My last two cars have been RX’s: 2000 RX300 and current 2011 RX450h. Am planning on downsizing this fall with a 2025 NX450h+. What am I giving up by moving to an NX?

 

The NX is about the size of your RX300. The RX has grown too large for my wife. The NX lacks the same ride as the RX450h and cargo space. That's really all you're giving up, what you gain is a ton of technology going from 2011 to 2024-25. Take it for a test ride, if it's too small or you don't like the firmer ride you should be happy. No spare tire tho.

 

Unless you need the extra cargo space, the NX fits great for us until we need the extra storage.

NX has run-flat and no spare tires. RX has conventional tires and a real spare tire and is wider and longer.

I have an older RX and a new NX. I like the NX more with the newer tech.

 

You'll miss the sound of the v6 hybrid and easier to use tech (as it was simple).

 

Good feedback and advice. (Double checked dimensions of 2000 RX. You’re right! New NX is about same size. Wow!)

 

You will be giving up lumbering/ sluggish handling and frequent trips to the gas station.

 

We have a 2013 RX. We now picked up a 2024 NX. One of the reasons for the NX though, is the price, besides we do not need that extra space now, etc. The NX price we paid today is actually higher than what we paid in 2013 RX. Inflation is not adjusted though LOL.

 

I have owned a 2006 RX400h, a 2017 NX250t F-Sport, a 2022 RX350 F-Sport, and now a 2024 NX350h Luxury.

Loved the storage area of the 2022 RX, but really disliked its lumbering heavy feel, and the ridiculous constantly shifting transmission...especially when driving in the mountains.

The 2024 NXh at around 40 miles per gallon is literally getting twice the gas mileage of the 2022 RX at around 20 miles per gallon.

I traded-in my RX350 and my 2021 all-electric Nissan Leaf for the NX350h, and I now have the best of both when it comes to size, relatively sporty ride and quick response, and gas mileage, but I always keep one of my rear seats folded down to accommodate my golf bag.

 

Same position as you. We bought a 2023 NX 350h wife's vehicle. I just bought a 2024 RX 350h. They are different drives and feel. NX. Is sporty RX is super quiet and incredibly smooth. First 500 miles mostly city driving getting 37 mpg. Warmer weather coming and break-in period adjustment expecting 39 mpg.

 

Same here. Owned a 2003 RX300 for 20 years, just down sized to a NX450h+.

External dimensions are similar but head room, shoulder room and cargo space is much less. Leg room feels similar for NX compared to my old RX300. Top trim to top trim, the interior of new RX is inarguably more luxurious than NX.

The big miss is the quiet and smooth V6 engine. Current RX runs on the same noisy L4 as my 2024 NX. But that's fine since most of the time I am on pure EV. It's one of the two primary reasons for picking 450h+. The other one is it's Japan country of origin.

To me, the compact NX is easier to handle over the much bigger 5th generation RX. Yet the sight of vision is much less due to a smaller rear window.

 

This is pretty much my opinion too. My '10 RX450h was a gentle beast that took bumps like a champ and made for a pleasant calm ride. My NX rides firm, you feel the bumps, its quite a bit more sporty ride in comparison. I have trouble driving it as calmly as I did with my RX, LOL. I really like my NX, but occasionally I miss my RX's cushy ride.

 

Consider UX. A lot of people dismiss it, but it's a nice car. A lot of people don't consider safety. UX is actually a safer option overall vs. the NX and RX.

Although overall, all are good, take note: In side collisions for Pelvis injuries in the new updated severe side test:
UX=GOOD
NX=ACCEPTABLE
RX=MARGINAL

In moderate frontal crash test, overall rating:
UX=MARGINAL
NX=NA
RX=POOR

 

Personal Experience - 2022 NX 350h $37,839 damage, car going 50 mph ran a stop light at 50 mph and collided their left front corner with my right front corener.

I had a sprain thumb and small abrasion on left forearm from one of the air bags. Pretty safe IMHO.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

The UX does indeed seem to score a bit better for rear passengers using the small dummy added in the updated tests (aka a 12 yr old child according to their info). Both the UX and RX had issues with rear seat belts not staying in the ideal position for the small dummy size, but the RX was worse for this specific crash scenario. Perhaps because its a much bigger vehicle and maybe the seats are more adult sized? The UX also has a small risk potential for the rear passenger's head to impact the driver's seat, which was not an issue with the RX. The NX they complained about the possibility of rear dummy's head moving a bit past the rear of the side airbag and hitting the C pillar behind the rear passenger seats.

Good to remember though is that all 3 are "Top Safety Picks" in their respective vehicle class.

But cherry picking a couple of elements of the dozens of test elements otherwise rated good across all 3 vehicles I'm not sure is enough to proclaim the UX a safer vehicle though, outside of the specific conditions tested. Obviously they can't account for every scenario. The new front overlap test is designed basically to mimic two vehicles of the same class and weight each driving 40mph clipping each other partly head on. Now take an RX and slam in into a UX with the same offset and I think the UX would fair quite a bit worse. Mass matters!

 

I had a UX just prior to my NX and loved it. Only reason I moved up was they no longer made a luxury version. I love my NX too though.