The 2019 Lexus NX300h is a hybrid compact crossover that hasn’t changed much since its launch five years ago. If there is one thing that needs reworking in the imminent redesign, it is the hodge podge center stack.
When I reached for the gear stick it felt as if my hand would be eaten by the protruding jaws. A passenger said it looked like an uneven staircase. My problem is more with the interface design. Every imaginable control design is put to use: roller dial for temperature, square buttons for seat warmer, flat horizontal lines for climate controls. That’s just for hvac. There are volume and tuning knobs, a blocky CD player in search of the 90s, and a larger but still challenging touchpad to control the display. The lack of design unity feels like a benevolent grandfather held a contest for his designer grandchildren, then, when they submitted their different designs, he threw up his arms and said, “You are all winners!” So they threw everything into the visual centerpiece of the cabin.
The disjointed feel bothers me even more because the NX300 hybrid checks all the right boxes in the premium compact crossover class. The rear seats are roomy, there is ample cargo room, the powertrain is smooth and efficient (on a 300-mile road trip, it averaged 29.6 mpg at 59 mph), AWD is standard, the ride quality is Lexus quiet, and the hybrid is so streamlined as to be unnoticeable. But those controls.
Lexus, and Toyota by extension, has done well in gradually introducing technology into its vehicles. That can make the iconography and functionality feel familiar. Or outdated. The font and blue on black text display feels 8-bit. For 2019, the NX finally gets Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa functionality, and remote start is possible with a smart watch. The advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control work well, but the steering wheel is cluttered with controls. The heated steering wheel button is tucked on the panel behind the wheel by the driver’s left knee, as is the power folding rear seat button. This is a nice feature for only $400. The seats can be power folded from the hatch as well.
Less worthwhile options are the navigation system with 10.3-inch multimedia display for $1,860. Introduced in 2018 along with a larger touchpad, it seems Lexus designers knew it needed work. Still does. Since it is not a touch screen, it shouldn’t be as distracting, but the sensitive touchpad in the console is tricky to operate at cruising speeds. Still, I can get used to it. Not so for the navigation system. It’s just bad. It called out traffic delays where there were none, and ignored traffic backups from the minor to the 10-mile sort. The route settings were inexplicably indirect even with the setting set to direct route.
The NX 300h otherwise excels at being a Lexus. It’s smooth, quiet and one of the most fuel-efficient premium crossovers aside from the new Lexus UX smaller crossover. It is never exciting to drive and it’s not supposed to be; EV mode is available under 20 mph, while eco mode with the continuously variable transmission takes things slow and steady. A motor aides each axle for all-wheel drive. Sport mode adds some punch from the inline four-cylinder engine, approximating shift points and providing more responsiveness, though still underwhelming.
Overall, the NX 300h is underwhelming, except for fuel economy. The redesign should simplify the center stack, overhaul the navigation system and overall offer a more modern, unified interface.
Quick Take: 2019 Lexus NX 300h
Segment: Premium hybrid compact crossover.
The good: Smooth hybrid delivery; quiet, comfy cabin; good fuel efficiency.
The bad: Cluttered center stack design, brutal navigation, pokey power.
Base price: $38,735.
As tested: $49,354 (including $1,025 destination).
Powertrain: 194-horsepower 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder with eCVT in AWD.
Competitive rank: Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, Volvo XC60 PHEV, Lexus NX 300h.
