It’s always nice to have a friend that you can rely on through the years. And in some ways, it’s even better to have a car that you can depend on for many years, especially if you use it every single day. Interestingly enough, this was our main takeaway during our time with the 2021 Lexus NX 300h, as it’s a lot like a trusty friend that you can depend on for years.

The Lexus NX 300h is reliable

Just like any other Toyota or Lexus product, the NX 300h is reliable. Consumer Reports gave it a five out of five ratings when it comes to predicted reliability and U.S. News agrees with them. Furthermore, you can easily find older NX models running for thousands of miles with barely any issues. In fact, Lexus NX has zero complaints filed on Carcomplaints.com, which is a site where car owners can file their various repair and maintenance issues. Case in point, just like a good best friend, the Lexus NX 300h is a car that you can depend on.

The Lexus NX is fuel-efficient

If you’re looking for fuel efficiency, then the NX 300h has your back. Under the hood is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that is paired up with a hybrid powertrain that consists of two separate motors; one for the front axles and one for the rear. Together, the powertrain puts out of a combined power rating of 194 hp and it is able to achieve up to an EPA-estimated 33 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. During our time with it, we got an average of 29 mpg in combined driving, which was mostly city driving.

It has an all-wheel-drive drivetrain

Remember how we said that the Lexus NX 300h has a dual-motor setup? That means it can spin all four wheels to easily get you to your favorite destination in the woods or possibly out of a terrible situation that you put yourself in. You know, like a really good friend.

It’s fun to drive

What’s the point of hanging out with a friend if they aren’t any fun? Luckily, the NX 300h’s driving dynamics and small stature make it fun to drive. Its steering is fairly responsive and the car changes direction quickly thanks to its supple, yet sport suspension that comes with 650 levels of damping (F Sport package). You can easily throw it around and lower speeds and if you need even more sportiness, then just kick it into “Sport Mode” for more responsive steering and throttle inputs.

It’s priced well

You wouldn’t want to hang out with a friend that makes you spend a lot of money, right? Well, the Lexus NX 300h wouldn’t do that to you, either, as it starts at around $40,000 and can go up to around $50,000 when you tick off all of the option boxes. That’s cheap when you compare it to German rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X2, in which you’ll easily go over $50,000 when you option those up. After all, Lexus is about luxury with value, not price gouging. A best friend wouldn’t do that to you.