The NX300 and NX300h each come in three versions: Luxury, F-Sport and Sports Luxury. The least costly is Luxury, which has a leather-like synthetic seat trim and the equipment found in any Lexus NX. You can have front-drive only, or all-wheel drive. (The more expensive F-Sports also offer FWD or AWD, while Sports Luxury versions are AWD only.)
Paying more for an F-Sport gets you adaptive suspension, which automatically softens the car’s ride for bumpy roads (and firms it up in corners to prevent the body from leaning). An additional Sports+ drive mode stiffens the ride to improve control in fast cornering. Paddles allow you to control the automatic gearbox from the steering column. Interior cosmetic touches include aluminium alloy control-pedal covers and door-sill scuff plates, while outside you get sportier looking bumper bars, front grille and wheels.
The power-adjusted front seats on an NX F-Sport can be cooled (as well as heated), and the driver’s seat can remember your adjustments, which makes it easy to restore your setting after a companion has driven the car. The seats also have part-leather trim. You can charge compatible phones wirelessly. Multi-element LED headlights dip only part of their high beams for oncoming vehicles, retaining full illumination to either side. And the reversing camera is enhanced with a 360-degree panoramic view monitor, which gives you a bird’s eye view of the car to help you park in tight spaces.
Paying more again for an NX Sports Luxury gets you AWD as standard, a power-operated sunroof, and heated rear seats that power-fold. The cabin trim substitutes woodgrain highlights for the F-Sport’s metallic look, and there is a better, Mark Levinson branded, sound system. A head-up display lets you check speed without taking your eyes from the road.