When Kez first drove the new 2023 Lexus NX350 F Sport, he summed up its market position beautifully.
“With the new-generation 2022 Lexus NX350 F Sport, the Lexus brand is moving its SUV out of the space where you feel like you have to make excuses for it. That's not to say the old NX was particularly bad, but it struggled against stiff competition from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. It's never been more expansive, less tech-heavy, and less dynamic. With a new platform, new engines, and – finally – a new infotainment platform, Lexus has a competitor in the medium SUV class that can meet all needs.”
Specifically. Moreover, stiff competition is the hallmark of this luxury medium SUV segment. You can also add Genesis to the mix now, not to mention Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Volvo, and Maserati, all vying for your attention and discerning eye for luxury. And, with what for many is the first step towards luxury ownership, there are also deep expectations from buyers.
There is no doubt that buyers have never had so many high-quality choices – and Lexus is no longer a viable replacement. Or the default option for those switching from mainstream offerings such as Mazda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Honda, and Nissan.
So where does this segment stand today? The Audi Q5, BMW . just everyday practicality. This means that every fighter in this segment needs to provide more than just luxury.
Australians love medium SUVs, we know that. But with the love for this segment comes an aspirational outlook to venture further into the world of luxury, and thus, this segment has become more popular than ever. It also needs to provide everything the regular midsize SUV segment can – and more.
The 2023 Lexus NX350 F Sport is new, and better, and features significant improvements in important non-negotiable areas – one of which is infotainment. Let's find out if the new NX is truly ready for a luxury slugfest.
How much does a Lexus NX350 cost in Australia?
The Lexus NX350 F Sport starts from $77,511 before on-road costs, with the 2.4-litre non-hybrid version coming in one specification grade with a petrol engine and AWD. There is of course the petrol 2WD NX250 and the NX350h in 2WD and AWD trim, in Luxury, Sports Luxury, and F Sport trim. Step up to the top-of-the-line NX450+ F Sport plug-in hybrid and prices start at $90,984 before on-road costs.
With a long list of standard inclusions and no need to tick many option boxes, it's hard to argue with Lexus' value proposition. Prices spread across the NX model range range from $62,275 before on-road costs, to the aforementioned $90,948 before on-road costs.
Our tester had the Enhancement Package 2 added, which includes a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, digital rearview mirror, and the excellent 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system for an extra $6000 (including on-road costs). The price details below reflect our testing of the NX, as well as indicative prices for a return trip to Sydney.
The 2.4-liter engine produces 205kW and 430Nm and drives through a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite the word Sport in the F Sport's name, it's honestly not a sporty SUV, with an engine that works hard enough without being particularly dynamic. The NX350 F Sport rarely feels like a fast SUV. The Sport S and Sport+ driving modes definitely enhance the driving experience, but you won't be fooled into thinking you're driving a proper sports car.
Standard features are plentiful, in line with Lexus guidelines, and highlights include red leather trim, a 10-way adjustable driver's seat, an eight-way adjustable for passengers, and heating and ventilation.
You also get 20-inch alloy wheels, a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8.0-inch driver display, a head-up display, a surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, adaptive suspension with F Sport performance dampers, F Sport pedals, shifter, steering wheel, and sill plates, tri-beam LED headlights with adaptive high beams, special aluminum trim, and selectable driving modes.
Important details of the 2023 Lexus NX350 F Sport
The price is $77,511 plus travel costs
The color of the test car is Graphite Black
Option Upgrade Package 2 – $4615.28
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Digital rearview mirror
- 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system
Graphite Black Paint – $1346.16
The price as tested was $83,472 plus travel costs
Drive away price $93,365 (Sydney)
Audi Q5 rival | BMW X3 | Mercedes-Benz GLC
How much space does the Lexus NX350 have inside?
First, the electric door handles – or E-latches as Lexus calls them. I guess we can file it in the 'answers to questions no one asked' column. Of course, there are many more modern cars on that list, but I don't see any argument in favor of them.
Quieter than traditional latch and lever mechanisms? Yes. Do traditional styling mechanisms tend to interfere with the luxurious experience of driving a Lexus? No. However, once you get used to them, they become fairly intuitive, but you'd be hard-pressed to convince me that a modern car needs any more electronic complexity than it already has.
The cabin is perhaps the most important element in the running of any luxury vehicle. And as expected from Lexus, the NX350 F Sport delivers an exceptional cabin. Our tester had red leather trim, which some of you may like. Others may not, but that's a personal opinion.
Visibility is excellent, as are the seat and steering wheel adjustments, and the way you position yourself behind the wheel. The shorter among us will appreciate how you can jack up the seat to have plenty of visibility to the front and back.
For some time now, Lexus has been delivering seats that are some of the best in the business, and once again the NX delivers as well. The seats are well sculpted and comfortable, and you can go on long trips knowing you won't need a chiro at the other end. In fact, the 'Sport' in the F Sport is clearly visible in the seats, which have a bucket-shaped appearance and can hold you in place but are not so firm that they feel hard.
