Car Of The Year
The 2024 Drive Car of the Year Best Medium SUV under $80K is the hybrid Lexus NX350H
If you thought this segment was hotly contested last year, it became scorching once we added electric cars to the mix. Spending a bit more money in the medium SUV segment opens up a buyer’s world to electrified and hybridised options, and pits luxe-leaning mass-market brands against major premium players. It’s truly anyone’s game.
To recap the criteria, this car has to “do everything for most people”, with design, practicality, tech and safety all high on the buyer priority list. At last year’s awards, this category was split into two – with the Nissan X-Trail winning Best Medium SUV thanks to its good fuel economy, practical cabin and slick powertrain, while the Jaguar F-Pace won Best Luxury Medium SUV thanks to its large boot, class-leading infotainment and upmarket design.
The Jaguar F-Pace was priced out of this category this year, but the Nissan X-Trail and its new e-Power hybrid variant once again proved stiff competition against the Lexus NX and the Tesla Model Y. The NX was a finalist in last year’s Best Luxury Medium SUV category
The Model Y was also a head-turner, having narrowly missed out on winning last year’s Best EV $70,000-$120,000 category – losing to the Kia EV6 by just one vote. Interestingly, it’s not the first time the Lexus NX has been pitted against the Model Y – the Lexus regularly ranks as the second best-seller in its segment, just behind the Tesla.
The Lexus, Nissan and Tesla all offer capacious interiors, on-the-road polish, premium finishes and proactive safety. But which medium SUV had the edge over the competition thanks to its supreme versatility, litany of options under the price point and bang-for-buck equipment levels?
Winner: Lexus NX
Drive’s pick: Lexus NX350h from $69,050 MSRP
Lexus NX key facts:
- Priced from $62,275 to $90,948 (range)
- 5 year warranty
- 1.3L/100km to 8.1L/100km consumption (claimed)
Why the Lexus NX won:
- Elevated ownership experience
- Ultra-refined on the road and in the cabin
- Economical hybrid options
This category was created to serve both young families and active urbanites seeking practicality with a premium touch – and the Lexus NX nails that brief and then some.
The new-generation NX landed in 2022, improving upon an already impressive offering by enhancing the driver experience, boosting the cabin space, overhauling the infotainment system and packing the car full of seriously impressive technology.
Under this category’s price threshold, you can choose from a two-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive NX with petrol or hybrid power and a litany of standard features. Our pick of the bunch is the hybrid NX350h, with a 2.5-litre petrol engine continuously variable transmission, plus integrated electric assistance offering combined outputs of 179kW and 239Nm.
If you have $80,000 to spend you can choose from a high-grade front-wheel-drive NX350h Sport Luxury or F Sport, or a more affordable all-wheel-drive NX350h Luxury. Both will check crucial boxes for safety, infotainment and comfort features, and regardless of whether you opt for the entry-level Luxury trim or the top-of-the-line F Sport, you’ll find the cabin has a distinctly upmarket feel.
Even better, Lexus’s hybrid tech and famed refinement are a match made in heaven. Not only is the NX’s hybrid system a surefire fuel and emissions saver (think 5-6L/100km on a combined cycle), it has the added benefit of smooth, electric power at city speeds that only serves to enhance the sleek behind-the-wheel experience. The cabin is also exceedingly quiet and perfectly suited for long drives with sleeping kids in the back.
While we do have a few small bugbears with the NX – the gear shifter can be frustrating during quick manoeuvring and the run-flat tyres can make for a busy ride on certain surfaces – the level of craftsmanship in the cabin is to be applauded, particularly when it all manages to sneak in under the $80,000 price point.
On even the entry-level NX250, you’ll receive standard equipment like heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, speed-sign recognition, active cruise control with lane-trace, and safe-exit assist, which is a particularly handy feature for families with young kids.
What really seals the deal on the NX, however, is Lexus’ commitment to the ownership experience. The NX is offered with relatively affordable capped-price servicing compared to some of its premium rivals ($495 a year for the first three years),and membership to Lexus’ Encore ownership program, which includes a complimentary loan car when your car is serviced, a complimentary wash and vacuum at every service and 24-hour roadside.
Arguably the most visually striking car in our medium SUV line-up, the Lexus NX is a capable, practical family car that still allows its owner to feel special, right from the front-seat experience through to the service centre.