DecodedCars2023 Lexus NX
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2023 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Body styles
- 350h 4dr SUV, 450h 4dr SUV, 250 4dr SUV, 350 4dr SUV
- Engines
- 2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 181–275 hp
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 39 combined · 41 city / 37 hwy
- Length
- 183.5 in
- Curb weight
- 3,704–4,387 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 5 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 39 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2023 small SUV (25 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
- Modest powerUp to 275 hp, versus about 362 hp for similar 2023 models.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 30 similar 2023 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2023 Lexus NX is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 184 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,968 lb (350h 4dr SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 39 MPG combined (41 city / 37 highway), 56% better than the 2023 small SUV average of 25 MPG, for an estimated $2,100 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 5 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2023
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2022 NX — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2022; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2022 NX →
Trims, performance & features
Engine275 hp2.4L 4-cyl
Engine203 hp2.5L 4-cyl
Engine189 hp2.5L 4-cyl hybrid
Engine181 hp2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid
DriveAWD/4WD
Trims
350 Premium350h Luxury450h+ Luxury350 F Sport Handling
Safety & driver-assist features
Automatic emergency brakingStandard
Pedestrian emergency brakingStandard
Forward collision warningStandard
Blind-spot monitoringStandard
Rear cross-traffic alertStandard
Lane departure warningStandard
Lane keeping assistStandard
Lane centeringStandard
Adaptive cruise controlStandard
Backup cameraStandard
Automatic high beamsStandard
Keyless startStandard
LED headlightsYes
Built in: Cambridge, Ontario · Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2023 NX configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350h 4dr SUV | 183.5 in | 73.6 in | 66.1 in | 105.9 in | 65.7 / 67.3 in | 3,968 lb | 57/43 |
| 450h 4dr SUV | 183.5 in | 73.6 in | 65.7 in | 105.9 in | 65.7 / 67.3 in | 4,387 lb | 57/43 |
| 250 4dr SUV | 183.5 in | 73.6 in | 66.1 in | 105.9 in | 65.7 / 67.3 in | 3,704 lb | 58/42 |
| 350 4dr SUV | 183.5 in | 73.6 in | 66.1 in | 105.9 in | 65.7 / 67.3 in | 3,880 lb | 58/42 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NX 350h AWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 41 / 37 / 39 | +56% | $2,100 | 225 |
| NX 450h Plus AWD Plug-in Hybrid | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 38 / 33 / 36 | +44% | $2,300 | 87 |
| NX 250 | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 28 | +2% | $2,400 | 311 |
| NX 250 AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 32 / 28 | +12% | $2,400 | 318 |
| NX 350 AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | 0% | $3,300 | 356 |
| NX 350 AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 25 | 0% | $3,300 | 358 |
9/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
10/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Save $5,000Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
25 MPG2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD average
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2023 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2023 Lexus NX.
Similar 2023 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Lexus NX (this car) | 39 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y | 330 mi | Not rated | 17 |
| 2023 BMW X3 | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2023 Lexus RX | 36 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2023 Porsche Macan | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2023 Audi Q5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2023 BMW X1 | 28 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Recalls (5)
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel · Oct 20, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V687000 · 68,356 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, NX350 Hybrid, and NX450h+ vehicles. The instrument panel cluster combination meter may fail to display certain warnings or indicators. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show engine oil pressure, engine coolant temperature, or electrical charge increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the combination meter software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 7, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26LA10.
Back Over Prevention › Software · Mar 18, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V162000 · 144,200 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB02 and 26LA02.
Back Over Prevention › Display Function · Oct 30, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette · Jan 29, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V040000 · 1,716 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 25LA02.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette · Jul 12, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V480000 · 152,927 vehicles
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.
Not every 2023 Lexus NX is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
18Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
2Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
1Injuries reported
14,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2023 Lexus NX buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 2 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Service Brakes — 2 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
- Vehicle Speed Control — 2 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 14,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2023 Lexus NX. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other NX years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 NX | 40 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 0 | 6 |
| 2025 NX | 39 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 6 | 18 |
| 2024 NX | 39 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 6 | 48 |
| 2022 NX | 39 | 183.5 in | Not rated | 7 | 31 |
| 2021 NX | 31 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 17 |
| 2020 NX | 31 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 28 |
| 2019 NX | 31 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 44 |
| 2018 NX | 31 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 26 |
| 2017 NX | 31 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 30 |
| 2016 NX | 32 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 27 |
| 2015 NX | 32 | 182.3 in | Not rated | 3 | 47 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Lexus. How we calculate this →