A week in one of a longtime Lexus mainstay, the NX, shows the luxury marque knows how to ensure the brand’s best qualities permeate its entire portfolio. We drove the 2025 Lexus NX 350h Luxury model and found the brand continues to get better.
Spend any amount of time in the 2025 Lexus NX 350h, and you will see the brand continues to just get better.
Having spent a week with the all-wheel drive Lexus NX 350h Luxury, I can tell you the qualities that define the Lexus brand are transferrable, regardless of the size of the vehicle they inhabit. Granted, most of the other offerings in this class outshine the Lexus in terms of pure performance potential.
However, when it comes to grace and swank, the NX 350h’s competitors would do well to emulate the subcompact Lexus crossover SUV. At once comfortable, efficient and luxurious, the 2025 Lexus NX 350h Luxury AWD holds considerable appeal.
Powertrains and fuel economy
Power is sourced from a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder internal combustion engine, teamed with a trio of electric motors. Total system output is 240 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 179 pound-feet of torque at 4,300. The all-wheel drive powertrain uses a continuously variable transmission with overdrive to funnel engine output to the front wheels.
As is typical practice, electric motors power the rear wheels. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fuel economy is rated at 41 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway and 39 combined. I saw an average of 34 mpg in a mix of city, highway and back road driving.
The NX lineup has long been part of the Lexus portfolio. With the NX 350h it hews close to it recognizable look.
Interior accommodations
The tactile experience offered by the Lexus crossover sport utility is wholly satisfying. Soft-touch materials abound. Yes, there are some plastic components here and there, but they are finished in a way that makes them look upscale. Just straight up hard plastics are nowhere to be found.
Moreover, the NX 350h’s dials and knobs are suitably premium in appearance and feel good to the touch. The seats and the steering wheel are upholstered in supple leather, which serves to further elevate the experience. All these attributes are housed within a thoroughly contemporary interior design; one that confidently states the space you’re occupying is indeed special.
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Comfort, convenience & safety tech
The tactile experience offered by the Lexus crossover sport utility is wholly satisfying. Soft-touch materials abound.
I was also pleasantly surprised to discover how spacious the Lexus NX 350h proved to be. Here too, the competition would do well to study the NX and take notes. The NX 350h offers more legroom and cargo capacity than many of its rivals. A young family could enjoy an extended road trip in considerable comfort.
Comfort and convenience features included the panoramic sunroof, which gave the interior a decided feeling of airiness. The heated rear seats were another welcome find, while the front seats provided both heat and ventilation. The steering wheel was heated as well.
An added touch of class was supplied by the ambient lighting system, which offered 64 different color choices. Also standard was a 9.8-inch touchscreen interface for controlling the infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility were standard too. “My” NX 350h also featured the optional wireless charging pad and the 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.
The suite of driver’s aids included automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control — all as standard equipment. Additional standard features included a pair of USB-C ports inside the front console, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a power liftgate.
Driving impressions
Power is sourced from a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder internal combustion engine, teamed with a trio of electric motors.
Tuned for ride quality more so than outright handling, the 2025 Lexus NX 350h truly excelled in that regard. Smooth, supple and quiet on the road, the Lexus faded into the background and never demanded undue attention. Conversations could be carried on with no need for raised voices.
What’s more, a trip down the Pacific Coast Highway to take in the wonders that are Big Sur, gave the Lexus an opportunity to demonstrate it isn’t completely out of its depth on twisty roads. While I wouldn’t recommend chasing an Audi Q3 or a BMW X1 with the Lexus, the NX 350h did acquit itself with aplomb.
In summary
Okay, so if you’ve ever wondered what a Prius would be like if it were a luxuriously equipped crossover SUV, the 2025 Lexus NX 350h Luxury AWD answers that question. The sweet spot in the Lexus NX Hybrid lineup, the 350h Luxury delivers a solid roster of premium features — along with a strong fuel economy proposition — at a reasonable (for what you get) cost. The Luxury trimmed NX 350h starts at $52,665. Base models start at $46,600.
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