Storage is well catered for, especially considering its compact exterior dimensions. Up front, you get two cup holders, a conventional glove box, a center storage bin in the console, and a hidden storage section under the wireless charging pad. The latter can be recalled to access that storage.
I consider the NX to be a four-seat SUV, not a five-seat SUV, especially if you need to take teenagers or adults with you. There's space in the back, but once you get over six feet tall, things start to get cozy. Two child seats instead of three are also our recommendation for the second row.
Second-row passengers get air vents, twin USB-A charging ports, 12-volt sockets, and map pockets on the seatbacks. Temperature and air control would be an appreciated addition there.
The powered rear doors open to provide 520 liters of space with the rear seats up, or 1141L with the seats folded in a 60:40 split. It's a decent-sized space that can comfortably fit most of the items a busy family would need, with a flat lip and a pair of folding bag hooks located on the side.
Under the boot floor, there is a large space for storing additional items out of sight but there is no double-height boot floor. The run-flat tire specification means there's no spare space taking up boot space. Opening the rear door via the key fob is easy enough, and the kick-to-open function works, but it's not something I've used much outside of testing so it works as it should.
2023 Lexus NX 350 F Sport
Seat Five
Seat 520L boot volume up,
1141L seats fold down
Length 4660mm
Width 1865mm
Height 1670mm
Wheelbase 2690mm
Does Lexus NX350 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The new model is most apparent when you're inside the cabin and interacting with the infotainment system. This new system is a major improvement over the old, complicated, and outdated system, which we have repeatedly rated poorly over the years. Thankfully that system is now just a memory.
The 14-inch touchscreen display in the F Sport is combined with sharp graphics and the response is also fast. To give you an idea of how good it is, and how much processing power it has, when you use the 360-degree camera system, changes are instantaneous and the area under the car (shown as a see-through wire frame) is already mapped and cached, readily used.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are both standard, Apple users can connect via wired or wireless connection, but Android users can only connect via wired access. When I have wireless smartphone connectivity, I tend to charge my phone wirelessly as well, and I'm not a fan of cooking expensive smartphones with wireless charging pads. All of them seem to make the phone heat up, so the option to plug it in is welcome.
Also standard is DAB, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, and a three-year subscription to the Lexus Connected service for access to connected navigation, and Lexus Remote Connect which allows users to lock and unlock the doors and tailgate, start or stop the engine, locate the car. , activate the horn or headlights, or adjust the climate control remotely.
Our test NX was equipped with the optional Enhancement Pack 2, which replaces the quality 10-speaker system with an excellent Mark Levinson-branded 17-speaker system. It delivers clear, powerful sound at any volume, and we think it's worth upgrading to.
The 8.0-inch digital driver instrument display – smaller than the larger screens in some major competitors – displays important information, but it doesn't have the multi-format, customizable display modes of the Audi or Mercedes-Benz.
Across the Drive team, we're partial to the new touch-trace steering wheel controls. When you move your finger over the unmarked D-pad on each side of the steering wheel, the head-up display will show you where you are and what it does. Page buttons underneath allow each pad to be switched between the two sets of functions.
You might think that this is a useful addition, and the theory is that it helps you keep your eyes on the road, but each function requires a double click – one to activate and another to confirm. If you don't lift your finger, you can do one press at a time, but otherwise, we found the system unresponsive and difficult to function.
What safety technologies does the Lexus NX350 have?
All NX models have the same suite of active and passive safety technologies, which include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection turn assist, so AEB can intervene if it detects a vehicle turning into traffic.
Other technologies included include safe exit assist to prevent the door from opening to cyclists or traffic, emergency steering assist, road sign assist and radar active cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and lane tracing, front. and rear parking sensors, parking buffer with brake, 360-degree camera, and 10 airbags.
I like how the Lexus safety system works, and the NX is no different. They do what they do, mostly in the background, without interrupting the driving enjoyment in any distracting way. Many other manufacturers could learn a thing or two in this regard. Lexus' lane-keeping assist system is excellent, and blind-spot monitoring also worked well in testing.
How much does it cost to maintain a Lexus NX350?
As with the entire Lexus range, the NX350 F Sport is covered by a five-year unlimited kilometer warranty as well as five years of roadside assistance. Lexus includes three years of access to Encore's ownership benefits program which includes rewards, event offers, and fuel discounts. When it comes to accessible luxury, the Encore program is a clear example of making shoppers feel good about their purchase after the fact.
Three years of capped-price service is available and priced at $495 per visit (12-month/15,000km intervals), but also includes vehicle pick-up and drop-off, or a service loaner vehicle.
