Used 2018 Lexus NX 300 F Sport for sale 

With a starting price of $35,985, the upgraded NX 300's price shares the same expression as its exterior - aggressive. Even though the Lexus NX 300 does not offer the best luxury features in the segment but the pricing makes up for it. All these without compromising on the build quality and ride comfort which Lexus is known for.

The Lexus NX 300 comes in three trims - the NX 300, the NX 300 F Sport, and the NX 300 H Hybrid. The Hybrid trim comes with All Wheel Drive as standard but the lower trims are offered in both Front and all-wheel drive, although the AWD costs $1400 more in both NX 300 and NX 300 F.

Things are totally different on the Hybrid variant though. The NX 300 H houses a completely different Toyota engine which may not be as powerful but is more silent and gives you better fuel economy all thanks to its fuel injection technology.

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Considering the price variant is not much among all the trims, we would highly suggest Lexus NX 300 Hybrid variant. In fact, the NX 300 F Sport AWD turns out to be costlier than the hybrid which already comes with AWD as standard. Moreover, you get the added benefit of better fuel economy. You lose on the performance side a bit but it is worth it.

Those waiting for Lexus to introduce the V6 engine in the NX line will not be pleased as the NX 300 carries the same engine this year too, the 2.0 L Inline 4-Turbo coupled with 6-speed Automatic Transmission.

The duo can churn out 235 hp of raw power and 258 lb-ft of torque, which is comparable to other SUVs in the segment. Even after these figures, the performance of this compact SUV is not impressive. If you feel that the car's extroverted looks will be complemented by equally aggressive performance, well, it is not the case.

Engine performance is the same for the NX 300 F Sport trim despite the fancy naming, and things go further downhill with the Hybrid trim. The NX 300 H is definitely not meant for speed-lovers, but its quiet operation will please others.

Lexus' tried and tested 6-Speed Automatic Transmission makes a return here and we have nothing to complain about. The transmission runs smoothly upshifting whenever you want it but the Turbo-lag still poses a hindrance in providing an excellent driving experience.

Acceleration

Lack of engine performance clearly shows up when we take a look at the figures presented by acceleration tests. The NX 300 reaches the 60 MPH mark in 7.2 secs while the BMW X3 can achieve the same feat in only 6.0 seconds.

To make matters worse in this case, there is a problem of turbo lag with the NX 300. You would want to push the accelerator harder continuously demanding for more performance but you get the desired push after a while when you least expect it. Both the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Volvo XC60 are in the same ballpark with close acceleration times but surprisingly, the former is the quickest on the list to complete the standing quarter-mile run.

Ride and Handling

Riding in the Lexus NX is a breeze as you get an extremely luxurious driver seat with a multitude of adjustment options that won't make you feel tired after hours of driving. The steering wheel is well-weighted for all types of rides and you also get three driving modes in the NX 300 - Normal, Sport, and Eco although it feels like the Eco mode is only there to ruin your otherwise pleasant drive.

The suspension on Lexus NX 300 is as comfortable as it can get. It transforms bumpy roads into silky ones and you should not expect anything less from a subcompact SUV. The NX 300 F Sport variant gets a more firm Sport Transmission which gives you a better feel of the road but I would prefer comfort any given day.

Braking

To keep the cost lower than the competition, Lexus had to do some cost cuttings and the brakes seem to be affected by the same. Given the smaller brake sizes than what other automakers have to offer, the braking distance is evidently not that impressive.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 truly impresses with its almost sedan-like stopping distance of 115ft but that was made possible by its lowest curb weight among the competitors. The BMW X3 has the second-best braking performance while the Volvo XC60 stops just 8feet earlier than the NX 300.

With the addition of direct injection technology and replacement of conventional engine cycle with the new and more efficient Atkinson cycle, the fuel economy on the NX 300 was expected to increase but sadly it is still on par with the rivals like Volvo XC60 and BMW X3 have to offer.

Thankfully, the NX Hybrid variant is available and it does produce good numbers. It delivers 33 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway and gets a combined EPA fuel efficiency rating of 32 mpg.

