2017 Lexus NX

DREW DORIAN

March 15, 2017 at 5:00 PM

C/D Overall Rating:

Despite a chiseled body and mean-mugged glare, the Lexus NX is hardly an athlete. It’s a softly sprung, high-riding SUV in a class of tall wagons, and cargo- and people-hauling capacities benefit accordingly. A 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder is standard, but the NX300h boasts the lineup’s sole hybrid powertrain and gets all-wheel drive, too. The cabin coddles occupants with comfy leather seats and distinctive styling. Unfortunately, a finicky touchpad-operated infotainment system spoils an otherwise ergonomic interior.

What’s New for 2017?

Introduced as a new model in 2015, the NX carries on through 2016 and into 2017 with few changes. The NX300h hybrid’s front-wheel-drive option has been dropped in favor of standard all-wheel drive. A new 18-inch wheel design joins the options list, as well as two vibrant new colors—Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 and Molten Pearl—for F Sport models. Lexus has added Scout GPS Link as a standard feature; it uses a smartphone app to offer turn-by-turn directions displayed on the infotainment screen.

Standard Feature Highlights

• 7.0-inch infotainment screen
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Rear privacy glass
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

Trims and Options We’d Choose

Wearing an even more aggressive front-grille design, and sporting what may be the most comfortable and supportive seats in the class, the NX200t F Sport is our pick of the range. At $38,255, the front-wheel-drive F Sport represents only a $2175 increase from the base NX200t. Be careful with options, and the NX can stay under $40,000, but we’d say the $400 power rear hatch and the $440 heated front seats are worthy luxuries. All-wheel drive is available, though it adds $1400 to the bottom line.

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

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C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

While its acceleration won’t blow the doors off any stoplight challengers, the NX should offer enough power for the casual driver. The hybrid powertrain provides even less pep, but its fuel economy is measurably improved.

The NX200t comes with a 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic, and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is also available. In our testing of an all-wheel-drive F Sport, the NX200t performed a class-average 7.1-second zero-to-60-mph time. The Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4MATIC managed to sprint to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, making the NX200t seem positively sluggish.

**Acceleration, C/D Test Results**

It’s a different story on the road. The NX200t doesn’t feel lethargic pulling into traffic, the engine’s power delivery is linear and predictable, and once the turbo kicks in, it’s even peppier. The six-speed automatic, while often slow to shift, changes gears well. Selecting Sport mode from the console-mounted rotary dial results in sharpened throttle response and transmission behavior, but not enough to startle passengers.

In this class of mini-utes, towing isn’t always important to buyers. In fact, neither the Mercedes-Benz GLA250 nor the BMW X1 have towing capacity at all. The NX is one of precious few options in this segment that offer enough backbone for towing, boasting a 2000-pound capacity (down to 1500 pounds in the hybrid).

Tow Ratings Compared

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

Being the tallest and most SUV-like crossover in this segment means the gas-powered NX isn’t as efficient as its lower-slung rivals. Opting for the hybrid powertrain nets considerable gains at the pump, but its acceleration performance is hindered by its weaker horsepower output.

Base NX200t models have front-wheel drive and earn EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. Add the F Sport package (which we suggest) and all-wheel drive, and the city rating stays the same while highway fuel economy drops to 27 mpg. Mercedes-Benz’s GLA250 and BMW’s X1 both beat the NX200t with higher city and highway ratings either in front- or all-wheel-drive guise. The NX300h, the segment’s only hybrid offering, is the most efficient in the lineup, with ratings of 33 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

We’ve devised our own fuel economy test in an attempt to replicate how most people drive on the highway. Our procedure entails a 200-mile out-and-back loop on Michigan’s I-94 highway. We maintain a GPS-verified 75 mph and use the cruise control as much as possible to mimic the way many drivers behave during long trips.

We took a NX200t F Sport with all-wheel drive on this highway fuel-economy loop, and it matched its EPA rating of 27 mpg. However, the Mercedes-Benz GLA250 outperformed its highway rating by 3 mpg and impressed us with a 34-mpg result.

**Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results**

Despite its 27-mpg real-world highway fuel economy, the NX200t’s 15.9-gallon fuel tank should result in a cruising range of 430 miles, 70 miles less of a trip than the Mercedes-Benz GLA250 can take.

**Highway Range, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

Peppy, but not overtly fast, the NX200t provides adequate acceleration and falls short of more dynamic offerings from BMW, Infiniti, and Mercedes-Benz. Braking performance, too, is lackluster. The NX300h’s hybrid powertrain impresses with its smoothness and efficiency, but it reduces the Lexus’s performance, instead focusing on providing a comfortable and quiet daily driver. In either guise, the NX’s moves don’t jibe with its wild styling, but if comfort and practicality are at the top of your list, it won’t disappoint.

Acceleration

Its 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine motivated the all-wheel-drive NX200t F Sport to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. That’s not slow, but it won’t win a drag race against the considerably faster Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4MATIC, which shares a performance time with our long-term Volkswagen GTI. Passing power seems plentiful, if not overwhelming, in the NX200t; a 4.8-second result for 50 to 70 mph is adequate, as is a 15.5-second quarter-mile time.

Opting for the hybrid dulls the acceleration numbers further. In our testing, the NX300h took a leisurely 8.8 seconds for zero to 60 mph, and the quarter-mile passed in 16.8 seconds at 84 mph. The hybrid powertrain, which uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) rather than a conventional six-speed automatic, provides linear responses.

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

While the NX isn’t as fun on a twisty road as the BMW X1 or the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, its light steering makes it easy to pilot around town. Its center of gravity is higher than in either of those competitors, lending it a top-heavy feel when cornering. This translated into disappointing results on our skidpad, where it delivered just 0.76 g of grip, the poorest result in a comparison test of subcompact luxury crossovers.

**Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results**

The NX rides very smoothly unless it's on a particularly rough road; only harsh bumps send shudders into the cabin. Steering feel is light and accurate, yet it doesn’t provide much feedback from the road, even with Sport mode engaged.

Braking

The NX200t F Sport we drove had a firm brake pedal, but on our test track, we measured a long 183-foot stop from 70 mph. The Infiniti QX30 AWD managed to stop in 20 fewer feet, which is roughly the length of a Ford F-150 crew-cab pickup truck.

**Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Infotainment Rating:

Lexus offers a comprehensive list of standard and optional connectivity features in the NX, and the infotainment system’s software is easy to learn. Its touchpad interactivity, however, is annoying and makes us yearn for simpler interfaces.

Infotainment Features

A dashtop-mounted 7.0-inch infotainment system with real-time traffic and weather updates is standard, as is Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity. The Lexus Enform App Suite is optional; it allows for the download of popular music streaming, local searches, dinner reservations, and other concierge apps. For buyers who forgo the optional navigation, Lexus provides Scout GPS Link, which pulls turn-by-turn directions from the user’s smartphone and displays them on the infotainment screen. The infotainment system itself is controlled either by voice command or by the small touchpad on the center console. The software is easy to understand, but navigating the menus with the touchpad is often frustrating. Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are available.

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A USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and an auxiliary input jack hide inside the center console, while another 12-volt outlet is provided in the cargo area.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 Lexus NX200t F Sport

Infotainment Performance

We timed the infotainment system’s response and found it average, but it’s still on par with popular smartphones from Samsung and Apple. Its 0.9-second trip from screen to screen sounds like a long time, but in daily use, the delay isn’t noticeable.

Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

By filming the infotainment screen while switching between various menus and then analyzing the high-speed video frame by frame, we are able to accurately measure the system’s response time. We rate infotainment response, or latency, on the following scale:

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

At a glance, it appears that the NX offers much less cargo space than its main rival, the BMW X1. The Lexus nearly matched the X1 in our carry-on suitcase test, but it fell short when it came to storing small items.

We pile cases as high as the car’s beltline so as not to obstruct outward visibility, but some automakers measure all the way to the vehicle’s roof. The BMW X1 was able to haul 19 cases with the seats folded, while the NX trailed it with 18.

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Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cargo Configurations

Second-row seats split and fold in a 60/40 configuration, but when they are flipped down, they don’t lay flat. The rear seats offer recline adjustability and can be optioned with a power-folding feature throughout the lineup.

