2019 Lexus NX 300 Review: The Bearable Lightness of Being

The solid recent performance of the brand aside, you always get the impression that Lexus hasn’t quite hit peak form yet. Japanese automaker Toyota’s luxury brand has been working hard to chip away at the hegemony of the German luxury carmakers since its very inception, and its history has been one of constant improvement but with always another hill to climb.

Recent products from the brand have continued to be characterized by their exceptional refinement and comfort, and of course by their industry-best reliability, and to these qualities have been added newly bold styling elements, most notably the enormous new front grille that has sharply divided opinion among observers.

The Japanese automaker hopes its revisited 2019 Lexus NX compact SUV now has the chops to carve more turf from the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW among luxury-vehicle buyers.

Lexus goes boldly where it hasn’t gone before
That big new trapezoidal front grille on the NX is not actually that new, Lexus having started introducing it with all its new and refreshed models some time ago. It gives the model a ferocious appearance that is perhaps a little exaggerated given the contents found under the hood, but whether you like the look or find it vulgar and misplaced, you have to hand it to Lexus for having the confidence to show some character and call attention to its vehicles on the road. Personally the NX’s slightly mean-looking mug doesn’t bother me a bit, especially as the designers have accompanied the grille with visually matching, seriously tapered headlights.

Standard equipment on the 2019 NX 300 from Lexus includes 17-inch wheels and LEDs all over the place, from the headlights to the fog lights to the high beams.

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