Thinking of buying a 2020 NX300H some questions please

[Jumper68Y]

Good morning, 

Potential new member here with some questions, I currently have a 2016 RSQ3 and am looking at the NX300H and Kia Sportage to replace it.

I have been looking at a 2020 Lexus NX300H, top spec model, I have read loads of reviews and getting conflicting information, so thought I would ask owners:

1) Is is noted by some the car is very slow and not safe to overtake cars and has not power? Is this your real world experience? (Currently have to overtake a tractor on a country road every other day on my journey to work)

2) The ride is described as bouncy and crashy and not great over anything other than a smooth road, is this your experience?

3) Anything else I should know? Be mindful off?

4) Has anyone else changed from a quick car to an NX300H and what has your experience been? 

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated. 

[Pm4]

Good morning M,

I haven't driven a 2020 nx, but I  now drive a 2022 nx which I understand is a big improvement to the previous version. If you can stretch your budget, you could test drive one at the dealer and judge for yourself. A bigger and more comfortable car than your Q3 but maybe not as quick? Excellent service from Lexus. Let us know and good luck. 

[Pm4]

12 minutes ago, Pm4 said:

Good morning M,

I haven't driven a 2020 nx, but I  now drive a 2022 nx which I understand is a big improvement to the previous version. If you can stretch your budget, you could test drive one at the dealer and judge for yourself. A bigger and more comfortable car than your Q3 but maybe not as quick? Excellent service from Lexus. Let us know and good luck. 

P.S. I believe is now called NX350H.

[Jumper68Y]

42 minutes ago, Pm4 said:

Good morning M,

I haven't driven a 2020 nx, but I  now drive a 2022 nx which I understand is a big improvement to the previous version. If you can stretch your budget, you could test drive one at the dealer and judge for yourself. A bigger and more comfortable car than your Q3 but maybe not as quick? Excellent service from Lexus. Let us know and good luck. 

Thanks, I don't think my budget would extend to a 350H or 450H unfortunatly.

Certainly agree its not going to be as quick, however I just want to confirm its safe (able to overtake) and get out of a spot where some quick acceleration is required. 

Need to try and find one to test drive. 

[Spacewagon52]

A test drive will be more useful than anecdotes. The CVT gearbox makes the engine sound noisy under hard acceleration but the power is there. You really need to test drive one to see how you find it. The ride is firm compared to my prwevious RX. Not unduly harsh but it depends what you are comparing it with.

 

Let us know how you get on after a test drive.

[NHNX]

2019 model.  Real life overtaking no problem, drop it unto sport mode if you want a bit more ‘go’.

Bouncy and crashy?  Nothing like that with mine.  Wife says its the most comfortable car I’ve had

[Jumper68Y]

27 minutes ago, NHNX said:

2019 model.  Real life overtaking no problem, drop it unto sport mode if you want a bit more ‘go’.

Bouncy and crashy?  Nothing like that with mine.  Wife says its the most comfortable car I’ve had

Perfect! Thank you

I am going to try and test drive one but this is really helpful. 

And your in Staffordshire like me 🙂

[Ken R]

I had a NX300h from 2018-2022. Perfectly adequate power for acceleration when required. Never experienced bouncy and crashy. 

Great car - 100% reliable.

[Andy B]

I would agree with Ken above.

I had a NX300h for about 2 1/2 years before my NX350h. There is definitely enough oomph when you need it (e.g. entering a motorway; overtaking; etc.). My boy racer days are well behind me but I found that the car had enough power for general day-to-day motoring. 

As far as comfort goes, I never had a problem with it. In my experience, rather than being bouncy and crashy, I found that it wafted along very nicely.

The car never skipped a beat in all the time I had it.

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

21 hours ago, Jumper68Y said:

Perfect! Thank you

I am going to try and test drive one but this is really helpful. 

And your in Staffordshire like me 🙂

Go For The NX 300h You Will Not Regret It.....!!!! Best car EVER

[Grumps]

I had my NX 300H for 6 years and it was a great car. Okay it is not a performance car, but my wife comments on how comfortable it is. Fitting Continental all season tyres made the interior noise considertably less and improved the overall driving experience of the car.

What Car reliability survey was published recently and the 2014 - 2021 NX 300h gained a 100% reliabity rating, one of only 2 cars to do so.

Coming from a Q3 TDI (177) before the NX and taking all the plus and minus points of each into consideration, well I'll just say that I awaiting delivery of a 450+ NX.

