I dropped CR 15 years ago but decided to re-up and my first edition came in the mail today. Here's the kicker. They put the Volvo XC60 (as the more popular car) next to the NX350h (the one they prefer). Interesting.They almost gush about the NX350h. I traded my 2021 XC60 for my 2024 NX350h. I mostly moved to the NX to get into the electric world (my wife had a 2012 Prius which was the forerunner to the NX actually) and didn't want a full EV nor plug in hybrid. CR cites 23 mpg for the Volvo but I averaged 25. And it was a very good car in many ways. The Napa leather was first rate. Safety features. etc. But I couldn't be enthused about the Volvo handling, ride, etc. The NX has me smiling every day. By the way--I get better MPG with the NX too (41.3 for me versus the promised 39 and that's 70% highway miles so far (2100 total miles so far)--maybe owing back to that 2012 Prius and learning how to maximize the MPG by how I drive. Bottom line...CR (not the final source on things) loves the NX350h. I agree.

 

You must not have the latest edition which rates the infotainment systems of 33 brands, Toyota #29 and Lexus #30.

 

I don’t have the latest edition or I haven’t read it all. Or you’re referencing a different edition with more detail. Doesn’t change their “overall” enthusiastic recommendation for the car. Maybe you don’t have that latest edition—or I don’t despite receiving it today. Car reviews employ lots of criteria. Not all criteria matter equally to all buyers. Obviously the infotainment criterion you cite matters a lot to you and trumps many other attributes. I’m guessing you would not own the car based on that feature according to CR. I never rely on a single source when researching cars. My point in my post was simply that they put the xc60 next to the NX350h and hands down favored the NX. I won’t repeat my original post.

 

Glad you are enjoying your your new NX. Two aspects you will really enjoy with your Lexus is Consumer Reports ranks Lexus #2 in reliability behind Toyota. J D Power ranks Lexus #1 in dependability. Lexus is ranked the lowest ICE brand in maintenance cost.

 

August 2023 pages 54-59, the issue with the auto reviews is April 2023. Your the one the started the "Consumer Report" thread not me, I'm simply pointing out another CR review, you seem to place a lot of love in the auto review of the NX but disregard their infotainment review. Hope you have a trouble free experience with your NX.

 

Remember to keep in mind CR's target demographic when evaluating their infotainment system ratings:

 

My view of CR is that it is not the holy grail (including on infotainment systems). But it is a useful resource. It's why I researched the NX extensively before I bought it. The XC60 comparison by CR is in the current July 2023 issue, p.59.I initially shared it simply as affirmation to those NX owners who may enjoy it. Here's their latest word on the NX (with their full knowledge of their views on infotainment): "...CR members give it top marks for reliability and satisfaction. This is truly one of the easiest models in our ratings to recommend." (emphasis added).

 

My Mark Levinsohn infotainment system works great! No complaints at all.

 

Yeah, but not every NX has or can get that system. Besides that, the Mark Levinson is the Sound System. We are talking Infotainment system as a whole. It is the worst I've had on 5 previous Lexus vehicles. (For reference I have a 23 450H+ Base.) Even the Track Pad system on my last ES300h was better than what I have now.

 

I tend to disagree that it is the worst infotainment system. Definitely there is room for improvement. I know some have issues with the PIN keep on popping up or other issues, but it's not the worst. The trackpad system (Enform) had got through many years of refinement. The problem with that was the input (touchpad or mouse thingy).

 

I have no issues either. Perhaps it's the phone; we use Samsung, S20 in fact. Have had some Android Auto messages on the phone regarding my browser which acts live a VPN, but no impact on useability. Have Waze and streaming music on my display always. Maybe those with Apple products are having the most issues?

I really like this new version of infotainment. Much improved over the previous generation, in my opinion.

 

Okay, so maybe WORST wasn't the best choice of words. This NEW system with each person having their own settings and the Primary versus Others is a load of garbage. As a Lexus ES owner for so many years I used to get surveys about future options. I've discovered there is no program for the NX. The Lexus App stinks with the system ONLY giving Remote Start and other info to the Primary and another user (wife) not having access to everything. It's crazy she has to have her own App access but no access to all of the same options the car offers. She has to log off her account and log into mine. Now tell me that makes sense. Then depending on whose key arrives to the car first is the driver regardless of which seat they are sitting in. The Infotainment System as a whole is COMPLETELY screwed up in my opinion. The old Inform System was decent. The only issue I ever had with it was the Track Pad was hard to use if trying to drive. But the system was okay. I'd trade it in a heart beat for this New garbage. But those are my personal opinions. If this is the future of Lexus, I'm driving the last one I'll ever purchase.

 

I have Apple and to date--no issues at all. Maybe because it's a 2024 and some bugs have been squashed? Hard to know. I can say this--only my point of view of course--the NX350h infotainment system is more intuitive and user friendly than my Volvo XC60 (which started this thread) and there were armies of grumpy people on the Volvo forums about the infotainment system as well as some unkind professional reviews. That said--the Volvo always delivered for me too without any issues. Just that is was clumsy--especially compared to the NX.

 

2023 NX350h and had for 7 months. Once we upgraded my wife's Samsung phone we've had zero problems with either of our phones. Infortainment system is world's better than friend's 2022 Acura, 2022 Mercedes and 2023 Audi. They even admit when I show them what it can do.

 

I understand your frustration on the user profile issue. This seems to be a design choice or something they didn't think through when they designed the system. Seems like only the primary account has access to the subscription services. I would say that the user profile part of the system needs work and is not something that they cannot fix ( like the Trackpad ). My understanding is the key who unlocks the car is the one it recognizes as the profile to load. This issue also occurs in other cars as well. I have had cases that my CT200h, would detect my wife's key and unlocks the car and the seat adjusts to her settings. This is not really an infotainment issue, but seems like another issue on itself. It's definitely not refined as it should and your frustration is valid. I won't use "worst" or "garbage" to describe it. If you want to provide feedback, there is a feature in the Lexus App to provide your feedback to them. That is the most direct way to provide your feedback. For those who are the primary driver, they wouldn't understand your issue. For those who share the car, would see this issue a lot more. I have said in many of my videos that Lexus needs better software product owners and better engineers to help them do better in the mobile app space. The more cars they put on this system, the more they have to push forward to fix.