2021 Lexus NX300 F-Sport

Price as tested: $51,000

Specs:

2.0 Liter Turbo 4 Cylinder

235 HP / 258 TQ

20 MPG as tested

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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi

This is the Lexus NX300, if you’re thinking ‘Holy crap!  300?  That means, they dropped in a 3.0 Liter V6??  Is it turbo??  OMG it is isn’t!?!?!?  

No.  

No they didn’t.  

Okay now you are probably thinking.  ‘Okay fine.  Maybe…just maybe.  Did Lexus squeezed out 300 horsepower out of the NX!?!?’

No.

No they didn’t.

Lexus took a page out of the MB playbook and just merely rebadged the NX from a 2 to a 3.  No engine or power changes.  It’s just marketing.  So…

…yay?

Okay now I got that annoyance out of the damn way.  The NX is a fundamentally different crossover from most every other competitor.  The way Lexus approached the NX was from the unofficial mindset of a Lexus crossover…comfort over everything.  

The German competitors have designed their crossovers to be a compliment to their sport sedans.  Minus the higher ride height, you would be hard pressed to really tell the difference behind the wheel.  It’s pretty remarkable.  With that though you have a stiffer ride, heavier steering and touchier throttle.  Which I am ALL for but you are not me.  

90% buyers out there are not me.  They want comfort, practicality, efficiency and reliability.  So the natural choice is a Lexus crossover.  The RX has been a rocketing sales success since it’s initial introduction and due to the fact that Lexus understood the market.  That formula has spread across the rest of the crossover range of vehicles to great success.  

So, in essence, the NX is a mini RX.  It brings to the market everything that makes the RX such a fantastic luxury vehicle but in a smaller package.  Smaller can be and sometimes should be a more ‘sporty’ package but in this case…it isn’t.  Which is fine because that’s what Lexus buyers want.  They prefer to have a more coddling ride at the risk of skid pad numbers.  Same can be applied to the drivetrain.  Could it be more exciting?  Oh God yes.  But does it work for it’s target demographic?  Yup.  It has enough power to pass someone without too much of a sweat but not enough to overpower the experience.  The transmission is designed to shift seamlessly in the background rather than firm and immediate shifts.  

Add all of that together you get the perfect Lexus crossover.  Does those ingredients add up to you?  If so, then there you go….

…BUT

If you are tempted by the above but need something with a bit more ummm ‘more’.  I have that answer for you.  The Acura RDX.  

Simply it has:

Every single time I slid behind the wheel of this NX, I flashback to the RDX.  I flashback to the lower price point, stellar dynamics, beautiful drivetrain, excellent AWD and better looks.  Yes the Lexus has a much better interior and that has always been the lynchpin to Acura vehicles but it’s still very nice.  

So there you go.  If you value comfort over everything else.  The NX is your choice.  If you want an alternative that feels more ‘alive’?  The RDX is very compelling choice.