First Row; fold-flat passenger seatSecond Row2016 Lexus NX200t F SportNo60/40

Cargo Volume Comparisons

With its rear seats up, the NX offers 18 cubic feet of storage space and 55 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The BMW X1 offers more space with the seats folded, and its storage space behind the second row outdoes the NX by a wide nine-cubic-foot margin.

Interior Cubby Storage

Another place the BMW excels is in cubby storage. We counted a grand total of 2391 ping-pong balls in its cubbies and bins, almost triple the NX’s 837. In the cargo area, the BMW’s seemingly bottomless underfloor storage bin held 1700 ping-pong balls while the Lexus swallowed 320.

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

To determine the interior space available to stash travel essentials, we’ve devised a range of measuring protocols. We use six beverage containers ranging in size and shape to gauge cupholder accommodation. We stack, stuff, and arrange 9-by-14-by-22-inch cardboard boxes to quantify the number of airline-carry-on-size suitcases that will fit in a trunk or folded seat’s cargo space. To measure irregularly shaped gloveboxes, door pockets, and console bins, we fill each container with 1.5-inch-diameter ping-pong balls. It’s tempting to convert the number of spheres to a volume (cubic inches), but we resist that calculation because—as with the box of tissues, 12-ounce can of soda, or gallon of milk you might stash in these compartments—there are voids between the balls. Random packing (our procedure) nullifies approximately one-third of the available space. The negative space between the balls could theoretically be reduced to 25 percent of an irregular shape with precise stacking, but while we might be pedantic, we’re not crazy.

**Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Safety and Driver Assistance Rating:

The NX earns top awards from two crash-test agencies, and its optional active-safety equipment is available for a reasonable fee. The only thing holding the Lexus back from safety greatness is a backup camera that, while useful, has disappointingly low resolution.

Crash-Test Results

Two agencies evaluate vehicles for crashworthiness in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates tested vehicles from 1 to 5 stars in front crash, side crash, and rollover tests. NHTSA also assigns cars an overall rating out of five stars. The non-profit, independent, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) uses a different set of tests to evaluate front and side crashworthiness, roof strength, headlight reach, and ease of child seat installation. IIHS grades cars on a scale from Good to Poor in each test, and awards the cars that perform best across all its tests with Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick + honors, the latter of which requires that the vehicle’s automated forward-collision-braking system performs well in IIHS’s tests.

Both the NX200t and NX300h earned five stars from NHTSA, and the IIHS has named the 2017 NX a Top Safety Pick+ after it passed with “Good” results across the board.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

2017 Lexus NX

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

2017 Lexus NX

Small OverlapModerate OverlapSide ImpactRoof StrengthHead Restraints and SeatsTop Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+?GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodTop Safety Pick+

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

Front, side, and curtain airbags are offered as standard, as is a driver’s knee restraint, which helps reduce the likelihood of the driver’s kneecaps colliding with the steering column in the event of an accident.

With two sets of child-seat anchors and two tether anchors, the NX can accommodate up to two child seats in the second row. Anchor points are easy to access, and our rear-facing infant-seat base was a snap to level. Rear doors open wide enough to accommodate the carrier, and the bulky seat doesn’t compromise front-passenger comfort.

A compact spare tire is provided under the NX’s cargo floor, along with the necessary tools for a roadside swap.

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Active Safety Features

Lexus offers forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking as an option, bundled with radar-based adaptive cruise control for a modest $900. Lane-departure warning is available and uses forward-facing cameras to monitor lane markers and sound an alert if the driver drifts out of the lane without activating a turn signal.

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Backup Camera

Although the backup camera’s image quality isn’t crisp, the field of view is quite good for daily use.

Gridlines integrated in backup camera view?Do gridlines move with steering wheel?Does volume of audio system reduce when reverse is selected?2017 Lexus NXYesYesNo

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Warranty Rating:

Lexus offers one of the more comprehensive protection packages in the industry, with four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage, six years or 70,000 miles of powertrain protection, and eight years or 100,000 miles for hybrid components on the NX300h. Lincoln offers unlimited roadside assistance for the life of the MKC, something that no other automaker currently offers, and BMW covers scheduled maintenance for three full years. Lexus provides that benefit for one year.

