Lexus has long been synonymous with luxury, reliability, and cutting-edge technology. Its SUV lineup exemplifies these qualities, particularly the RX and NX models. Choosing the right model is crucial, impacting your driving experience, comfort, and overall satisfaction. Let’s review the 2025 Lexus RX vs. the NX to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Dimensions: Align Your Lifestyle With the Right Fit
The RX has a stylish and bold design, featuring an eye-catching spindle grille, sleek LED headlights, and a sophisticated body shape. The NX is a compact luxury SUV that’s dynamic and agile thanks to its lower center of gravity and longer hood. Its condensed rear end adds to its sporty feel. The front grille cuts through the air better and has multiple color options, including a new shade called Copper Crest.
Inside, both models focus on comfort and luxury, but they cater to different vibes. The RX has a roomy and classy interior with top-notch materials, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard, and ambient lighting that sets a pleasant mood. It can comfortably fit up to five people and has generous cargo space — about 30 cubic feet behind the second row, which increases to 46.2 cubic feet if you fold the seats down.
The NX is a bit smaller but still boasts a luxurious feel with comfortable seats, quality finishes, and all the tech you could want. Behind the back seats, you get around 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which you can expand to 46.9 cubic feet by folding the seats down. Even though it’s more compact, the NX interior makes the most of its space.
Performance and Powertrains: Under the Hood
The RX lineup offers a few powertrain options. With the RX 350h, you’ll get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mixed with an electric motor, cranking out 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque. Check out the RX 500h F Sport if you want some extra kick. It’s got a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine plus electric motors, giving you a solid 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.
Regarding speed, the RX 350h goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds, while the RX 500h F Sport does it in a snappy 5.9 seconds. In terms of fuel economy, the RX 350h gets around 37 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, but the RX 500h F Sport is less efficient because of that performance boost.
The NX 250 features a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission. If you want something peppier, the NX 350 has a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that gets you 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque.
As for acceleration, the NX 250 takes about 8.2 seconds to hit 60 mph, while the NX 350 does it in roughly seven seconds. The NX 250 boasts a solid fuel economy of around 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the NX 350’s figures are a bit lower, thanks to that turbo engine.
Technology and Safety: Innovative Features That Stand Out
A 9.8-inch touch screen for infotainment sits snugly in the middle of the RX’s revamped dashboard, and there’s an optional larger 14.0-inch screen. Like the smaller NX SUV, the RX’s infotainment display tilts toward the driver and features Lexus’s latest software setup. You get standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but navigation, a head-up display, and a premium Mark Levinson stereo system are extra.
All NX models come with a touch-screen infotainment system — the base versions have a 9.8-inch display, while the higher trims boast a larger 14.0-inch one. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and connect wirelessly, but there’s an option for a wireless smartphone charging pad and a head-up display. A 10-speaker stereo system is standard. If you go for the Premium or Luxury packages, you can upgrade to a booming 17-speaker Mark Levinson system.
The Lexus RX and NX come packed with driver-assistance features to keep you and your passengers safe and sound on the road. The RX has a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and more. The NX shares many of these features, including the pre-collision system and lane tracing assist, and adds parking assist with automatic braking and a panoramic view monitor.
Cost Analysis: Find the Best Value for Your Investment
The 2025 Lexus RX starts at $50,475 and rises to $66,150 if you opt for the snazzy RX 500h F Sport. The 2025 Lexus NX starts at a more budget-friendly $42,140, maxing out at $63,505 with the top-tier NX 450h+ F Sport Handling trim.
If you’re thinking long-term, owning the RX for five years totals around $69,872, while the NX hangs out lower at about $59,057. This includes insurance, repair, maintenance, taxes and fees, financing, fuel, and depreciation. Both models do a good job holding their value over time, but the RX tends to lose a little more at around 45%, whereas the NX drops around 42%.
2025 Lexus NX vs. RX: Which One Is Right for You?
Deciding between the 2025 Lexus NX and RX depends on your needs. If you’re after more space, power, and a comfortable ride for the family, the RX is your best bet with its larger size and robust engine choices. But, if you want something sleek, fuel-efficient, and easy to maneuver around town, the NX is ideal, especially since it’s more budget-friendly.
If you’re eager to test-drive either model, contact our Longo Lexus dealership in El Monte, California, to schedule an appointment. We’re ready to help you find the ride that perfectly suits you.
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