Say hello to…
…the NX450h+, Lexus’s mid-size family SUV that’s just had a mid-life update. The ‘+’ signifies the NX is a plug-in hybrid and as such has an official range of 42 miles. In fact, the powertrain in the NX450+ are the same as that used in the larger RX450+, which means the car uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine linked to a 18kWh battery and two motors; 185hp at the front and 54hp powering the rear wheels.
Fleets can choose from and whopping six trim levels of NX 450h+:
• Urban
• Premium
• Premium Plus
• F Sport
• F Sport Takumi
• Takumi
As standard, Urban specification includes 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-LED headlights with auto high beam, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights with sequential indicators, auto-folding heated door mirrors, power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone climate control, Tahara upholstery, heated front seats, 6-way manually adjustable front seats, tilt-adjustable rear seat back, 60:40 split folding rear seats, 9.8-inch touchscreen with navigation, 10-speaker audio system, four USB sockets, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch driver information display, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors with pedestrian detection and four drive modes.
Premium adds leather upholstery, 8-way power front seat adjustment with 2-way power lumbar for the driver, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, power tailgate kick sensor, rear privacy glass, LED front fog lights, illuminated door handles with puddle lights and blind spot monitoring.
Premium Plus adds 20-inch alloy wheels with run-flat tyres, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, memory function for driver’s seat, 4-way power lumbar adjustment on driver’s seat, adaptive high beam with 4-eye LED headlights, LED cornering lights, digital rear-view mirror, panoramic view monitor, 14-inch touchscreen and head-up display.
F Sport adds F Sport exterior styling kit with black mesh grille, adaptive variable sports suspension with lateral performance dampers, F Sport leather upholstery, aluminium sports pedals, F Sport steering wheel and gear shift, and Drive Mode Select with 5 modes.
F Sport Takumi builds on F Sport by adding Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround sound system, panoramic roof and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats.
Takumi adds 20-inch machined alloy wheels, black wood interior inlays, leather upholstery, panoramic roof, and extended safety package.
Is The Lexus NX450h+ Suitable For My Fleet
The Lexus range, and particularly the NX, flies under the radar, eclipsed by the traditional German premium brands. However, the NX450+ ticks all the company boxes; it’s a plug-in hybrid with a decent 42 mile official range, reliability is unquestionable, the boot is a very respectable 525 litre, there’s decent room for five adults and residual values are rock solid.
Leasing A Lexus NX450h+
Gateway2lease is offering the NX450+ in top spec Takumi trim for £448 a month on a 9+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year.
Driving A Lexus NX450h+
Quality is at the forefront of everything about the NX450+. Sit inside the cabin and it’s immediately clear that this isn’t just on a par with the best in class, it is best-in-class for the fit and finish of the interior.
Lexus has designed a cabin that keeps a good number of physical controls as well as an easy to use infotainment touchscreen. It’s also easy to deactivate the warnings for lane keeping and speed limits thanks to a three-press shortcut. The only system that’s tricky to understand is how the trip computer for fuel efficiency is controlled.
The battery is good for a claimed range of 42 miles and this seems broadly accurate and, as a result, the real-world petrol consumption was above 100 mpg (the maximum reading) for our test which saw the car plugged in regularly.
In electric mode, with the battery charged, refinement levels are superb and it’s only once the battery is depleted that you notice the engine. For the most part the engine is still muted, but if you do need to accelerate more quickly, without battery assistance, it can become almost harsh.
Ride comfort is good and the car handles well. It’s not the sportiest car in the class, but it does offer a good compromise between being engaging and refined.
However, the main impression you’re left with when driving the Lexus NX450+ is that it’s an incredibly easy car to live with. It has no annoyances that can afflict rival cars and it simply does the job of making driving easy.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Lexus NX450h+
A car that deserves to sell more than it does. One of the best in its class.
Lexus NX450h+ PHEV
- Model: NX450h+ PHEV Takumi
- Power: 309hp
- Torque: 270Nm
- Max speed: 124mph
- 0-62mph: 6.3s
- Official battery range: 42 miles
- Official consumption: 256.8mpg
- Test consumption: >100mpg
- CO2 emissions: 25g/km
- BIK tax band 2025/26: 9%
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