Skip to main content

2018 Lexus NX 300: Luxury Compact SUV Challenge Gallery

It may be on the small side, but Lexus’ compact SUV stands out with its big, bold face. Again this year, the 2018 NX 300’s angular look is anchored by Lexus’ huge spindle grille, a polarizing style hallmark for the brand.

Related: How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2018 Lexus NX 300?

For the 2018 model year, Lexus updated the NX with lightly revised styling, a mildly redone interior, some new displays and new interior trim. We tested the NX 300 with the F Sport trim, which wears even more attitude courtesy of more aggressive jet-black trim, exclusive wheels and metallic interior trim.

Inside, the most noticeable change is the new 10.3-inch display screen that sits atop the center control panel; it replaces the smaller 7-inch unit. The controls for it are still on the center console, but the remote touch interface pad is now larger for (supposedly) easier operation.

Shop the 2018 Lexus NX 300 near you

Used
2018 Lexus NX 300 Base
89,126 mi.
$22,072
Used
2018 Lexus NX 300 Base
83,962 mi.
$21,785

How does the NX 300 measure up to the competition? The SUV went nose to nose against six other compact luxury SUVs — the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2018 Audi Q5, 2018 BMW X3, 2018 Cadillac XT5, 2019 Infiniti QX50 and 2018 Volvo XC60 — in our latest multicar comparison. Check back June 4 to see which competitor came out on top in Cars.com’s 2018 Luxury Compact SUV Challenge.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line To make these with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

News Editor
Jennifer Geiger

News Editor Jennifer Geiger joined the automotive industry in 2003, much to the delight of her Corvette-obsessed dad. Jennifer is an expert reviewer, certified car-seat technician and mom of three. She wears a lot of hats — many of them while driving a minivan.

Featured stories

hyundai venue 2025 exterior oem 02 jpg
disappearance new vehicles under  20K jpg
lincoln navigator 2025 01 exterior front angle grey scaled jpg