Lexus NX review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

A premium family SUV like the Lexus NX has to be comfortable as well as offering good practicality and space to accommodate passengers and extra kit on longer journeys. The NX feels more spacious inside than before, while the excellent levels of standard equipment mean it’s a pleasant place in which to spend time. 

Items such as dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are all available with the entry Urban trim, while stepping up to Premium adds electrically adjustable

Premium Plus brings leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and a 64-colour ambient lighting system.

Those after a sportier look should consider the F Sport trim, which gets a sharper look both inside and out, along with power-adjustable sports steering wheel with paddle shifters. The top-of-the-range Takumi and F Sport Takumi (the latter includes all the luxury touches of Takumi with the more dynamic looks and drive of F Sport) add a digital rear-view mirror and the 17-speaker premium Mark Levinson sound system.

Dimensions and size

The NX is a little bigger overall than its predecessor, measuring 4,660mm long and 1,865mm wide, but it’s about the same size as most of its close rivals. The Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC are all a little wider, but overall length is broadly the same.

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How practical is the Lexus NX?

Seats & space in the front

Climb aboard the Lexus NX and you’ll notice it has a high driving position. The seat is comfortable and has plenty of adjustment as standard, but if you want electric adjustment with lumbar support, you’ll need a Premium trim and above. Premium trim also includes electric steering column adjustment, while Premium Plus has four-way electric lumbar adjustment and three-position driver’s side memory settings.

Visibility is fine looking forward and there are front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera fitted as standard, but the chunky rear pillars mean over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t as good as rivals such as the Volvo XC60. You can get a 360 degree camera system with the Premium Plus trim and above to help see how much space you have around you in tight spaces. The camera system can even project the road underneath the car.

There’s a decent amount of storage locations up front, and we especially like the twin-hinged centre console to  make it easier to access for either front occupant.

Seats & space in the back

Rear space in the NX is good, with decent head and legroom meaning even taller adults should find things pretty comfortable.

Two ISOFIX mounting points are provided on the rear bench's outer positions.

Boot space

Overall boot capacity is good for the class and, at 521 litres, there should be plenty of space for luggage in the NX. There’s no reduction in boot size if you opt for the 450h+ plug-in hybrid model, whereas the BMW X3 xDrive30e PHEV gives up around 100 litres to its fossil-fuelled siblings. Folding the rear seats in the NX opens up a 1,411-litre area for carrying larger items, too, while there’s also underfloor compartments to stow the Type 2 charging cable.

Towing

Hooking up a trailer or a small caravan shouldn’t be an issue, as the NX’s maximum braked towing capacity is 1,500kg, whether you go for the 241bhp 350h or 302bhp 450h+ plug-in hybrid model.