 

[Jumper68Y]

On 10/9/2024 at 10:21 AM, Grumps said:

I had my NX 300H for 6 years and it was a great car. Okay it is not a performance car, but my wife comments on how comfortable it is. Fitting Continental all season tyres made the interior noise considertably less and improved the overall driving experience of the car.

What Car reliability survey was published recently and the 2014 - 2021 NX 300h gained a 100% reliabity rating, one of only 2 cars to do so.

Coming from a Q3 TDI (177) before the NX and taking all the plus and minus points of each into consideration, well I'll just say that I awaiting delivery of a 450+ NX.

 

Thank you

What differences did you notice between the Q3 and NX300H? (good and bad for both)

Thanks

[Grumps]

22 hours ago, Jumper68Y said:

Thank you

What differences did you notice between the Q3 and NX300H? (good and bad for both)

Thanks

It is over 6 years since we swopped, but from memeory the NX was far more comfortable and more luxurious. Also the Q3 was 5 years old when we swopped so not really a fair comparison to compare a 5 year old Q3 with a new NX.

My biggest bug bear at the time was the infotainment system in the NX, but that has always been a Lexus issue and I was aware of that when we swopped. Also the engine revving hard when accelerating but TBH accept it and learn to drive the car accordingly. The Q3 was more of a sporty thing really in comparison. The Audi dealership was okay as over the years I had got to know them (wife had an A1). It took longer to get to know the Lexus team as there was only one visit per year.

[Jumper68Y]

On 10/7/2024 at 9:19 PM, Ken R said:

I had a NX300h from 2018-2022. Perfectly adequate power for acceleration when required. Never experienced bouncy and crashy. 

Great car - 100% reliable.

Hi Ken / anyone else. 

So I am still looking, lets just say tracking down the specification I would like is harder than expected. 

But I did have one question for you or any owner who has made these swaps.

Obviously the NX300H is going to be quite a bit cheaper for me to buy, but I have been offered some good PCP deals on a 350H and a 450H. 

I intend on keeping the car long term, so am toying with the idea of going for the 450H, my question is how much different from a driving perspective is it from the 300H? (is it night and day or just a bit better / newer) 

Difficult question appreciated, but just thought I would ask people with experience of them all.  

 

 

[malcolmw]

We had a NX300h Takumi for 4 years and then changed to a NX350h Premium Plus + pano roof which we have had for 16 months so far. 

The 350 is quite a bit faster in acceleration than the 300 and this makes the car a lot better to drive. Overall, we have found almost all aspects of the 350 to be improved over the previous model. In particular, for the same usage pattern, we are getting 44mpg versus about 35mpg for the 300h.

We would definitely suggest that you consider the newer models if you intend keeping the car for a longer haul. 

 

[That Bloke]

4 hours ago, Jumper68Y said:

Hi Ken / anyone else. 

So I am still looking, lets just say tracking down the specification I would like is harder than expected. 

But I did have one question for you or any owner who has made these swaps.

Obviously the NX300H is going to be quite a bit cheaper for me to buy, but I have been offered some good PCP deals on a 350H and a 450H. 

I intend on keeping the car long term, so am toying with the idea of going for the 450H, my question is how much different from a driving perspective is it from the 300H? (is it night and day or just a bit better / newer) 

Difficult question appreciated, but just thought I would ask people with experience of them all.  

 

 

One of the reasons that I went to Lexus was that the depreciation on them is so good. I originally bought a new 300H in 2017 and intended to keep it for a while. However, when it went in for it's first MOT in 2020 I got a new facelift version because I was made an offer that I couldn't refuse. With the warranty extensions every year, I probably won't change mine for another couple of years at least.

I haven't driven the 450H, but I have driven the 350H as a courtesy car whilst mine has been in for service. I'd say that it is a slightly improved interior than the 350H, with the biggest benefit being the fact that the infotainment control is touchscreen rather than the extremely clunky touchpad. By far the worst thing about the 350H (apart from the canbus theft issue) is the terrible software. However, I virtually never see it because I use CarPlay all the time (and invested in a dongle to convert it to Wireless CarPlay which is a game changer in my opinion).

The ride quality seemed similar between the two, in my opinion. Lexus seats in general are probably the most comfortable I've ever had in a car and the comfort generally has been commented on by people in the car.

I'd recommend checking out the cost to insure the 350H vs the others as well. The theft of them has pushed premiums up and there are many comments I've seen here and elsewhere from people who just can't get insurance in their area. Although a fix has been promised for some time, I'm not holding my breath on it. The tracker doesn't resolve the fundamental issue, and doesn't seem to make any difference to my quotes.

[Ken R]

Firstly the canbus issues referred to are not an issue with the NX350h or NX450h+.

