I Drove the 2025 Lexus NX 350 F Sport. Here’s My Brutally Honest Review originally appeared on Autoblog.
The previous Lexus NX was… fine.
It was reliable, comfortable, and looked sharp enough, but it never really tugged at your heartstrings. This new-generation NX, however, is an entirely different animal. Lexus stepped up its game, and after a week behind the wheel of the 2025 NX 350 F Sport, I can tell you it feels far superior to the outgoing model.
The biggest leaps forward are in the cabin design and, most surprisingly, the driving dynamics. The engine is punchy and responsive, the suspension and steering are genuinely sporty, and it's honestly just plain fun to get behind the wheel. I was thoroughly impressed with its on-road demeanor, and it's undoubtedly a step in the right direction for Lexus.
Punchy turbo 4-cyl
At the core of the NX 350 F Sport is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder. This unit produces a healthy 275 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a potent 317 lb-ft of torque that comes on strong at a low 1,700 rpm. That low-end grunt is what makes the NX 350 feel so punchy around town. All that power is channeled through a responsive 8-speed automatic and a standard full-time all-wheel-drive system. It can proactively send up to 50% of the engine's torque to the rear wheels, which helps the crossover feel more balanced and athletic when pushed through corners. The result is a fair 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds.
What sets the F Sport Handling trim apart is the chassis upgrade. The single most important feature is the standard Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). It uses electronically controlled dampers at each corner that can adjust their firmness in milliseconds. When you're just cruising in Normal mode, it's comfortable and compliant. But switch it over to Sport S or Sport S+, and the system instantly firms everything up, dramatically reducing body roll and making the NX feel firm and controlled.
Further enhancing this are the front and rear performance dampers. They connect the sides of the chassis to increase torsional rigidity, which essentially reduces the subtle twisting and flexing of the car's body during hard cornering. The benefit is a more solid, planted feel and more communicative steering.
The NX 350 F Sport was enjoyable to drive and excels in handling, all while delivering a nice little punch off the line.
Angles and aggression
The second-generation NX is a confident and mature evolution of the original's sharp design. Built on Lexu's GA-K platform, it has a purposeful stance, looking long, wide, and low. The front is dominated by a more complex, three-dimensional take on the signature spindle grille. At the same time, the rear makes a bold statement with a full-width LED "blade" taillamp and the modern "L E X U S" wordmark replacing the old "L" logo.
Inside the "Tazuna" cockpit
Lexus refers to its interior design philosophy as "Tazuna," the Japanese term for the reins a rider uses to control a horse. The goal is to create an intuitive connection between the driver and the machine. That being said, the NX sports a driver-focused cockpit where everything feels like it's in the right place. The massive center touchscreen is canted slightly toward the driver, and all the essential controls are within easy reach.
The material quality is excellent, featuring soft-touch surfaces and the signature Lexus sense of high-quality fit and finish. The F Sport trim adds exclusive touches that make the cabin feel special, including deeply bolstered sport seats trimmed in high-quality NuLuxe synthetic leather (available in Black or a stunning Circuit Red). You also get a unique perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel, an F Sport-specific shift knob, and slick aluminum pedals.
Pricing and fuel economy
The 2025 Lexus NX lineup is priced competitively, but the F Sport Handling trim sits near the top of the gasoline-powered range with a starting MSRP of $50,630. Of course, options and packages can significantly increase the price.
A key package to consider is the F SPORT Handling Luxury Package ($2,865). This is almost a must-have, as it adds the 14-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering column, and a cool ambient lighting system. Other popular add-ons include the Mark Levinson 17-Speaker Premium Audio system ($1,020) and a large Panoramic Moonroof ($1,600). A well-equipped model will likely cost around $58,000.
In terms of fuel economy, the EPA rates the NX 350 F Sport at 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. It's worth noting that the vehicle requires premium fuel to achieve its performance figures.
Out with the old, in with the new
The old Lexus infotainment system was, to put it kindly, a major weakness. That's all gone, replaced by the all-new "Lexus Interface." The F Sport comes standard with a sharp 9.8-inch touchscreen, but the optional 14-inch high-definition screen is the one you want. It's responsive and graphically beautiful. The system operates on new, in-house software that is logical, fast, and supports over-the-air (OTA) updates to keep it up to date.
Crucially, Lexus didn't go full-on touchscreen crazy. They wisely retained physical rotary dials for driver and passenger temperature control, as well as a physical volume knob.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and for audiophiles, the optional 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson surround sound system is simply phenomenal, with a vibrant and immersive listening experience.
The "F Sport" identity
The "F" in F Sport stands for Fuji Speedway, the legendary Japanese racetrack where Lexus develops its performance vehicles. Lexus has a clear tiered system for its performance branding:
F Sport Design: Mostly cosmetic upgrades.
F Sport Handling: Adds chassis and suspension upgrades, like the AVS on this NX.
F Sport Performance: Adds a high-output engine to the handling package.
F Models: Pinnacle track-honed machines like the RC F.
The NX 350 F Sport Handling sits in that sweet spot. Unlike the previous generation's F Sport package, which was mainly a sport-tuned (i.e., stiffer) static suspension, this new model's use of the Adaptive Variable Suspension elevates it from a simple appearance package to a true, dynamic handling package.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Lexus NX 350 F Sport Handling successfully delivers the aggressive styling and sharpened reflexes of a sport model without compromising the core Lexus luxury tenets, such as an ultra-quiet cabin and soft touches. If you're seeking a vehicle that looks sharp, feels confident, and is fun to drive every day, you should take a look at the Lexus NX.
I Drove the 2025 Lexus NX 350 F Sport. Here’s My Brutally Honest Review first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 11, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
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