, 07/11/2019

2019 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

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 …

My Daily Driver NX300h

Robert S, 08/04/2018

2018 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

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. …

Love the Hybrid!

Jim L, 02/13/2019

2019 Lexus NX 300h 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

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 …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Lexus NX 300h, so we've included reviews for other years of the NX 300h since its last redesign.

See all 30 reviews of the Lexus NX 300h

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2020 NX 300h Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$39,070
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$117/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the NX 300h models:

Lexus Safety System+ 2.0: Helps mitigate accidents by alerting you to impending front collisions or when you deviate from your lane.
Blind-Spot Monitor, Cross-Traffic Alert: Alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot. Also warns you about oncoming cross-traffic when backing up.
Lexus Enform Safety Connect: Lets you connect with roadside assistance and can contact the authorities in case of a collision or stolen vehicle.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2020 Lexus NX 300h Review

Price & Payment

2020 Lexus NX 300h Review

Pros