Used 2021 Lexus NX 300h for sale 

"The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid offers good fuel economy and a gentle ride, but it’s held back by frustrating infotainment controls, a meager cargo hold, and disappointing performance." - Cars.USnews

The 2021 Lexus NX300h Hybrid is offered in two trims, just like last year. The range kicks start from $40,160 for the base trim and go the way up to $46,610 for the top-spec Luxury trim. Mechanically, both these trims are identical to each other, and the AWD system is a standard fitment. There are four optional packages available that can drive up the cost a fair bit. 

The Base trim of the NX300h comes standard with a ton of features including powered seats and a powered steering column for reach as well as for rake along with smartphone connectivity in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Bluetooth. Moving up the ladder, the Luxury trim demands a premium of more than $6000 which will get you a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, full LED lighting all around, and some more premium leather inside the cabin. 

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• Read about the specifications and features of the 2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid
• Read about the 2021 Lexus NX 300h F Sport Hybrid

The base trim of the NX300h has plenty of kit on offer and for the price tag, it makes the most sense. It gets a healthy dose of interior creature comforts like a remote tailgate, smartphone connectivity, electronic function for the front seats as well as for the steering column and dual-zone automatic climate control. A whole suite of safety features including traction control, brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a tire pressure monitor are all offered as standard.

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"The 300h's power won't impress you, but low-end torque from the electric motor helps it scoot around the city rather quickly." - Edmunds

Powering the 2021 NX300h is a 2.5L inline-four gasoline engine assisted by a tri-motor setup. The engine on its own produces around 150 horsepower and runs on the Atkinson cycle for the highest efficiency possible. The rest of the grunt is provided by three electric motors and combined, this hybrid setup produces a respectable 194 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The remaining 44 hp is electric power that is coupled with the mechanic power to deliver an overall power output of 194 hp, even the torque is further boosted to deliver an overall 258 lb-ft of torque. Further, this power unit is mated to a CVT transmission that delivers seamless drives as you cruise the freeways.

This rapid and instant electric torque makes the NX300h super breezy to drive in the city and stop and go traffic. With that said, do not expect this hybrid crossover to be sporty in any way. It is not its expertise and is neither designed to hoon around the twisties. It is a luxury crossover designed to deliver a relaxing and efficient drive at all times.

At full gas, the engine revs to the max but the gearbox takes few crucial seconds to catch up and as a result, it takes a leisurely 9.1 seconds to reach 60 mph.  The Lexus NX300h is not exactly a dragster which is not a surprise. Its modest hybrid engine and the electric motor combo is mated to a CVT gearbox which doesn't help. Pedal to the metal and the NX takes its own sweet time to get a move on.

With that being said, the performance is pretty healthy out in the city or on the highway. Subtle throttle inputs extract the most out of this powertrain and the NX300h can comfortably cruise on the motorway. As expected, none of its competitors offer a mind-blowing performance off the line but the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid manages a decent 8.3 seconds to reach 60 mph even with much lower power output. 

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• Read about the performance of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
• Read about the acceleration of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

"The hybrid powertrain nets considerable gains at the pump with ratings of 33 mpg city and 30 mpg highway." - Car and Driver

Lexus NX300h shines when it comes to fuel economy. The regular NX300, which is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged motor returns around 27 mpg out on the highway whereas the hybrid version kicks it up a notch and returns 32 mpg on the highway. The nat-asp engine runs on the Atkinson cycle for max efficiency and is aided by three electric motors.

There is an all-electric mode as well but the range is questionable. With that said, when combined with the engine and a CVT gearbox, the result is truly magnificent. The Subaru Crosstrek manages 33 mpg out on the highway which is even better than what Lexus manages.

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• Read about the gas mileage of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
• Read about the best deals available for the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

"It has a cushioned ride, impressive mpg ratings, and lots of passenger space." - Cars.USnews

Lexus has done a splendid job on the inside of the NX300h. The cabin is covered with ultra-premium leather all around which extends to the dashboard as well. The rest is covered with soft-touch plastics with a faux stitching effect to make it feel even plusher and premium. With that said, the design is starting to feel a generation or two older and that’s exactly what it is. But the experience and opulence are a right fit for the $40,160 that it asks for.

