2017 Lexus NX 300h Review

Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED foglights and running lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, automatic dual-zone climate control, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with two-way driver lumbar adjustment, simulated-leather upholstery (Lexus' NuLuxe), a power-adjustable and leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split folding and reclining backseat, Bluetooth, a 7-inch Lexus Display Audio knob-and-screen interface, Scout GPS Link navigation smartphone app connectivity, one USB port and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD and satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a media player interface.

Other packages are also available, but their availability can vary by region, so you'll want to check with your local dealer. They also often require selecting additional packages as well. Things start off with the Comfort package, which really adds only driver-seat memory settings. To that, you can add the Premium package, which includes 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, upgraded running lights, heated and ventilated seats, and blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems (available separately). To both of those packages, the Luxury package adds a power liftgate, automatic wipers, leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel. A power-folding rear seat can be added to the Luxury package.

Additional options include front and rear parking sensors (Intuitive Parking Assist), a lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control (bundled with forward collision mitigation), upgraded LED headlights and wireless smartphone charging. Some of the extras in the above package content can be available separately. There's also the Navigation package, which adds a full Lexus navigation system, the Remote Touch infotainment interface, a variety of smartphone apps and two additional speakers.

The 2017 Lexus NX 300h features a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors supplied by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Together, they produce a maximum output of 194 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, though its reliance solely on one of the electric motors to drive the rear wheels ultimately makes it less capable than other all-wheel-drive SUVs in regard to maximum traction.

In Edmunds performance testing, an NX 300h went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. That's a decent time for a hybrid, but it does make the NX 300h one of the slowest luxury crossovers available. Still, our Edmunds consumer reviews suggest that, in the real world, many owners are satisfied with the NX 300h's acceleration.

You'll certainly like the NX 300h's best-in-class fuel economy. The EPA estimates it will achieve 31 mpg combined (33 city/30 highway). Only the diesel-powered BMW X3 and Jaguar F-Pace come close to that.