2022 BMW X3 vs Lexus NX

What's the difference?

BMW was once a brand most known for its range of sporty sedans and coupes. In the last 15 years, though, things have literally changed the face of the Bavarian juggernaut.

If its X3 SUV range is anything to go by, things are set to change a lot more before the brand has settled into its new comfort zone of electrified SUVs.

You see, unlike most of its rivals, the X3 is now offered in petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and as the fully-electric iX3. This allows BMW to hedge its bets over various drivetrains, but it’s also one of the first automakers to have such a comprehensive offering for a single model.

For this review we’re looking at the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid model to find out if BMW’s PHEV offering has what it takes to win some premium dollars from the likes of Volvo, Mercedes, and Lexus, all of which have added hybrid rivals with plugs in this space in recent years.

For Lexus. a lot is riding on the new NX. It's one of the brand’s most important models, playing in the key mid-size SUV space, and it brings with it a lot of new technology and design elements for the historically conservative maker.

The key one we’re looking at here is the first ever Lexus plug-in hybrid, and the most expensive NX model ever, the 450h+.

The question is: Should you pick this one over the brand’s renowned 350h hybrid variant, and how does it compare to its luxury PHEV peers?

As it is perhaps Lexus’ most important car since the UX300e full-electric small SUV, we’ve taken the NX 450h+ for a full post-launch follow-up review to give it the attention it deserves.