Warranty Comparison

VehicleLimited WarrantyPowertrain WarrantyHybrid Component WarrantyCorrosion ProtectionRoadside AssistanceComplimentary Scheduled Maintenance2017 Lexus NX4 years / 50,000 miles6 years / 70,000 miles8 years / 100,000 miles6 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)1 year / 10,000 miles2017 Mercedes-Benz GLA-class4 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 milesN/A4 years / 50,000 miles4 years or 50,000 milesNone2017 Infiniti QX304 years / 60,000 miles6 years / 70,000 milesN/A7 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)None2017 Lincoln MKC4 years / 50,000 miles6 years / 70,000 milesN/A5 years (unlimited miles)Vehicle lifetime2 years / 24,000 miles2017 BMW X14 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 milesN/A12 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)3 years / 36,000 miles

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Interior Rating:

The NX’s high-quality and ever fashionable interior is a retreat, and its front seats are among the most comfortable. Its passenger space may not be as roomy as in some rivals, though, and its exterior styling comes with consequential blind spots, particularly when looking rearward.

Interior Space Comparisons

With less headroom than the BMW X1, the Lincoln MKC, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, the Lexus NX might feel tight for passengers in both the front and back seats. Legroom is a different story, where the Lexus delivers 42.8 inches of stretch-out space for front-seat occupants, tying the Lincoln MKC. Rear-seat legroom is also above average for the class.

Front Seats

Back Seats

Upscale materials are used throughout the cabin. Soft-touch plastics and artificial leather cover large portions of the dashboard and door panels. Plastic panels on the bottom portions of the cabin use a consistent leather-grain pattern that does a good job of disguising their low-rent status. The dashboard design is interesting, if busy, and the control panel cascades down to a wide center console with a 7.0-inch infotainment display sprouting from the top. The thick-rimmed steering wheel comes with a spongy leather wrap, which had perforated sections in our NX200t F Sport test car. The gauges are rendered in black with backlit white numbers, so the dashboard is easy to read at a glance. Despite the high-tech interior styling, Lexus has refrained from complicating the central display, and the high-resolution color interface looks nice.

Interior Features

A tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel is standard, and it can be power operated in the optional Comfort package ($565 on NX200t models, $345 on the NX300h). The driving position is great, and most controls are within easy reach, but the infuriating infotainment touchpad knocks ease of use down a few pegs—it’s difficult to operate when you’re on the move. Large exterior mirrors are controlled by a simple directional pad on the door panel.

FeatureStandard/OptionalTilting steering columnStandardTelescoping steering columnStandardPower-adjustable steering columnOptionalHeated steering wheelOptionalPower-adjustable pedalsNot AvailableMemory driver’s seatOptionalMassaging driver’s seatNot AvailableMassaging front-passenger seatNot AvailablePower driver’s seatStandardPower front-passenger seatOptionalHeated front seatsOptionalHeated rear seatsNot AvailableCooled front seatsOptionalCooled rear seatsNot AvailableHead-up displayNot AvailableRear-seat entertainment systemNot Available

Seat Adjustments

The front doors open wide, and the step-in height—while higher than those of the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA250—isn’t uncomfortably high. If anything will inhibit ingress and egress up front, it’s the aggressively bolstered F Sport seats. That being said, the seats themselves are, without question, the most comfortable and supportive in the class. Even the seats in the base NX200t offer more comfort than the diminutive seats in the X1 or the overly firm ones of the GLA250. Climbing in and out of the rear seat requires a head duck to avoid knocking yourself out on the roofline, but its comfort is good, too, with plush cushioning and recline adjustability.

2016 Lexus NX200t F SportFore/
AftReclineShoulder articulationLumbar supportHeightThigh supportSide bolsterHeadrest tiltDriver’s seatXXXXXFront-passen-
ger seatXXXX

Climate Control

Two-zone automatic climate control is standard. Lexus has mercifully created redundant buttons for the temperature settings that run the width of the dashboard control panel, rather than requiring the use of the infotainment system’s touchpad.