For the infotainment and control panel the 2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid gets a  bigger 10.3-inch display which is standard on the Luxury trim and optional on the base trim.  The Lexus infotainment system is usually the biggest chink in the armor of Lexus cars. Unfortunately, the system is not touch-based which itself is a bummer.

The front seats are one of the comfiest seats in the segment and above. They offer all sorts of adjustments that can be controlled electronically even for the rear seats as well. Talking about the rear seats, the headroom is a bit tight, thanks to the sunroof, which is just a standard sunroof and not a panoramic one. However, the legroom is segment best and it feels better than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

As standard, the base trim gets an 8.0-inch display powered by the Lexus Multimedia system which can certainly be upgraded to a high-definition 10.3-inch display. As standard, the NX300h supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto along with Bluetooth connectivity. The Luxury trim also gets inbuilt navigation but it's better to stick with Google maps as the system is not the easiest to use. Also the screen is to be operated with a trackpad or buttons as it is not touch friendly.

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• Read about the cargo space offering of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
• Read about the interior offering of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

"If you're shopping small luxury crossovers, the Lexus NX stands out for looking and driving the most like a SUV—for better and for worse." - Car ansd Driver

The NX300h follows the age-old design language of Lexus with an oversized spindle grille up front which makes it look like it's ready to eat small children running on the road. Headlamps are as sharp as they come flanked by LED DRLs. With that said, it all fits here.

The side profile looks sporty, unlike its personality. It sits on smart-looking 18-inch wheels wrapped in 225/60 section tires, so a thick side profile helps to iron out some of those nasty bumps. Rearview mirrors are placed on the doors rather than the A-pillars for better visibility.

Reversing camera and parking sensors are standard as the rearward visibility is hampered by that big and raked C-pillar. At the back, it gets LED DRLs along with a fake-ish exhaust tip design on the rear bumper which seems like a design norm for new cars. 

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• Read about the exterior dimensions of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
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"The NX earns great marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the latter of which gave the NX a Top Safety Pick+ award." - Car and Driver

The 2020 model of the Lexus NX300h scored an overall 4 out of a 5-star rating in the crash tests conducted by NHTSA and received the Top safety pick+ award from IIHS.

The built quality is top-notch and is right up there with the best of the hybrid crossovers out there. Lexus also introduced a whole host of driver-assist features that are offered as standard across the range. Some of the features include:

• Pre-collision safety with pedestrian detection
• Lane tracing assist
• Road sign assist
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Radar guided cruise control
• Lane departure warning

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• Read about the safety offering of the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
• Read about the safety offering of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid vs the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a Jackpot in itself, it comes in at 10 grand lesser than the Lexus. Moreover, it offers a 2.0L engine that delivers more power than the 2.5L engine of the Lexus. More power reflects on its outstanding acceleration, and on the other hand, its smaller engine delivers much better gas mileage. However, on the inside, the Lexus offers the best in terms of comfort, features, safety, and reliability. We clearly find Honda to be a better deal for its price.

2021 Lexus NX300h Vs 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

The Crosstrek does not match the NX300 in terms of the premium feel and a sense of luxury but real-world performance is where Subaru nudges ahead. The chassis feels more sporty as it is designed more like an estate rather than an SUV. It is lighter and sends power to all four wheels via symmetrical AWD which makes it a package to say the least. With that said, Subaru Crosstrek loses out on reliability and build-quality. 

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• Read about the 2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid vs the 2021 Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid SUV
• Read about the 2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid vs the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid SUV Crossover

The Lexus NX300h is not the easiest car to recommend. It comes with a relatively hefty price tag for what is a five-year-old crossover SUV. Its platform dates back to 2012. With that said, it is a stellar package. The powertrain is frugal and should be light on the pocket and it is a Lexus after all so it scores high when it comes to luxury and fit and finish and active safety features are now standard across the range.

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