Nx 300H Pricing

[Lexus Nerd]

Australian pricing for the NX 300h was announced while the Lexus Australia chief was in New York over the weekend.

We already knew that the base model would actually cost less than an IS250, although it was a surprise to learn that it will not come with leather trim at that price. Even so, a starting price of $55K - or about $60,600 driveaway (NSW) - is impressive.

Pricing is now said to be slightly higher than the NX 200t, which will be released next year. Having said that, there's over 100 firm orders for the NX 300h, and that translates to a waiting time for new orders of at least two months.

In advance of any official press release from Lexus Australia, here's the list of prices and equipment specs:

NX 300h Luxury
$55000 FWD
$59500 AWD
Includes LED low-beam headlights and foglights, satellite navigation, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, Lexus Remote Touch (the new touchpad incarnation), 10-speaker sound system, power tailgate, heated and powered front seats, 60/40 split-fold rear seats, powered steering column adjustment, Drive Mode Select, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, 18" 225 mm wheels, keyless entry, NuLuxe interior
Add $2500 for moonroof

NX 300h F Sport
$66000 AWD only
Includes Luxury features, plus all LED headlights, adaptive variable suspension, performance dampers, 360-degree camera, blind spot monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, wireless phone charging tray, leather-accented trim, heated and cooled seats, driver's seat memory, 18" 235 mm wheels ... oh, and unlike the GS and IS F Sport, it still includes fog lamps
Add $4000 for moonroof and 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
Add $7500 for moonroof, ML, Pre-Collision Safety system, all-speed active cruise control (ACC), lane departure warning, colour heads-up display, auto high beam, smart key card

NX 300h Sports Luxury
$75000 AWD only
Like the IS Sports Luxury, the NX Sports Luxury has all the F Sport Enhancement Pack 2 features, without the F Sport styling touches. In addition, it has power folding rear seats.

[Lexus Nerd]

Based on most Lexus dealerships' tendency to absorb the Luxury Car Tax in its $2500 delivery costs (i.e., the standard delivery fee including LCT is often $2500, regardless of whether you buy the cheapest IS 250 or a $100,000+ vehicle), you could get away with paying just $490 in LCT for the NX 300h Sports Luxury, or just $144 on the F Sport EP2. Not bad for an SUV with so many features.

[Lexus Nerd]

A further comparison with competitors ...

The NX is meant to compete with both the X3 (a smaller SUV) and X5 (larger).

Even though the NX is a larger vehicle than the X3, it's still around $10,000 more expensive:

BMW X3 xDrive20d F25 LCI with alarm, keyless entry, DAB+, LED foglamps, heated front seats, basic telematics, mid-range stereo, real time traffic information and surround cameras: $69,805

NX 300h Luxury AWD: $59,500

Sure, the X5 is a larger vehicle, but the NX 300h Sports Luxury is $75,000, whereas the BMW X5 sDrive25d F15 starts from $83,900 ... and you still have to pay extra for an alarm, DAB+, gear shift paddles, heated seats, window glazing, traffic information and surround cameras ... and that will bring the X5 up to the NX's Luxury spec!

Surely you can get an X1, the smallest Bimmer, for less than an NX? Yes, but only just ... about $1257 less than an NX 300h Luxury, once optioned up to Luxury spec.

2014 Audi Q3 TDI 8U with coloured bumpers, parking camera, DAB+, heated seats, electric tailgate, mid-range sound system, "load through facility" (in lieu of split fold seats), privacy glass, drive mode select, convenience key, navigation, 18" alloys and xenon light package (LED lights not available): $59,750

NX 300h Luxury AWD (larger than Q3): $59,500

2014 Audi Q5 TDI 8R with coloured bumpers and side sills, DAB+, heated front seats, tinted windows, rear camera (panoramic not available) and navigation: $68,247

NX 300h Luxury AWD (smaller than Q5): $59,500