Lexus NX 2023 review: 350 AWD F Sport

In an age where families are becoming smaller and storage is at a premium, there’s a market for SUVs that have just the right amount of space to warrant the SUV tag, but don’t compromise on power… enter the Lexus NX350 F Sport. 

The NX sits below its bigger RX stablemate in terms of size but unless you’re over six foot tall and designated a back seat, you won’t notice the difference.

It’s got some strong competition with other medium luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC but it outstrips them in a key area: price. 

Read more about the Lexus NX

Lexus NX 250 2023 review Lexus NX 2022 review: 350h Luxury long-term | Part 1 Lexus NX 2022 review: 450h+ plug-in hybrid

I've been driving this for just over a week with my family of three and we've done a NSW Central Coast and South Coast 'roadie', normal domestic errands and the school runs. Keep reading to see how it performed.

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

There are four models for the NX: the entry 250, our 350 F Sport, the 350h and the range topping 450h+ model.

The 350 F Sport is an all-wheel drive and is $78,191, before on road costs. That’s significantly cheaper than its nearest rivals with the Mercedes GLC 300 4Matic sitting at $105,000 and the BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport being $97,900, before on-road costs.

The features list is healthy with a colour head-up display, climate ‘concierge’ system, 360-degree view camera, heated and ventilated front seats plus a powered boot with kick-function coming as standard.

The NX350 AWD F Sport has a price tag of ,191, before on road costs. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

I also like the heated side mirrors for those cold mornings, the 10-way power adjustments on the driver’s seat (eight-way on the front passenger's side) and lumbar support. But it is missing an extendable under thigh support which would have made our roadies that much better. There are a bunch of other cool tech bits, but more on that below.

Our model has also been fitted with the 'Enhancement Pack 2', which adds a panoramic sunroof, digital rear view mirror, heated steering wheel and the standard 10-speaker audio is upgraded to a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system.

You can save yourself $4615.38 if you’re not fussed with those features but I’ve enjoyed using them this week.

The driver and front passenger seats feature lumbar support. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

The NX is a lot larger than you may think being 4660mm long and 1865mm wide. But the 1670mm height puts it in that sweet 'sporty' spot, being able to handle bends without much roll.

Overall, if the UX and RX had a baby, this would be it. It shares a similar rounded out rear as the RX but a sharper nose, like the UX. It has an understated roadside presence but looks handsome.

The interior is gorgeous on our model with two-toned leather trims throughout in 'Flare Red' and black. The dashboard is headlined by a massive 14-inch multimedia system which looks fantastic and the black headliner makes it all feel very cosy.

The NX is a lot larger than you may think being 4660mm long and 1865mm wide. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The NX shares a similar rounded out rear as the RX. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Explore the 2023 Lexus NX Range

Lexus NX 2022 review: 350h Luxury long-term | Part 1 Lexus NX 2022 review: 350h Luxury long-term | Part 2 Lexus NX 2023 review: 350 AWD F Sport Lexus NX 250 2022 review: snapshot Lexus NX 250 2023 review Lexus NX 350 2022 review: snapshot Lexus NX 350h 2022 review: snapshot Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV 2022 review: snapshot

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

Up front the interior is pleasantly roomy and well-proportioned. I have enough elbow, leg and headroom for my height (168cm/5'6") but still have that sporty sense of being ‘tucked-in’ by the car. Delicious!

Back seat passengers are also tucked in, but more in the way you’d swaddle an unruly cat that doesn’t want to go to the vet.

The legroom and headroom are a bit squishy for a taller passenger, like a 6'2" brother (sorry, bro!) but for shorter journeys, it will suffice.

The back seat is also quite narrow and should be considered as a ‘two-seater’ for everyday use and a ‘three-seater’ for occasional use. This also means you’ll only be fitting two child seats back there.

Up front the interior is pleasantly roomy and well-proportioned. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The front row gets the most amenities and tech. The massive 14-inch multimedia touchscreen looks fantastic and gives some cool-kid cred to the interior.

It comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but the built-in satellite navigation is super easy to use, too.

However, at times, the tech did fluster me while on the go. Where you expect there to be a button, it’s a touchscreen and vice-a-versa.

Especially, the 'E-latch' door handles. I’m sure there is a rhyme and reason to the operation of them but they’re not intuitive to use.

The back seat is quite narrow and should be considered as a ‘two-seater’ for everyday use. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The system consists of touch-sensitive handles to assist opening from the outside, and push-buttons on the inside.

It ended up being a running joke with my family. Which newbie passenger would get stuck not being able to open a door?

