2023 Lexus NX 350h AWD

The CarCody take

The 2023 Lexus NX 350h AWD is an all-wheel-drive gasoline hybrid SUV with a combined rating of 39 MPG. Its EPA city and highway ratings are 41 MPG and 37 MPG, respectively, and its annual fuel cost is listed as $2,100. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine works with an automatic (AV-S6) transmission. The EPA class is Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, and tailpipe CO2 is 225 grams per mile. NHTSA information lists two recalls and crash ratings of five stars for side impact and four stars for frontal impact. Those figures give shoppers a concise view of fuel economy, annual fuel cost, emissions and listed crash ratings for this AWD hybrid. It is identified as the NX 350h AWD, with NX as its base model.

Who it suits. It may suit buyers looking for an all-wheel-drive hybrid SUV and comparing city, highway and combined fuel economy. The listed emissions and crash ratings may also matter to shoppers weighing ownership details.

Overview

The 2023 Lexus NX 350h AWD is a small sport utility vehicle with all-wheel drive and a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with an automatic AV-S6 transmission. The EPA rates it at 39 mpg combined, with 41 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway.

Those figures put the NX 350h’s strongest official fuel-economy result in city driving, while its combined rating provides a useful baseline for comparing it with other vehicles. The EPA lists annual fuel cost at $2,100 and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions at 225 grams per mile. Actual fuel use and costs can vary with driving and fuel prices.

Key features

Hybrid power and efficiency

The NX 350h combines gasoline power with a hybrid system, rather than relying on an external charging connection. Its official ratings are 41 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 39 mpg combined. For buyers comparing SUVs on fuel economy, the city and combined figures are particularly useful reference points; they are EPA ratings, not a promise of a particular owner’s results.

Safety and recall information

NHTSA records show a five-star side crash rating and a four-star frontal crash rating for this vehicle description. The listing also records two NHTSA recalls. Crash ratings and recall counts are distinct kinds of information: a rating describes results in a crash-test category, while a recall count flags safety campaigns associated with the vehicle record. Buyers should check the status of any applicable recall for a specific vehicle.

Platforms

The powertrain uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, hybrid operation and an automatic AV-S6 transmission. The EPA classifies the vehicle as a small sport utility vehicle with four-wheel-drive classification, while Lexus identifies this model as AWD. The supplied vehicle details do not specify infotainment, connectivity, driver-assistance or other software features, so those cannot be assessed here.

Who it's for

The NX 350h AWD is relevant to buyers who want an SUV with all-wheel drive and are comparing conventional gasoline and hybrid fuel consumption. Its 39-mpg combined EPA rating and $2,100 annual EPA fuel-cost estimate offer two standardized points for budgeting and comparison. The model is also worth considering for shoppers who prefer a hybrid without treating it as a plug-in vehicle; the supplied facts identify it as a gasoline hybrid and give no electric-only range.

For dealers, fleets and garages, the official fuel economy, emissions, engine, transmission and recall count provide concise inputs for vehicle comparisons and records. The available facts do not include purchase prices, maintenance schedules or operating costs beyond the EPA fuel estimate, so those should not be inferred from the ratings.

Pros and cons

Pros

• EPA-rated 39 mpg combined, with a 41-mpg city rating.
• Hybrid powertrain paired with all-wheel drive.
• Five-star NHTSA side crash rating.

Cons

• The four-star frontal rating is lower than its side crash rating.
• Two NHTSA recalls are recorded; individual vehicle recall status should be checked.
• The provided details do not establish purchase price, electric-only range or maintenance costs.

Alternatives

Shoppers comparing Lexus models can also consider the Lexus cars list. The supplied alternatives include the 2026 Lexus ES 350h and 2026 Lexus ES 350h AWD, alongside the 2026 Lexus ES 350e (19 inch Wheels), 2026 Lexus ES 350e (21 inch Wheels), 2026 Lexus ES 500e AWD (19 inch Wheels) and 2026 Lexus ES 500e AWD (21 inch Wheels). Other listed body styles include the 2026 Lexus GX 550 and 2026 Lexus IS 350. Their specifications are not provided here, so a direct economy or capability comparison is not possible.

Verdict

The 2023 Lexus NX 350h AWD has a clearly defined case: a small AWD SUV with a gasoline hybrid system and a 39-mpg combined EPA rating. Its city rating reaches 41 mpg, and the EPA estimate for annual fuel cost is $2,100. Buyers should weigh those figures alongside the 37-mpg highway rating, the recorded crash ratings and the two recalls, checking recall applicability for any specific vehicle. The available information supports a fuel-economy comparison, but not a broader judgment about price, equipment or ownership costs.