Luxury SUVs are some of the hottest selling vehicles on the market, and Lexus is consistently near the top. The 2021 Lexus NX is no exception, and even though it’s breaking the typical luxury mold, it’s got the attention of Consumer Reports. In fact, it earned the No 1 spot in the luxury compact SUV division.

How does Consumer Reports determine which luxury SUVs are the best of the best?

While rugged looks are great, it takes a little more than that to sway Consumer Reports. To make it on one of its lists, especially a list of the best vehicles in that division, there are several tests that must take place.

The first is the road test, which is where someone takes the vehicle out on the open road and sees how it performs. The next step is speaking to actual consumers who have purchased it, assuming it has hit showroom floors when the article is released. Third, reliability is taken into consideration. Finally, Consumer Reports takes note of what safety features are available.

Consumer Reports came out with a list of the top 10 luxury SUVs you can buy right now, and the 2021 Lexus NX came in fourth place. It was beaten out by the 2021 BMW X5, the 2021 Lexus RX, and the 2021 BMW X7. Other luxury SUVs to make the list include the 2021 Lexus UX, the 2021 Porsche Cayenne, the 2021 Lexus GX, the 2021 Audi Q5, the 2021 Porsche Macan, and the 2021 Buick Enclave. 

Even though the Lexus NX didn’t take first place on this list, it did take first on the list of luxury compact SUVs. This is because it’s got so many great features that it’s hard to ignore.

It’s obvious why Consumer Reports is charmed by the Lexus NX

Consumer Reports found a lot to love about the Lexus NX, stating, “The NX is a pleasant compact luxury SUV with responsive handling and a firm, compliant ride. A plus is that its reliability has been excellent. The 300h hybrid gets an impressive 29 mpg overall, though the engine tends to be noisy during acceleration or when climbing a hill. The NX300, with its turbo four-cylinder engine, gets 24 mpg overall, which is commendable. Snazzy details lend the interior a high-tech appeal.”

The Lexus NX received an overall score of 82. The predicted reliability score is 5.0 out of 5.0, which really helped bolster the overall score. Further adding to the NX’s appeal is the fact that it has been awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

It also comes with several safety features such as lane departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, standard low-light pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning which all come standard.

What problems does the 2021 Lexus NX have?

While it’s more than clear that the 2021 Lexus NX is a phenomenal luxury compact SUV, there are some problem areas you need to consider before purchasing. None of them are deal-breakers, but it’s still nice to know about them before you spend a ton of money.

One problem is the fact that this is definitely not an SUV you can go off-roading in. It’s designed for highways and city streets, not crashing through streams or crawling over rocks.

The other major problem with the NX is how cramped it can feel. Sure, it’s a compact SUV, but it shouldn’t be difficult getting in and out. With that being said, if you’re a tall individual, the NX may not be a suitable SUV for you.

Finally, the price isn’t exactly cheap. The 2021 Lexus NX has a price range of $37,610 – $46,910. On the other hand, that’s actually fairly affordable for a luxury SUV. It’s certainly much cheaper than the competition and offers a lot for that price range.