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Lexus NX Sports Luxury 2018 review: snapshot

EXPERT RATING
7.0

Likes

Best of the standard-kit bunch
Cabin materials feel great to touch
Options list ceases to exist

Dislikes

Infotainment system is very fiddly
Same engine/outputs as the entry-level model
Not as cosseting inside as we'd hoped
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

1 min read

The Lexus NX range tops out with the Sports Luxury offering, which sits above the Luxury and F Sport models in the lineup. It's an AWD-only offering, and will set you back $73,800 for the NX 300 and $76,300 for the NX 300h.

The 300-badged cars arrive with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, producing 175kW at 4800rpm and 350Nm at 1650rpm and paired with a six-speed automatic driving all four wheels. The 300h models get a 2.5-litre engine that pairs with two electric motors, and a CVT auto.

You'll also get the same variable suspension setup as the F Sport cars, but also add some cool kit, like a leather-trimmed interior, a full-colour head-up display and a 14-speaker Mark Levinson stereo. You'll also find a moonroof (which is a sunroof, only fancier sounding). All up, that's about $8500 worth of bonus kit. 

Every NX now gets the Lexus 'Safety System+' package as standard, which includes AEB, active cruise and a lane-departure-warning system, along with blind-spot motoring, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control and an upgraded reversing camera with a new widescreen mode. 

Read the full 2018 Lexus NX review

Lexus NX300H 2018: Luxury Hybrid (Awd)

Engine Type Inline 4, 2.5L
Fuel Type Unleaded Petrol/Electric
Fuel Efficiency 5.7L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $31,680 - $38,170
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$37,327
Based on 18 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$29,873
HIGHEST PRICE
$41,990
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications. Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism. He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis. His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers. Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.   Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace. In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award. Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards. Expertise Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles Performance, luxury and supercars New-car reviews and road testing Australian automotive industry and new-car sales Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers Utes, SUVs and family vehicles Automotive technology Policy Awards 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year Featured Publications CarsGuide EV Central DMARGE The Sydney Morning Herald Marie Claire Top Gear GQ Australia The Australian WISH Magazine Boss Hunting The West Australian The Nightly Women’s Day Australia Carsales NRMA Men’s Health CEO Magazine Australian Financial Review The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$29,873
Lowest price, based on CarsGuide listings over the last 6 months.
For more information on
2018 Lexus NX
See Pricing & Specs

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