When I changed from my NX300H to the NX450h+ I described it as going from old school to leading edge. The car is in my opinion superior in every aspect, particularly in terms of infotainment and interior design. I also found it much more economical in that all my local journeys were completed in EV mode.  After converting electricity costs (overnight tariff) to petrol costs I was achieving up to 73.66mpg against c41mpg average of the NX300h.

If the PCP deal is attractive enough I would recommend going for the 450h+ and if possible stretch to Premium Plus trim. You will also have the added benefit of the manufacturers 3 year initial warranty.                                  Don't get me wrong- the 300h is still a fantastic car and if you can get a low mileage 2020/21 model with full history you won't be disappointed but personally I would go for the new 450h+.

[Jumper68Y]

Thanks Ken R and others.

The PCP deal is pretty good and its a Premium Plus 450H, obviously I am going to be hit fairly hard with the PCP deals interest, and this would be my first ever PCP, but my intention is to keep the car for at least 7 - 10 years. So it seems to make sense (although expensive sense) to go for a newer higher spec'd model.

I guess its all relative isn't it, as your never going to make money on a car and are always going to loose, its just how much 😄  

[Japling]

3 hours ago, That Bloke said:

One of the reasons that I went to Lexus was that the depreciation on them is so good. I originally bought a new 300H in 2017 and intended to keep it for a while. However, when it went in for it's first MOT in 2020 I got a new facelift version because I was made an offer that I couldn't refuse. With the warranty extensions every year, I probably won't change mine for another couple of years at least.

I haven't driven the 450H, but I have driven the 350H as a courtesy car whilst mine has been in for service. I'd say that it is a slightly improved interior than the 350H, with the biggest benefit being the fact that the infotainment control is touchscreen rather than the extremely clunky touchpad. By far the worst thing about the 350H (apart from the canbus theft issue) is the terrible software. However, I virtually never see it because I use CarPlay all the time (and invested in a dongle to convert it to Wireless CarPlay which is a game changer in my opinion).

The ride quality seemed similar between the two, in my opinion. Lexus seats in general are probably the most comfortable I've ever had in a car and the comfort generally has been commented on by people in the car.

I'd recommend checking out the cost to insure the 350H vs the others as well. The theft of them has pushed premiums up and there are many comments I've seen here and elsewhere from people who just can't get insurance in their area. Although a fix has been promised for some time, I'm not holding my breath on it. The tracker doesn't resolve the fundamental issue, and doesn't seem to make any difference to my quotes.

Matt, which Wireless CarPlay adaptor did you buy ? I am considering buying one and am looking for recommendations....Thanks

[Lexusjim]

https://www.ottocast.com/

 

Very simple to use . 

[That Bloke]

23 hours ago, Ken R said:

Firstly the canbus issues referred to are not an issue with the NX350h or NX450h+.

When I changed from my NX300H to the NX450h+ I described it as going from old school to leading edge. The car is in my opinion superior in every aspect, particularly in terms of infotainment and interior design. I also found it much more economical in that all my local journeys were completed in EV mode.  After converting electricity costs (overnight tariff) to petrol costs I was achieving up to 73.66mpg against c41mpg average of the NX300h.

If the PCP deal is attractive enough I would recommend going for the 450h+ and if possible stretch to Premium Plus trim. You will also have the added benefit of the manufacturers 3 year initial warranty.                                  Don't get me wrong- the 300h is still a fantastic car and if you can get a low mileage 2020/21 model with full history you won't be disappointed but personally I would go for the new 450h+.

I have NO idea why I started typing 350h rather than 300h for the second half of my post! Every instance of 350h after talking about the courtesy car should have read 300h. Oops

[That Bloke]

21 hours ago, Japling said:

Matt, which Wireless CarPlay adaptor did you buy ? I am considering buying one and am looking for recommendations....Thanks

I went with the Carplay2Air for both my 300h (right number this time!) and my wife’s Ford. It seems very solid and we’ve had them around 4 years now. At the time I got them they were the best on the market, but others may have caught up now

[Deathstar]

I have a 68 plate NX300h which is the same as the one you are thinking of getting. If you have any questions or would like to know specifics please fire away. 

Firstly, the power delivery is going to be different to your RSQ3. The NX is much more sedate. The NX can be quick off the mark as you have the electric motor set to assist you, however if you are already travelling at say 40mph, then it can be a little tiresome to overtake. You will certainly find that you will not be able to overtake as quickly as your Audi, however, it's all in the planning. There's only two times where I have thought, yes this needs a bit more of a boost, both of them coming on slip roads, one down near Southampton, and the other is near to where I live where the slip road is really short. Around town the NX is most at home. The hybrid Battery is more of an assistance Battery. It can propel the car for short distances depending on how much charge is in the Battery, however it's not meant as it's primary mode of propulsion. 

