Towing capability NX300h and tow bar fitting

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

Hi all

About to pull the trigger on an NX300h. How well would it tow the below trailer please? We currently have a 2.0 normally aspirated petrol Honda CRV and it tows it ok, but on hills it’s not great, especially the A30 to Cornwall. With the bikes especially due to the extra drag. Think the NX would fare any better?

There is also the possibility of a small caravan in future. I really doubt the Honda would do well there.

Also, the NX does not have a tow bar, and Lexus main dealer want £900-£100 to fit a detachable 13 pin. Think it’s best to have them fit it, or just use an independent Witter fitter? The dealer mentioned warranty implications but I can’t see that?

The dealer is playing very hard ball, will not knock a penny off the list price of the car, and will not throw in boot liner / mats etc. Trying to find something they will negotiate on 😂

Thanks

Jim

Ken R · December 31, 2023

Try asking them for the next two services foc?

RadicalCoupe-Fuji · December 31, 2023

All UK NX are all wheel drive & have 240bhp so they are good at towing,

fitting a genuine oem tow bar on the nx involves removing & cutting part of the rear bumper out, crash bar deletion, removal of the kick sensor if it has one, strip down of the boot floor & rear quarter panel to run the wiring & ecu fitting. If it wasnt done right it could affect the warranty & you wont know if the independant did it right/properly or not.

Spacewagon52 · December 31, 2023

Somewhat surprised the Honda does not tow your trailer well?

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

58 minutes ago, Spacewagon52 said:

Somewhat surprised the Honda does not tow your trailer well?

Because it’s not turbocharged it’s pretty gutless on hills. Tows the trailer nicely enough on the flat but big hills require care and when people are filtering on to the motorway I always have to back off as there is so little instant shove to blend in the best way. It’s been bulletproof in my 9 years with it, which I suspect a diesel would not have been, so it’s been all in all one of the best cars we’ve had and kept the longest.

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

1 hour ago, RadicalCoupe-Fuji said:

All UK NX are all wheel drive & have 240bhp so they are good at towing,

fitting a genuine oem tow bar on the nx involves removing & cutting part of the rear bumper out, crash bar deletion, removal of the kick sensor if it has one, strip down of the boot floor & rear quarter panel to run the wiring & ecu fitting. If it wasnt done right it could affect the warranty & you wont know if the independant did it right/properly or not.

Thanks that’s really useful to know thank you. I will stick to dealer fit in that case 👍

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

1 hour ago, Ken R said:

Try asking them for the next two services foc?

I’ve literally just got back from buying one from another dealer instead. £2000 less for a year newer car, 10,000 less miles, better condition, and identical exterior colour and interior trim! FSH. They also gave me more for my part ex than Lexus offered.

I had initially skipped it thinking the VED would tip £40,000 being a year newer but the dealer checked on Gov.uk and confirmed £170.

I will ring Lexus on Tuesday when they are back open to politely explain that I’ve gone elsewhere.

ColinBarber · December 31, 2023

2 hours ago, RadicalCoupe-Fuji said:

All UK NX are all wheel drive & have 240bhp

All except for the FWD ones 😉

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

This one is a Premium Sport so definitely the AWD version so hopefully we are all good

ColinBarber · December 31, 2023

1 minute ago, Jim1977 said:

This one is a Premium Sport so definitely the AWD version so hopefully we are all good

Yep 🙂

RadicalCoupe-Fuji · December 31, 2023

Every new NX & RX ive seen are all AWD, I never noticed any without an AWD badge, I guess the fwd are a pretty rare base spec.

RXtoNX · December 31, 2023

1 hour ago, Jim1977 said:

I will ring Lexus on Tuesday when they are back open to politely explain that I’ve gone elsewhere.

I hope you take as much pleasure when doing so as I have done twice in the past. Enjoy your moment the inflexible sales guy and the NX 👍👍

Jim1977 · December 31, 2023

11 minutes ago, RXtoNX said:

I hope you take as much pleasure when doing so as I have done twice in the past. Enjoy your moment the inflexible sales guy and the NX 👍👍

I would have likely done the deal had they moved £300-400 on either the NX, the part ex or some accessories. Was a good shout above about trying some complimentary servicing, that was going to be my next tack, but they’ve ended up doing me a big favour in the end. Too greedy.

