2023 Lexus NX 450h+ SUV

　　

2023 Lexus NX 450h+ Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　The Lexus NX returned last year with an invigorated new lineup of small luxury SUVs, including the entry-level NX 250, the more powerful NX 350 and two hybrids: the NX 350h conventional hybrid and Lexus' first plug-in hybrid, the NX 450h+.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV Insights

Trim:NX 450h+ Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $57,505 MSRPF SPORT Handling 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $58,755 MSRP

　　

All Electric Range

　　37 miles

　　EPA Estimated Electric Range

　　The NX 450h+ will automatically switch to gas when the electric battery is low.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

Hybrid Parts Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesHybrid batteries are federally mandated to carry at least 8 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Batteries that lose capacity more rapidly than expected should be eligible for replacement under warranty. Coverage of additional hybrid components beyond the battery itself will vary by automaker.

　　

Charging at Home

　　4.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　See All PHEV incentives

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$103/mo

　　NX 450h+

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　See All PHEV Insights

　　These changes help the NX cover a wide swath of buyer needs, and the 2023 Lexus NX 450h+ may be the most interesting of all. It shares its mechanical roots with the Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in, using a four-cylinder gas engine and dual-electric motor setup for a combined 304 horsepower. The power is appreciated, and it's enough to haul the 450h+ from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds in our testing. That's slow relative to the competition, but in daily driving the plug-in's electrical array feeds in added low-range and midrange power for quick passing and merging maneuvers.

　　Fuel economy is the real reason you'll be interested in the 450h+. Charge up its battery and you'll get perhaps 35-40 miles on all-electric power. After that, the 450h+ switches to regular hybrid mode, where you'll get an EPA-estimated 36 mpg. If you have a short commute and can recharge frequently, you may be able to go long stretches between gas fill-ups.

　　Inside, the NX prioritizes a quiet cabin and absorbent ride. But more welcome news is found in the large 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, which vastly improves on the last generation's frustrating display and touchpad controller. Cloud-based navigation, a virtual voice assistant, and wireless Apple and Android smartphone integration are some of the new infotainment system's standard highlights.

　　The NX 450h+ goes up against a growing field of plug-in hybrid luxury SUV competitors, which include the Audi Q5 plug-in, Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC plug-in. Read our Expert Rating below to learn how the NX 450h+ stacks up against its rivals and whether it makes a good fit for your lifestyle.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the NX 450h+ drive? Lexus has been building hybrids for years now, and that expertise pays off dividends with the plug-in NX. On the zzdcar test track, our test NX 450h+ accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Other luxury SUVs with plug-in powertrains are quicker — Volvo's XC60, for example — but the 450h+ offers plenty of smooth power for day-to-day driving. Lay into it when merging or passing and the gas engine quickly and seamlessly provides the oomph you need.

　　The brakes are smooth to operate, and this setup thankfully avoids a vague- or grabby-feeling pedal that hybrids sometimes have. The suspension is tuned for comfort, not performance. As such, grip limits are low, and the NX leans heavily in curves. Our test car was the base version, however, and it's reasonable to assume the NX 450h+ F Sport will provide slightly tidier handling.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the NX 450h+? The front seats are well padded and supportive, though not quite as sporty as the available F Sport seats. The ride is comfortable, too, and smooths out road imperfections without being overly soft or bouncy. The NX 450h+ is quiet, too, and near silent at at low speeds when running in EV mode.

　　We wish the climate control system was a little better. The controls are easy to reach and the knobs look nice, but some of the information is hidden when the navigation system is active. We found it ran on the warm side, too. The air temp was uneven and varied depending on if the gas engine was running. We were constantly fiddling with the controls to stay comfortable.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below