The storage up front is pretty good for a car of this size with two cupholders, a decent glove box, a middle console and a cool hidden cubby underneath the wireless charging pad.

Back seat passengers aren't as well served, which is a shame for a luxury model. You have directional air-vents, two USB-A ports and a 12-volt socket, plus a couple of map pockets. And that’s it.

The boot offers a practical capacity of 520 litres. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

However, I love the easy-to-clean trim on the back of the seats and the dark headliner, which is always handy in my family!

The boot offers a practical capacity of 520 litres. I love the level load space, as it makes sliding gear in and out that much easier and there’s a handy storage cubby underneath the floor for smaller items.

The powered tailgate is handy but it was fiddly to get going from the key fob. The kick-open function is really good, though!

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?

The 350 F Sport has a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine with a maximum output of 205kW and 430Nm of torque.

That’s a lot of power for a medium SUV. This is an AWD but there are FWD and plug-in hybrid versions for the NX, if you’re after a ‘greener’ option.

The eight-speed auto transmission is deliciously smooth and combined with the powerful engine, it’s a fun SUV to drive.

Under the bonnet is a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?

The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure is 8.1L/100km.

Real world testing saw my figure at 9.7L after a mix of open-road and urban driving this week. That's pretty thirsty considering my big roadie, but expect that figure to be higher in the city.

It has a small 55L tank which should give you an approximate driving range of 679km based on the official combined cycle figure.

The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure for the NX is 8.1L/100km. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Driving – What's it like to drive?

The engine is powerful and even when you put your foot down, you don’t feel like you’re dipping into the power reserves. Overtaking all the slow-moving caravans on our Easter trip was a simple affair!

I really enjoy the driving position in this car. The visibility out of the windows and space make it a very comfortable car to drive.

It’s pretty effortless to manoeuvre and I feel confident sensing where it starts and ends.

The steering is firm but supple, making you feel like you have a lot of control. However, I did switch up how I came out of corners in this because there was some wobble in the back when I accelerated too soon in the turn.

The visibility out of the windows and space makes the NX a very comfortable car to drive. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

I didn't like the auto high-beam system. It stayed on when it should've switched off and I turned this feature off because I ended up flashing people at night otherwise.

The ride comfort is very good with forgiving suspension but it doesn't feel floaty, even at high speed or in windy conditions.

Family members I had in the back all complimented the ride, they just struggled to get out of the doors! The cabin is also fairly quiet, which I always like.

I love how easy this is to park and the super clear 360-degree view camera is a highlight. If you have a full load in the back, you can also switch over the rear-view mirror to a digital feed (again, part of that Enhancement Pack add-on).

The rear-view mirror can be switched to a digital feed display. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

As far as the safety is concerned, this has a lot of the items I look for in a family car, like daytime running lights, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert (always good to have) as well as front and rear parking sensors.

But a cool highlight is the 'Safe Exit Assist' which will alert you via the dash if the car has sensed an oncoming obstacle when you go to exit the car.

However, Lexus goes further and if the obstacle remains present and you still try to open the door, the car will LOCK your door and stop you from exiting.

The NX features a super clear 360-degree view camera system. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

There could be something said here… Terminator and M3gan come to mind, but it’s cool nonetheless.

Another great feature is the super clear 360-degree view camera system that makes the car ‘invisible’ in the feed, to improve your visibility and limit distraction.

The Lexus NX was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022, so it’s nice and fresh.

It has eight airbags, including the front centre airbag we’re seeing on new models now.

The rear seat is a bit too narrow to comfortably fit three seats side-by-side. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

It has auto emergency braking with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection, daytime motorcycle detection and junction assist which is operational from 5.0-80 km/h.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seat positions and three top tether anchor points, but the seat is a bit too narrow to comfortably fit three seats side-by-side.

There’s just enough room for a 0-4 rearward facing child seat to be installed behind my driving position but it might not be possible behind someone who is tall. 

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

This NX has the features but what about ongoing costs? This car comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is standard for this class.

Surprising, the NX only comes with a three-year capped-priced servicing plan, which is below average for the market. I would prefer a longer term plan but the services are decently priced at an average of $495 each.

Servicing intervals are reasonable at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first. 

Our model takes 95 RON premium fuel but did have a sticker at the fuel cap indicating it was E10 suitable (I wouldn't be using this, personally).

Lexus provides a five-year/unlimited km warranty on the NX. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Pricing & Specs Insurance Quote

Verdict

Pricing Guides

$77,370

Based on 42 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.

LOWEST PRICE

$67,888

HIGHEST PRICE

$96,815

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