MPG, I am getting 40mpg on average. I was getting 44, however, I changed the Bridgestone tyres for Michellin as they are a slightly quieter tyre overall. In the winter, you will find that the economy does go down, but it does depend on your driving. Most of my driving is short trips back and forth to work. The one downside with the 300h which I'm sure the 450 fixes is the ability to preheat the car. 

I have the Premiere/ Takumi version, so it's got all the bells and whistles. I like it, my wife does not. The info entertainment is accessed through a mouse which is not great to use when you are trying to type a post code into the sat nav, or if you are trying to look for a different radio station. It's an area where I think Lexus just can't be bothered to innovate or create a decent design, It's almost like they have spent their R&D budget on making the car reliable and then the entertainment is an afterthought. When I bought mine, I paid £200 to have car play fitted. In reality, I don't use it all that much. My Iphone is paired via Bluetooth 99% of the time. I think the 2019 might come with it - i'm not sure. 

Comfort wise, I find the car excellent. Mine has 18 inch alloys with a large sidewall. In comparison to my IS250, it is comfortable, however, I did find the IS a bit smoother, that's not to say the NX is not smooth, it is, but the IS was just a bit smoother. I'm not sure if the newer models have larger alloys, but I would always go with ones with a larger sidewall as you typically get a bit more cushioning.  

Servicing wise, you can buy service plans. My dealer used to offer discounts if you purchased a service agreement, since being taken over by another group, they no longer offer any discount. An intermediate service is £315 and the larger service is £525. This will rise each year. It is a little on the expensive side, however, as others have mentioned you do get an extra year's warranty with them. When I looked at the cost of servicing a C class, it was comparable, if not a bit cheaper. 

I had a loan NX2019 a few years back. One feature that I really like was the lane trace assist which made motorway driving a breeze. 

As others have mentioned, there is the issue of CANBUS theft. I am quite disappointed that Lexus have not invested more time and resources in developing a fix for this, rather, they have stated a program to install trackers into the car. This feels like they are trying to put a plaster over a bigger issue, whist admitting defeat. In reality, I know they are a business and they are in the game to make money, however, when you consider that the brand is supposed to be customer focused, you'd think they would do more. 

Generally, the cars are great. If your current Audi has heated seats etc, you will find the Lexus seats do not go as warm as the Audi seats - i'm not sure why, it's something I have found on all my Lexus cars I have had. 

The dealerships have a reputation of being excellent. Initial, this was my feeling, however, my local has changed groups a number of times, each time the quality and customer care has suffered. I guess it's a sign of the times when dealerships are trying to extract as much money as possible out of everyone. If you live somewhere where you have a few dealers in relative close proximity you are laughing. 

Lastly, if I was buying one, I would try to stretch and look at the 350h. I do like the 300h, but the hybrid system has had a number of tweaks from the 300h (It was tweaked from the early 300h - I think they made a change in 2017) which results in the hybrid system kicking in at higher speeds and for longer periods. The entertainment has been blessed with a touch screen which is quicker to interact with. The 450+ on paper looks good as it will allow you to complete journeys using electric only power. If you have the ability to charge it outside, and you feel that you can make use of the electric only range, then please do your sums. Just to give you an idea - There's a 350h on Autotrader 12,760 miles 2023 on a 23 plate priced at £36,670 as well as a 450h+ with 14,386 miles, 2023 on a 72 plate priced at £39,990. You can buy a lot of fuel for £3000 difference. 

[Jumper68Y]

On 10/30/2024 at 10:51 PM, Deathstar said:

I have a 68 plate NX300h which is the same as the one you are thinking of getting. If you have any questions or would like to know specifics please fire away. 

Firstly, the power delivery is going to be different to your RSQ3. The NX is much more sedate. The NX can be quick off the mark as you have the electric motor set to assist you, however if you are already travelling at say 40mph, then it can be a little tiresome to overtake. You will certainly find that you will not be able to overtake as quickly as your Audi, however, it's all in the planning. There's only two times where I have thought, yes this needs a bit more of a boost, both of them coming on slip roads, one down near Southampton, and the other is near to where I live where the slip road is really short. Around town the NX is most at home. The hybrid battery is more of an assistance battery. It can propel the car for short distances depending on how much charge is in the battery, however it's not meant as it's primary mode of propulsion. 