Manual climate controlAutomatic climate controlSecond-row climate controlSecond-row vent2016 Lexus NX200t F SportNoTwo-zoneNoYes

Cupholder Location

Two cupholders reside in the center console between the front-seat occupants, and while the front door pockets are rounded, it’s unlikely that most beverages will fit. Rear-seat occupants are treated to four cupholders so long as the flip-down center armrest isn’t blocked by a third rear passenger.

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 Lexus NX200t F Sport

Seating Height

To accurately measure seating height—the distance from the road to the driver’s hip—we use an H-Point Machine (HPM), a precisely engineered device marketed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. This versatile tool, in conjunction with a laser device, reveals the width and location of roof-pillar visibility obstructions (blind spots). We also use these tools, plus basic trigonometry, to determine two other factors affecting visibility: the length of road ahead of the vehicle obscured by the hood, and how much road behind the vehicle is blocked by the trunk or hatch as seen through the rearview mirror.

Buyers who are shopping small SUVs because they prefer the taller seating position won’t be disappointed with the NX and its appropriate 27.1-inch seating height, but they will find the BMW X1’s 23.8 inches too carlike.

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Seating Height, C/D Test Results

Blind Spots and Visibility

Narrow front pillars don’t needlessly limit forward visibility, but the sloping rear roofline and chunky rear pillars limit the driver’s view of approaching traffic. The BMW X1 is nearly as compromised, though, with only five additional degrees of rear visibility.

Roof pillars protect occupants in a rollover crash, but they also create blind spots. We determine visibility by measuring the location and width of each pillar using an H-Point Machine and a laser beam (surrogates for a driver and eyeball, respectively). Front and rear visibility are calculated by subtracting the viewable area blocked by the pillars from a perfect 180-degree score.

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Obscured Roadway, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Exterior Rating:

Not only is the NX one of the most distinctively styled vehicles in this segment, it’s also the most identifiably SUV-like. Despite its large size, the NX is compact enough to park in tight spaces.

Longer, wider, and taller than its competitors, the NX won’t be confused for a hatchback or a station wagon as might some of its rivals. Its tall roof, tapered front bumper, and black lower-body cladding make it look like an SUV, but its dimensions still qualify for easy city parking. Its sharp creases and pinched body lines are unique; the NX300h hybrid adopts the same styling, plus hybrid badging along the bottoms of the rear doors.

Exterior Dimensions

Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

Our F Sport test car came with the optional sunroof. Rivals such as the BMW X1, the Lincoln MKC, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA250 offer panoramic sunroofs so that both rows of passengers can enjoy the sun.

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The NX’s exterior styling may be groundbreaking, but its key fob certainly isn’t. With the black plastic square in your pocket, the NX will illuminate its door handles to greet you as you approach, and push-button start is provided once inside.

Active Key-Fob Commands

Lock / unlockTrunkRemote startPanic alarmHold to roll down windowsHold to roll up windowsRemote parking2016 Lexus NX200t
F SportXXX

Passive Key-Fob Commands

Driver door lock / unlockPassenger door lock / unlockRear doors lock / unlockTrunkPush to startProximity approach lighting2016 Lexus NX200t
F SportXXXXXX

C/D Overall Rating:

What’s New for 2017?

Standard Feature Highlights

Trims and Options We’d Choose

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Tow Ratings Compared

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results

Highway Range, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

Acceleration

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results

Braking

Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Infotainment Rating:

Infotainment Features

Infotainment Performance

Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cargo Configurations

Cargo Volume Comparisons

Interior Cubby Storage

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Safety and Driver Assistance Rating:

Crash-Test Results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

Active Safety Features

Backup Camera

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Warranty Rating:

Warranty Comparison

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Interior Rating:

Interior Space Comparisons

Front Seats

Back Seats

Interior Features

Seat Adjustments

Climate Control

Cupholder Location

Seating Height

Seating Height, C/D Test Results

Blind Spots and Visibility

Obscured Roadway, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

C/D Exterior Rating:

Exterior Dimensions

Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

Active Key-Fob Commands

Passive Key-Fob Commands

In Depth: 2017 Lexus NX

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**Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results**

**Highway Range, C/D Test Results**

**Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results**

**Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results**

**Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results**