I’ll be dealing with the service and parts staff from now on and they are great in there, they’ve already sorted me out for some bits for our UX (extras not issues)

Dave 2951 · January 1

I have a 2021 NX300h with a factory fitted tow bar which cost £1000 I swapped from a Honda 2.2 CRV D. There is one thing you won’t see unless you look at detail and that is the tow ball max weight is 65kg which I discovered after purchase I do use mine to tow a caravan but don’t expect any spectacular increase in performance from the CRV

Jim1977 · January 1

6 hours ago, Dave 2951 said:

I have a 2021 NX300h with a factory fitted tow bar which cost £1000 I swapped from a Honda 2.2 CRV D. There is one thing you won’t see unless you look at detail and that is the tow ball max weight is 65kg which I discovered after purchase I do use mine to tow a caravan but don’t expect any spectacular increase in performance from the CRV

Thanks Dave. We had an FRV in the past with the 2.2 CRDi in it, it certainly had a lot more low down torque than our petrol CRV has. Hopefully, if the NX performs more like the FRV did with the same engine as your CRV, it will be an improvement on what we have now 👍

Dave 2951 · January 2

Just remember the 65kg

Glenn 61 · July 8

Is it better to get a Lexus dealer to fit a tow bar. Just had a quote for nearly £1800 from Lexus Leeds. Also, are most of you happy with how your NX300H tows? I'm looking to by Swift Challenger 2 berth with a weight of approx 1270 kgs. I would have thought I'd be reasonably safe at that. Any guidance gratefully received.

New Lexus driver & new to the Forum so Hello everyone. 🖐️

Dave 2951 · July 8

Glen the issue is that the car has a maximum tow ball weight of 65kg which is very low some say Lexus state this to persuade customers not to tow vans all as I can say is I towed my 2 birth Coachman with no issues

Glenn 61 · July 9

Cheers for the info Dave.

Dave 2951 · July 9

Glen the issue is that the car has a maximum tow ball weight of 65kg which is very low some say Lexus state this to persuade customers not to tow vans all as I can say is I towed my 2 birth Coachman with no issues

Dave 2951 · July 9

Also sounds a bit expensive at £1800 mine was £1000 fitted and I may have

no use for it soon as selling Caravan

General Mess · July 10

NX 300 h AWD - I have recently had a detachable tow bar & 13 pin electrics fitted at my local Lexus dealership ( Coventry ) . Tried going elsewhere but no independent fitters were able to quote for the job starting unable to source the parts from Lexus. Cost from Lexus as shade under £1500. Expensive but all works flawlessly. I tow a Swift Basecamp 2 without issues & no problems with maintaining tow ball weight around 60kg. Hope this helps.

ArneT · July 10

On 7/8/2024 at 6:41 PM, Glenn 61 said:

Is it better to get a Lexus dealer to fit a tow bar. Just had a quote for nearly £1800 from Lexus Leeds. Also, are most of you happy with how your NX300H tows? I'm looking to by Swift Challenger 2 berth with a weight of approx 1270 kgs. I would have thought I'd be reasonably safe at that. Any guidance gratefully received.

New Lexus driver & new to the Forum so Hello everyone. 🖐️

Welcome to all things Lexus @Glenn 61, enjoy the comfortable ride!

Jim1977 · July 10

On 7/8/2024 at 6:41 PM, Glenn 61 said:

Is it better to get a Lexus dealer to fit a tow bar. Just had a quote for nearly £1800 from Lexus Leeds. Also, are most of you happy with how your NX300H tows? I'm looking to by Swift Challenger 2 berth with a weight of approx 1270 kgs. I would have thought I'd be reasonably safe at that. Any guidance gratefully received.

New Lexus driver & new to the Forum so Hello everyone. 🖐️

We had one fitted by Telford Towbars using the official Lexus wiring kit about a month ago. They got the kit from Lexus Parts Direct. Was about £975 from memory for 13 pin detachable swan neck, and they came to me in Leicestershire.