2021 Lexus NX

Lexus, Toyota’s upscale sub-brand, is among the few luxury automakers that successfully merges technologically-advanced designs with consistently great reliability. Interiors are quiet and finished with finely-crafted materials. The engines are generally smooth and powerful. Many of its cars and SUVs are available with more fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains. Lexus continues to sell sedans, with its ES, IS, and top-shelf LS models. Most of its SUVs have done well in our testing, including the NX, RX, and TX. The brand’s first all-electric vehicle, the RZ, is a luxury version of the Toyota bZ4X EV. Lexus also sells two-door coupes and convertibles, the RC and LC. Multiple Lexus models have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendation for used cars.

Lexus finally enters the luxury compact SUV market with the Toyota RAV4-based NX. Lexus's first turbo engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic, works well and delivers 24 mpg overall. The NX 300h hybrid uses a 194-hp engine with a CVT, and its 29 mpg overall makes it the most fuel efficient SUV we've ever tested. The NX delivers a sportier, less cushy driving experience than the larger RX. The interior is adorned with nice stitching but some cheap touches are evident, and the cabin is very tight, with compromised visibility. The dash gets a multipurpose center screen controlled by a fussy touchpad that requires a distracting level of focus to manipulate. Changes for 2018 included standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Changes for 2020 include standard Android Auto compatibility.