2025 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport Review: As Chinese plug-in hybrids sweep into Australia does the NX PHEV still justify its $100K price?
There was a time when the Lexus NX 450h+ was on the cutting edge.
Handsome looks and a sophisticated plug-in hybrid powertrain gave this medium-sized luxury SUV the aura of something very special when it launched in early 2022.
But then, with orders backing up and supply unavailable, it went off sale for two years starting in 2023. And since then, a whole slew of new PHEVs have arrived on the scene, primarily from China.
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Now the NX is back, looking to re-stake its claim in a vastly different environment.
Let’s see how it stacks up.
2025 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport price and equipment
The Lexus NX 450h+ is at its very core a rebodied Toyota RAV4 (Toyota owns Lexus) with an upmarket interior and a plug-in powertrain.
The RAV4 gets replaced in 2026, which means there will be a new NX before too long as well. So the return of the Lexus to Aussie sale comes late in its life.
Priced at $96,000 plus on-road costs the 450h+ F Sport is the flagship of the entire NX range. Recently, Lexus has added a cheaper plug-in, the $84,500 NX 450h+ Luxury. There is also a range of petrol-electric hybrid and ICE NX models.
Lexus also offers a 450h+ version of the larger RX, which we tested recently.
The $100K (plus) pricing once on the road places the NX directly against its usual rivals: the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, which has recently added the $99,900 350e PHEV in Australia.
But look way, way, way downstream and you’ll find a slew of new Chinese plug-in medium SUVs that offer high-tech for a price between $40,000 and $60,000. No-one will cross-shop a Lexus 450h+ against a $39,990 drive-away Chery Tiggo 7 CSH, but the technology is very adjacent.
It’s an example of the whole China versus the legacy brands drama that’s reshaping the world automotive order in real time.
The NX’s powertrain combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that works in combination with no less than three e-motors (including an e-CVT transmission) and an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack to punch out 227kW (no torque number is stated), produce a 6.3 seconds 0-100km/h dash, drive all four wheels and claim an official EV-only range of 87km.
In F Sport guise the NX is dressed up with a body kit that adds specific badges, over-sized grille and 20-inch alloy wheels (among other things). Other exterior equipment includes a sunroof, power tailgate and LED headlights.
Inside there’s the expected leather-accented trim, front seats with power adjustment, heating and ventilation, dual-zone climate control, dual digital screens, a head up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and 10-speaker audio.
A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system is optional, but you can’t get a spare tyre for love or money.
The NX 450h+ displays its age with its 2022 ANCAP five star safety rating. It also misses out on the middle-front airbag that come in the newest models these days. There’s still plenty of safety tech though, including the usual driver assist systems.
The NX is protected by a five-year vehicle warranty, which is about where the luxury brands are at. The high voltage battery can be protected for up to 10 years if subject to health checks.
2025 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport: What we think
The 2025 Lexus NX 450h+ is an entirely pleasant vehicle.
It’s a good looking car and neatly proportioned at 4660mm long. It looks smaller than that. Even its huge grille works within the overall shape and flow.
It drives well. It is quiet and even a little but sporty, although not as sporty as its name might suggest.
There’s some communication to the steering; the all-wheel drive system generates plenty of grip and the driver-adjustable adaptive suspension delivers a ride balance from supple to a bit tight without ever getting mean.
The Lexus manages to avoid the intrusive driver aids and noises that bedevil Chinese cars, although you may still choose to switch off lane keeping, which does make itself felt sometimes. There’s a shortcut to easily deactivate it.
The powertrain delivers enough low-down electric response to get smartly away from the traffic lights, while the ICE adds in more power and torque as speed climbs.
It’s a combination that was pretty impressive back in 2022, but is now familiar thanks to all those new PHEVs.
The EV-only range in the real world will deliver about 70km before the petrol engine chimes in. Our overall fuel consumption came out at 5.4L/100km on 95 RON versus the theoretical 1.4L/100km claim.
Electricity consumption was a less impressive 22kWh/100km versus the 14kWh/100km ADR claim.
The next-gen system will have to improve on that count. It could also add DC fast charging so a quick jolt can be added on the road. At the moment the system is limited to 6.6kW AC charging.
The interior of the NX is nicely presented in terms of both design and materials. Front seats are comfortable and generously sized if not generously bolstered.
There is plenty of room for two taller adults in the rear seat and front and rear there is enough storage to fit the accompaniments to a modern life.
The boot offers an impressive 520 litres, opening up to 1410 litres with the rear seat split-folded.
The primary downside of the interior is the fiddly way various information menus in the digital instrument cluster and head up display are accessed.
The process involves various up-down and left-right thumb tabs on both horizontal steering wheel spokes that interacts with and changes various information readouts in the cluster and the HUD.
For all that effort, there doesn’t seem a great deal of in-depth trip information to actually drill into.
The gearshift lever was also a bit obstinate when looking to make quick gearchange. Slow and precise worked better.
2025 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport: Verdict
The 2025 Lexis NX 450h+ F Sport is a vehicle reaching the end of its life. And it’s doing so gracefully.
In isolation, there’s still much to like here. The style, the performance, the flexibility of EV-only running, the comfort and the refinement.
Sure, it’s not an especially memorable drive and some controls are fiddly, but what the NX 450h+ really battles against now is the rapid democratisation of PHEVs.
It’s just not that rare or special any more, which makes it harder to justify what’s being presented here at this price.
If you want a Lexus then this remains a worthy one. If you want an SUV PHEV then this is an expensive one.
SCORE: 3/5
2025 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport specifications
Price: $96,000 plus on-road costs
Basics: PHEV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV, AWD
Range: 87kms EV only (ADR)
Battery capacity: 18.1kWh Lithium-ion
Battery warranty: 10-years/unlimited km (conditions apply)
Energy consumption: 14kWh/100km (ADR)
Fuel consumption: 1.3L/100Km Combined (ADR)
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Motors: 1 front and 1 rear, 134kW/270Nm and 40kW/121Nm
Combined output: 227kW
AC charging: 6.6kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: N/A
0-100km/h: N/A
