Lexus NX 300h Variants Explained

The Lexus NX 300h is available in three grades but the differences here aren’t what you’d traditionally see in different variants

• The NX 300h is offered in three variants: Luxury, F Sport & Exquisite.

• No rival of the NX 300h offers as wide a variety of exterior and interior colour options.

• Irrespective of what variant you choose, there’s only one engine/transmission combination available: a 2.5 litre petrol hybrid automatic.

• Lexus sells the NX 300h as a direct import. 

• Price range between Rs 54.90 lakh and Rs 60.60 lakh

We’ve often applied a standard formula for our Variants Explained series in order to make complicated feature lists easier to understand. Take the Kia Seltos Variants Explained as an example. However, in the case of the Lexus NX 300h the variant range differences are anything but ordinary.

 

In fact, the features lists of all three variants, Exquisite, Luxury & F Sport, are nearly identical! 

Rather, the difference is in how each variant looks on the inside and out. You are, perhaps, not choosing a variant, but an attitude. Hence, there is no variant to avoid, just a variant that suits your personality best.

Exterior Colour Options

Common To All Variants

• Sonic Quartz

• Mercury Gray Mica

• Graphite Black Glass Flake

• Sonic Titanium

• Black

• Blazing Carnelian Contrast

• Red Mica Crystal Shine

• Sparkling Meteor Metallic

Exquisite & Luxury Only

• Amber Crystal Shine

F Sport Only

• White Nova Glass Flake

• Lava Orange Crystal Shine

• Heat Blue Contrast Layering

The range of colour options is quite wide, especially when you consider that all of its European rivals, the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Range Rover Evoque, Audi Q5 & Volvo XC60 offer 4-6 paint shades at most. And it’s a similar story on the inside.

Interior Upholstery Packages

Exquisite & Luxury

• White Ochre with black dashboard

• White Ochre with white dashboard

• Black

• Sunflare Brown

• Dark Rose

• Ochre

• Accent White

• Rich Cream

F Sport

• F Sport White

• F Sport Black

• F Sport Mustard Yellow

• F Sport Flare Red

Now, let’s dive into the features lists. Given how all three variants have so much in common, the tables below show what features are shared followed by pointers to explain the unique highlights of each variant.

Common Features & Unique Highlights

Exterior

• Each variant gets 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. However, the wheel design is unique to each variant.

• As mentioned above, 8 colour options are available across the range. There are 3 additional options unique to the F Sport & 1 exclusively offered with the Exquisite & Luxury.

• While the outside mirrors are body coloured in the Exquisite & Luxury, they are painted black in the F Sport.

• Further, the F Sport also gets more aggressively styled bumpers &  an all black grille (spindle grille in the other variants feature dark chrome).

Also Read: Lexus NX 300h: First Drive Review

Interior

• The F Sport gets sportier aluminium finish floor pedals.

• All three variants get leather upholstery, though the F Sport gets a unique finish. The F Sport also gets different/sportier seats vs the NX 300h Luxury or Exquisite.

• While all variants get a split folding rear seat, it is electric in the NX 300h Luxury.

• The F Sport does not get heated rear seats like the other variants, nor does it get ventilated seats. This is very strange since it is the most expensive variant here. The F Sport is supposed to be the lighter/sportier version of the NX 300h but this isn’t an enthusiast SUV so the miss is more symbolic than of any actual need.

Comfort, Convenience & Entertainment

• The Luxury & F Sport variants get the hands-free kick function for the powered tailgate.

• The Luxury & F Sport also offer a Sports+ drive mode that the Exquisite does not get.

• For a sportier drive experience, only the F Sport gets Active Sound Control (ASC). This system includes a loudspeaker behind the dashboard that creates a pronounced engine noise when activated and coordinates with your throttle input.

• All three variants get a leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. However, only the Luxury & F Sport get heated steering.

• The NX 300h Exquisite also misses out on adaptive suspension, which is offered with the higher variants. This feature skip is a major cost saver for the base variant.

• While the Exquisite gets a 10-speaker Lexus music system, the Luxury and F Sport gets a 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system that offers superior sound quality. 

• Finally, the Exquisite does not get a heads up display like the other variants.

Quick Read: Lexus NX 300h: Hits & Misses

Safety 

• The safety features are common across the range. However, while the Exquisite gets a standard rear view camera, the Luxury & F Sport get a surround view (360 degree) camera.

Like the Toyota Vellfire? Meet its more luxurious sibling!

Verdict

• The NX 300h Luxury is the most feature packed variant of the range and is our pick of the lot. 

• The F Sport does have the sportiest experience in terms of styling but offers no tangible benefit vs the other variants when it comes to actual performance. The fact that it’s the most expensive variant while missing out on features like ventilated seats and power folding rear seats means you will choose it mainly for its aesthetic appeal.

• The Exquisite does offer good value. It misses out on some cool features, but isn’t bare-boned.

Read More on : NX Automatic