A Nexus of Luxury, Sport & Utility
It’s a small, premium SUV with a bold design, and with the F Sport packs it even gets inspiration from one of the greatest supercars of all time. The Lexus NX300 F Sport 3 has had the benefit of the Lexus LFA trickling down into the rest of the range, but does this mean it can go up against the sporty Germans?
The Lexus NX300 has been around since 2014. It’s always stood out with its striking design. It carries the Lexus trend in presenting luxury at first glance. The 2021 model, still on the original design, gets some minor updates to keep this refresh exciting. The NX300 starts at $44,600 CAD and $59,100 with the F Sport 3 pack like our tester. The NX300 provides luxury, and the F Sport packs add some solid sport characteristics.
Each NX300 comes with a 2.0 Liter turbocharged engine that provides 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s more than enough power for everyday driving, and may even be enough to be considered fun. That power feeds into a 6 speed automatic transmission and provides power to all four wheels. The transmission isn’t the smoothest, you can feel each shift, but it is responsive. The AWD with electric steering is solid, and provides decent feedback. The NX300 provides a solid drive, responding properly to driver input and offering up luxury cruising. It’s not ultra sporty, but the F Sport does get some upgrades such as wider tires, sport suspension and more aggressive styling.
Visually, the NX300 is a real looker. It’s bold, but not so much that it’s out of place or anything feels off. Everything fits together well, completing a very solid design. There has been some controversy over the current Lexus grill but in the F Sport 3 trim we think it looks fantastic. The black mesh design lessens the polarizing effect the grill has had and the black chrome border fits perfectly with the tone. Then there is the Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 paint which our tester has, and it is brilliant, looking sharp in any situation.
The interior is where the NX300 brings it home, providing an ample amount of luxury without missing out on too much or being too much. The F Sport seats are fantastic, body-hugging and supportive enough for spirited driving, but even more so comfortable for those long drives. The heated, F Sport steering wheel is lovely, with its soft leather, and it not being too thick, it provides amazing comfort. Just behind the steering wheel sit the incredible paddles, one of the features taking inspiration from the glorious LFA. Most people may not use the paddles but if they do, they’ll feel the difference instantly. These are immensely better than ones you’d find in most other cars, for example, almost any BMW. These paddles don’t feel like you’re simply pressing a button. There’s feeling here, there’s a weight, there’s an involvement. Even the design is much better, with the slight curve it feels better as you’re making your way through the gears. These paddles are satisfying, unlike most on the market. There’s even a g-force meter and turbo boost meter, taken from the LFA, for those wanting some sporty readouts.
Back to the rest of the interior. The design is classy, and it all falls within the proper feel with where the NX300 fits in the market. The F Sport black trim with bronze accents provides an excellent, clean look. Finishing off the look is the analog clock which acts as a centerpiece in the console, and at night it’s backlit in white, looking even better. One feature we quite liked were the cabin lights which were touch sensitive, adding a more classy feel. The laptop style infotainment setup takes some getting used to but it’s done well. Hidden in the center console is a personal mirror, which at first was mocked by a passenger, but was used before the day was done.
The interior isn’t without its flaws though. First there is the infotainment screen. While it is nice and wide and is well implemented into the design, it appears to use inferior LED backlighting, and should you choose to dim the screen, you’ll also be introducing some flicker. Then, for the price category that this is in, you might expect it to have a larger sunroof rather than the moonroof, and that it would have heated rear seats. These are minor complaints really. The rear seats do recline a small amount, which is a great option, but the armrest does not account for this and can not rest level unless in the standard position. The newly added Mark Levinson audio system is great, but we didn’t find it to be any improvement over other premium audio choices.
We don’t miss the feature but surprisingly there is no start/stop function, but when achieving around 10 liters per 100 kilometers, it isn’t as thirsty as some competitors. It may seem as if it is though as the gas tank isn’t large and you’ll be filling up just as often as the heavy drinking competition.
The NX300 is not self driving, but with the Lane Tracing Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control it does an excellent job at taking over and giving you confidence in its abilities.
This might not go up against the full on sport offerings from its competitors, but at nearly half the price of those offerings, it isn’t meant to. It’s not as powerful but it’s still plenty enjoyable to drive. We’d just love to see the option for a larger or more powerful engine. Not that it’s too low on power, but more just giving the choice. You won’t get nearly the same reliability from the competition though so maybe that’s more important.
The NX300 is a lovely small SUV, giving plenty of luxuries with plenty of style to match. With a homey feel, and some added sportiness, it provides more than enough for one’s daily needs, and enough excitement to warrant a look back as you walk away.
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