Hybrid Lexus NX sport-ute features luxury for less

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Here's an automotive checklist for our times: Luxurious, stylish, responsive, powerful, safety-loaded and plug-in hybrid efficient.

I had all that in the recently tested 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ AWD, priced at $67,134.  While that might strain some budgets, I would have guessed my tester's value at $90,000 to $100,000 before looking at the sticker's bottom line.

It was that loaded.  And for those with the means to seek out an SUV in that ballpark, this NX should be at or near the top of your wish list.  Simply said, one gets a lot for a comparative bargain in this luxury SUV segment.

It's a sleek piece of work, but the heart and soul of the NX 450+ is the 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid electric engine rated at 304 horsepower.  Zero to 60 miles per hour is touted -- a pretty good number in this class.

I found the power plant quite enthusiastic, and guilt-free in combined gas-electricity mode with a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 84 mpg.  Gasoline-only gets you 34 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Lexus also claims up to 37 miles in electric-only mode.

I was happily rolling along the busy interstates in the tester ... rock-solid on the turns, quiet on the roll and muscular when I asked for it. Front and rear torque with the AWD system was silky smooth.

Volunteer passengers commented on the comfortable, roomy seating areas.  And they liked the fact that quiet conversations could be heard even at freeway speeds.

Helpful standard perks on the tester included a head-up display, a power moonroof and a power rear door with kick sensor.

All in all, this NX is a good find for the discriminating luxury SUV shopper.