One word that suits the NX300's interiors the best is - Spacious. The front seats on the Lexus NX are as comfortable as one could ask for. Lexus gives you complete freedom of electronically adjusting the front seats and the padding too is perfect for those long highway rides.

The rear side, though still premium, does not feel as luxurious. The padding is on the thinner side and the seats feel a little firm for longer durations. The passengers on the rear side would also feel more cramped than in a regular SUV.

The Volvo XC60 leads with the most spacious cabin on offer while the BMW X3 has more headroom both at the front and rear owing to its slightly higher roof height. The Mercedes-Benz has slightly lower headroom at the front as opposed to the competitors.

Interior Features

Some interior features include -

• Leather Heated Steering Wheel
• 60/40 Power Folding Rear Seats
• Electrochromic (Auto-Dimming) Inside Rear View Mirror W/Homelink Universal Transmitter And Compass
• Cargo Net
• Illuminated Door Sills
• Heated Front Seatsyes
• Key Gloves

Infotainment System

Lexus has bumped up the infotainment display size to 8.0 inches from 7.0 inches this year but the placement of the controls ruins the whole experience. The driver would have to look cautiously before switching anything and the whole user experience just becomes a mess.

The company could also have added Android Auto or Apple CarPlay but it decided to stick to its own custom UI which, well, just gets the things done and is not as refined as the former options.

Some of the infotainment system features are:

• 8-Speaker audio system
• 3 Months Of Provided Satellite Radio Service
• AM/FM Stereo
• Satellite Radio 
• USB With External Media Control

Cargo Capacity

As mentioned earlier, the Lexus NX 300 is one of the most compact SUVs in the segment and still houses spacious interiors. Well, this price is paid by the trunk volume. It has a cargo volume of only 17.7 cubic feet and although it expands to 54.6 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded, which still is not enough for an SUV.

Here again, the Volvo XC60 leads with the maximum cargo area both with the seats folded and upright. The BMW X3 comes close to the XC60 while the Mercedes-Benz GLC also disappoints with similar capacities as the NX 300.

The unique extrovert styling of the Lexus NX series has been discussed time and again and this bold design choice of the Japanese carmaker needs no further introduction. However, it's worth noting that this wild design has also compromised the rear visibility due to the thick C Pillar.

The sharp lines and angles of the NX 300 make it look bigger than this SUV really is. In fact, it is one of the most compact SUVs in its segment measuring about 182.6 inches in length, 73.6 inches in width, and with a height of 64.8 inches. It is also one of the lighter cars in the pack at 3940 lbs.

Exterior Features

Some exterior features include -

• Spindle Front Grille adds to the aggressive look
• Power folding external mirrors now come standard
• New L-shaped Daytime running LEDs

Lexus has not compromised on safety from any angle in the NX 300, rather the Lexus Safety System+ comes as standard in all the trims. This is the reason that the NHTSA has given it an overall rating of 5 stars and IIHS has rated the NX Superior in terms of Front Crash Prevention.

Safety Features

• Panoramic View Monitor
• Premium Triple-beam LED Headlamps
• Backup camera with dynamic gridlines
• Intuitive Park Assist
• 8 Airbag System
• Hill-Start Assist Control
• Smart Stop Technology

Lexus NX vs BMW X3

If you want sheer power from your compact SUV, you should definitely consider the BMW X3 as an option. The German automobile also gets a 6-cylinder variant that can power up to 300 hp. But then again, you lose the best selling point of the NX - its price as the BMW X3's starting price is even more than NX's most expensive variant.

Lexus NX vs Mercedes Benz GLC

At the additional price you have to pay for the Mercedes, you get an even spacious, classier, and more elegant cabin that justifies the asking price. However, the cargo volume and performance are comparable to the NX so you'll have to think twice before diving deeper into your pockets.

Aggressive looks, spacious interiors, and comfortable ride are what you will love about the 2018 Lexus NX 300. However, if you are one of those who likes to constantly navigate through the infotainment system while driving, this one might be much more of a distraction for you. The lack of cargo space may also turn off some buyers. That said, if these are ignorable, you won't regret purchasing this Lexus since it is easily great value-for-money for a Luxury SUV. And the dependability of the Lexus brand is unquestionable.