MPG, I am getting 40mpg on average. I was getting 44, however, I changed the Bridgestone tyres for Michellin as they are a slightly quieter tyre overall. In the winter, you will find that the economy does go down, but it does depend on your driving. Most of my driving is short trips back and forth to work. The one downside with the 300h which I'm sure the 450 fixes is the ability to preheat the car. 

I have the Premiere/ Takumi version, so it's got all the bells and whistles. I like it, my wife does not. The info entertainment is accessed through a mouse which is not great to use when you are trying to type a post code into the sat nav, or if you are trying to look for a different radio station. It's an area where I think Lexus just can't be bothered to innovate or create a decent design, It's almost like they have spent their R&D budget on making the car reliable and then the entertainment is an afterthought. When I bought mine, I paid £200 to have car play fitted. In reality, I don't use it all that much. My iPhone is paired via bluetooth 99% of the time. I think the 2019 might come with it - i'm not sure. 

Comfort wise, I find the car excellent. Mine has 18 inch alloys with a large sidewall. In comparison to my IS250, it is comfortable, however, I did find the IS a bit smoother, that's not to say the NX is not smooth, it is, but the IS was just a bit smoother. I'm not sure if the newer models have larger alloys, but I would always go with ones with a larger sidewall as you typically get a bit more cushioning.  

Servicing wise, you can buy service plans. My dealer used to offer discounts if you purchased a service agreement, since being taken over by another group, they no longer offer any discount. An intermediate service is £315 and the larger service is £525. This will rise each year. It is a little on the expensive side, however, as others have mentioned you do get an extra year's warranty with them. When I looked at the cost of servicing a C class, it was comparable, if not a bit cheaper. 

I had a loan NX2019 a few years back. One feature that I really like was the lane trace assist which made motorway driving a breeze. 

As others have mentioned, there is the issue of CANBUS theft. I am quite disappointed that Lexus have not invested more time and resources in developing a fix for this, rather, they have stated a program to install trackers into the car. This feels like they are trying to put a plaster over a bigger issue, whist admitting defeat. In reality, I know they are a business and they are in the game to make money, however, when you consider that the brand is supposed to be customer focused, you'd think they would do more. 

Generally, the cars are great. If your current Audi has heated seats etc, you will find the Lexus seats do not go as warm as the Audi seats - i'm not sure why, it's something I have found on all my Lexus cars I have had. 

The dealerships have a reputation of being excellent. Initial, this was my feeling, however, my local has changed groups a number of times, each time the quality and customer care has suffered. I guess it's a sign of the times when dealerships are trying to extract as much money as possible out of everyone. If you live somewhere where you have a few dealers in relative close proximity you are laughing. 

Lastly, if I was buying one, I would try to stretch and look at the 350h. I do like the 300h, but the hybrid system has had a number of tweaks from the 300h (It was tweaked from the early 300h - I think they made a change in 2017) which results in the hybrid system kicking in at higher speeds and for longer periods. The entertainment has been blessed with a touch screen which is quicker to interact with. The 450+ on paper looks good as it will allow you to complete journeys using electric only power. If you have the ability to charge it outside, and you feel that you can make use of the electric only range, then please do your sums. Just to give you an idea - There's a 350h on Autotrader 12,760 miles 2023 on a 23 plate priced at £36,670 as well as a 450h+ with 14,386 miles, 2023 on a 72 plate priced at £39,990. You can buy a lot of fuel for £3000 difference. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this comprehensive review and provide all this information, 

Its really helpful and really useful.

Being honest this search has turned into a little bit of a nightmare, I've missed out on number of NX300 FSport cars now and have made the decision to go for a NX350H or NX450H.

My dealer experience thus far though has been basically pretty awful, ive seen a couple I really liked and then have really had to chase and call and email the dealers to get any information at all, they just dont seem to care about selling. 

Audi just see you as a cash machine, I should know having come from four previous Audi's so I was expecting great things from Lexus and their reputation for customer care, but thus far its been far from fun and not made the experience of potentially spending £30K+ on a car very enjoyable. 

Im considering stopping my search for the minute and waiting until March when there might be cars handed back under PCP and a bit more choice, as experience at the moment, is dealerships dont have to tried to hard to sell, so they wont. Even basic questions like "when was it last serviced" have been left unanswered, or as one dealer sales person said "I don't know but its fairly new so should be alright" 

I had read a couple of reviews that the 450H was a better drive than the 350H due to the weight of the batteries and some tweaks to the suspension due to the weight, but this might just be internet guff. 

Thanks again 

 

[Ken R]

Disappointing to hear that the dealership experience has not been good! 

I have enjoyed the exact opposite since I switched to Lexus in 2018.