2023 Lexus NX 350 Review: Luxurious, Athletic, and Addicting
2023 Lexus NX 350 Review
- 2023 Lexus NX 350: $42,365 – $49,815
- Best Mid-Size Premium Utility Vehicle – AJAC
- Pros: Smooth ride, affordable luxury bargain, unmatched comfort
- Cons: Complicated tech, loud interior, and desirable packages are limited to the F Sport trim
- MotorBiscuit score: 8.1 out of 10
It’s hard to believe that the 2023 Lexus NX 350 is based on the Toyota RAV4 because it features an outstanding performance that keeps drivers coming back for more and more. Not to throw shade on the RAV4, but it’s a little bumpy and sluggish.
The Lexus NX 350 stands out by being smooth, comfortable, and exciting. It’s a well-rounded package filled with luxurious amenities such as ventilated seats, a high-definition 14-inch touchscreen display, and quilted leather upholstery.
While the gas-powered NX 350 has a competitive fuel economy for the class, the NX 350 Hybrid provides more fuel savings. While the NX 350 could use a little more cargo space, it’s still a serious rival to consider against the Genesis GV70 and Acura RDX.
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 is primarily a carryover model from 2022. That’s when the second generation launched with a full redesign, interior upgrades, and modern tech.
Which 2023 Lexus NX 350 trim is best?
- Lexus NX 350 – $42,365
- Lexus NX 350 Premium – $45,425
- Lexus NX 350 F Sport Handling – $47,465
- Lexus NX 350 Luxury – $49,815
While the base model starts off pretty loaded with luxurious features such as standard AWD, power-adjustable/heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, and LED headlights, the Premium trim adds more comfort and convenience features without a massive price increase.
The NX 350 Premium adds ventilated front seats, a power liftgate with a kick sensor, parking sensors, a sunroof, driver’s seat memory settings, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
However, it’s hard to resist the Lexus NX 350 F Sport with its sport-tuned adaptive suspension to improve handling, 20-inch black wheels, sport-bolstered front seats, 10-inch head-up display, and extra driving modes.
How does the 2023 Lexus NX 350 drive?
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 packs a potent punch with its standard turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
It’s hard not to enjoy the instant power and smooth transmission shifts as the NX 350 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. It’s half a second faster than the outgoing model, but the Genesis GV70 is still faster, with a 0 to 60 time of roughly 4.9 seconds.
The Lexus NX 350 has a direct steering that’s well weighted and confident brakes. It corners well, and the F Sport suspension keeps the body roll in check. Taking sharp curves at higher speeds probably won’t make any passengers car sick.
Each model has driving modes for Eco, Normal, Custom, and Sport, but the F Sport gains Sport S and Sport + modes to improve its response performance in its most dynamic conditions. There are also extra gauges to measure your cylinder response and G-Force.
Use the Custom mode to craft your ideal driving experience. You can pair the acceleration response from Sport mode with the brakes from Normal mode, etc.
While the NX 350 is equipped to turn things up, Normal and Eco modes allow for relaxed and effortless trips around town. The 20-foot turning radius is convenient for parking and maneuvering in tight areas.
How many mpg does the 2023 Lexus NX 350 get?
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and up to 28 mpg on the highway. During our week from Rock Hill, SC, to Asheville, NC, and back, we hovered around 25 mpg.
The Lexus NX 350h or Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and up to 37 mpg on the highway. It pairs the 2.5-liter engine with two electric motors to generate 240 hp.
How comfortable is the 2023 Lexus NX 350?
The 2023 Lexus NX has an extremely comfortable interior. The plush leather upholstery is soft yet durable and welcoming. The front seats are large and well-padded. The extra bolstering with the F Sport model holds you securely in place.
Headspace may seem limited, but there are plenty of adjustment controls. The rear seats have plenty of space for two average-sized adults. They are well-padded and contoured to provide support, and they sit at a relaxed backrest angle.
The taut suspension isn’t too stiff around bends, and rough sections of the pavement are quickly dampened for a smooth performance.
However, the interior is much louder than expected at highway speeds. You also get an occasional engine roar occasionally, but it’s deep and satisfying.