The Lexus NX350 F Sport will set you back $2676.68 for comprehensive insurance per year, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
2023 Lexus NX350 F Sport at a Glance
Five-year guarantee, unlimited km
Service interval 12 months or 15,000km
Service fee $1485 (3 years)
Is the Lexus NX350 fuel efficient?
Lexus quotes an official fuel consumption of 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers on the combined cycle. Despite being an all-new engine, the 2.4-liter turbo doesn't come with any mild-hybrid assistance (although Lexus has a more frugal full-hybrid lineup in the NX350h model) but does come with stop-start technology.
That consumption rises to 10.1L/100km after a long period of idling with the engine running for filming and photography, but in our regular round of testing the NX350 F Sport consumed 9.2L/100km. If you're after the lowest fuel consumption figures you can get, the NX350h – with hybrid technology – is the model to buy.
What's the Lexus NX350 like to drive?
That Lexus has met the luxury requirements is undeniable. The brand has been synonymous with it since its launch in the country. Therefore, the cabin experience, and indeed the driving experience, is premium, isolated, and quiet. For many of you, that alone defines a luxury driving experience. In line with the F Sport logo, the NX experience is not just about cabin quality.
The NX350 F Sport also has good performance under the hood. The 2.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine feels generally underpowered and produces 205kW and 430Nm. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic and smooth AWD, and while there's no hybrid technology on this model, it's still an efficient combination in the real world. Of course, it won't match the NX hybrid for fuel use in traffic, but on the open road, it's still impressive.
Don't expect the NX to be a sports car replacement, and frankly, a medium SUV shouldn't have to tick that box. It's more of a family cruiser – with a little more pep – than a fast SUV. Everything about the driving experience feels isolated, even when you press the throttle pedal. It doesn't cruise forward like a sporty SUV, but it rides waves of torque and gathers speed gracefully.
The ride quality is excellent. The NX is very well-tuned to handle poor road surfaces like most of you will experience in the city. The balance between firmness and composure when you're turning corners, and ride quality when the NX needs to soak up bumps, is noteworthy. There's basically no situation where the NX350 F Sport feels uncomfortable. Considering the NX uses run-flat tires, it's impressive how well they can protect cabin occupants from bad surfaces.
You can of course manipulate the ride settings, and the adaptive suspension is tweaked using the drive modes, which can be switched to Sport S and Sport S+ modes to stiffen the steering and suspension. The mode also subtly changes shift response, and makes the eight-speed automatic transmission more lively, but doesn't completely change the NX's character. For me, keep the suspension in Comfort mode.
Important 2023 Lexus NX350 F Sport details
2.4-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine
Power 205kW @ 6000rpm
Torque 430Nm @ 1700–3600rpm
Drive Type wheel drive
Transmission 8-speed torque converter automatic
Power to weight ratio 110.2kW/t
Weight (curb) 1860kg
Spare tire type None (standard run-flat tire)
Tow rating 1000kg braked
750kg unbraked
Turning a circle 11.6m
Should I buy a Lexus NX350?
This is a very good luxury SUV – and in many ways that goes without saying. But after a week behind the wheel, and considering the best in the segment, Lexus is on top with the new NX. In non-hybrid F Sport form, it still makes a strong case, delivering fuel efficiency on par with, or better than, some rivals that can't offer the same savings in the real world.
Whether the Lexus NX's qualities are enough to lure those who appreciate the value of European badges away from them is really beside the point. If you're looking for a mid-sized luxury SUV, the Lexus NX should be on your hit list. Look at a hybrid if you want outright efficiency, but it's hard to argue with the overall capability and quality of the Lexus NX.
How to buy a Lexus NX350 – next steps?
We've tested the Lexus NX350 F Sport for this review, and the fact that the NX range is well-defined makes choosing your preferred model a little more tricky. You should also consider the NX hybrid if saving on fuel will make a real difference to your budget. The NX250 2WD is a strong choice, and the lineup then passes through the NX350 AWD, NX350h 2WD, and NX350h AWD, before culminating in the NX450h+ AWD.
Stock shortages continue to be an issue at the time of writing, and Lexus isn't completely immune, although the picture is the best it's been since before the COVID-19 pandemic. I talked to Lexus, and it says the lead time for the non-hybrid NX250 and NX30 is about 2–4 months, which is back to normal, even before COVID-19.
As a guide, the wait time for the NX350h has been cut drastically, to around 5–7 months, which is the best wait time in years. The NX450h+ plug-in hybrid is still delayed by more than 24 months, so Lexus has only expressed interest in the model until the lead time is more suitable.
The next step in the buying journey is to check the Lexus website for stock of your chosen NX variant, whether it's a hybrid or with a conventional powertrain. You can also find Lexus models for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale.
We highly recommend taking a test drive at the dealer before committing as personal needs and tastes can vary. Find your nearest Lexus dealer via this link. We also recommend testing the NX hybrid variant, especially if you want to save as much fuel as possible. Also check out the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