The climate controls are strong and adapt quickly to changing conditions, and the ventilated seats are fast-acting. But they could be stronger.
Is the 2023 Lexus NX 350 interior nice?
Yes, the 2023 Lexus NX 350 interior is attractive, upscale, and crafted with high-quality materials. Soft-touch materials span the dash, door sides, and center console with metal brushed accents to draw the eye.
The F Sport models add red upholstery that has a striking contrast with sections of black material. Red and white accent stitching complete the package with a modern feel. The plush carpet is water-resistant and easy to clean.
The layout is well planned, with everything you need within reach. The sunroof is a bit small compared to the larger panoramic option but still fills the cabin with natural light. Also, the large windshield and rear window provide excellent visibility.
Does the Lexus NX 350 have good tech?
The tech in the 2023 Lexus NX 350 is modern and advanced. However, it’s not the most intuitive system to understand. It may take a few minutes to learn the controls and find certain menus. It’s primarily a touchscreen system as well.
More physical controls would make the system more convenient, but the 9.8-inch and available 14.0-inch infotainment screens look great. The graphics are vibrant, and the cameras have an excellent resolution.
The 14.0-inch infotainment screen is impressive and simple to customize. Plus, the head-up display is helpful without being distracting. It allows you to focus on the road.
Our connection to wireless Apple CarPlay would sometimes drop and couldn’t be reconnected until later. Getting phones to connect wirelessly takes a little effort.
Also, you have to put your phone on the wireless charging pad in a certain spot to charge. It’s not secure, and your phone may slide around.
The safety features are modern and protective but can seem overly sensitive at times with sudden, loud alerts.
How much cargo space does the 2023 Lexus NX 350 have?
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 has 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 46.9 cubes in total. Rivals offer more storage room, but they are wider and longer. Being a little smaller may give the NX 350 an advantage on the streets.
Storage for personal items is adequate. The center console is a little tight, but the doors have sizable pockets. The glove box is tight, and the seat pockets are useful. There are a few storage trays and cubbies to take advantage of as well. Also, there’s a built-in trunk under the cargo floor.
When properly equipped, the NX 350 can tow up to 2,000 lbs. It’s not exactly built for towing. But the seats do fold flat to create a level cargo floor with a low liftover height.
How safe is the 2023 Lexus NX 350?
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 is incredibly safe. It is an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+. It earned a ‘Good’ score in almost every safety test, which is the highest score possible.
It did get three ‘Acceptable’ ratings, but that’s the second-highest score. Also, it earned a Superior score for its ability to avoid collisions with vehicles and pedestrians at speeds of 12, 25, and 37 mph.
The child seat anchors earned a Good+ rating, which is quite an achievement. The anchors are easy to find and attach. They aren’t too deep in the seat, and other equipment isn’t easily confused with the tethers.
Standard safety features include:
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Intersection turn assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Automatic high beams
How reliable is the 2023 Lexus NX 350?
The 2023 Lexus NX 350 has a respectable reliability score. It earned an 81 out of 100 from J.D.Power, so it’s in the above-average category. Anything between 70 and 80 is average, while scores between 81 and 90 are above-average.
You can expect the average Lexus NX 350 model to reach at least 250,000 miles before significant repairs are needed. With proper care and regular maintenance, it’s not uncommon to surpass 300,000 miles.
If you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year, you may get between 17 to 20 years of service on the road.
It costs about $551 to maintain the Lexus NX 350 annually. This is cheaper than the average yearly maintenance cost of about $650 for other new SUVs.
MotorBiscuit awards the 2023 Lexus NX 350 with a score of 8.1 out of 10.
The experts of MotorBiscuit have provided the 2023 Lexus NX 350 with a score of 8.1 out of 10. Getting behind the wheel is an exciting experience to make road trips, daily commutes, and errands more fun.
Plus, the Lexus NX 350 is a relaxing place to unwind after a long day with plush, luxurious amenities and plenty of tech for an effortless excursion. There’s plenty of space for passengers, but cargo space is limited.
You can feel confident with this safe and reliable SUV. However, the tech has a few issues to work out. We hope to compare the F Sport to the 350h soon.
