The 2024 Lexus NX is a reasonably priced SUV with all the elements that luxury buyers consider in an SUV. It boasts a great range of potent powertrains, including efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. While it’s not the fastest vehicle in its class, the 2024 Lexus NX offers enough performance and multiple standard features. While the Audi Q5 would be the best rival for the Lexus NX, the 2024 Audi Q3 offers a lower starting price and slightly better interior and cargo room. This Lexus NX vs Audi Q3 comparison helps identify the best option for you.
Trims and Pricing
2024 Lexus NX Pricing
Lexus
| NX 250 | $40,305 |
| NX 350 AWD | $44,065 |
| NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD | $49,165 |
| NX 350h AWD | $44,205 |
| NX 450h AWD | $59,405 |
| NX 450h+ F Sport Handling AWD | $60,655 |
Lexus offers six 2024 NX trim options. As standard, the base NX 250 trim offers great features, including a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi connectivity, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a 10-speaker audio system. It’s available with front-wheel drive as standard, but Lexus offers optional all-wheel drive. Additional optional extras include a windshield wiper deicer and a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel.
The other models get a higher-performance powertrain and more enhancements, including a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch gloss black wheels, adaptive variable suspension, front and rear performance dampers, and five drive modes. The hybrid variants offer the best efficiency, be it the NX 350h or the plug-in hybrid NX 450h.
2024 Audi Q3 Pricing
Audi
| Premium 40 TFSI | $37,000 |
| Premium 45 TFSI | $39,400 |
| Premium Plus 40 TFSI | $39,800 |
| Premium Plus 45 TFSI | $42,200 |
On the other hand, Audi offers four 2024 Q3 trim options, all with the same engine but different potencies. The base Premium 40 TFSI offers the best deal, thanks to a low starting price of $37,000. It comes standard with a lot of equipment, including full LED headlights with daytime running lights, a wireless phone charger, 18-inch wheels, a parking system with front and rear acoustic sensors, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, a power tailgate, etc.
The 2024 Audi Q3 Premium 45 TFSI gets a power bump and sportier exterior styling. Audi also introduces LED headlights with high beam assist. It shares the same standard features as the base Premium 40 but has optional extras like blacked-out exterior trim, 19-inch titanium wheels, and S-line sport seats.
Engine, Performance, and Transmission
The 2024 Lexus NX gets four powertrains: a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid with 240 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder plug-in hybrid with 302 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque.
The first two powertrains use an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). As standard, power goes to the front wheels in the base variant, with all the remaining models getting all-wheel drive as standard.
All 2024 Audi Q3 models get a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with different potencies. The 40 TFSI variants produce 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the 45 TFSI models get a power bump to 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission, sending power to all four wheels via the standard Quattro all-wheel drive system.
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Fuel Economy and Estimated Annual Fuel Costs
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2024 Lexus NX 250 has an mpg rating of 26 in the city, 33 on the highway, and 28 combined. The all-wheel drive 2024 Lexus NX 250 has a lower city and highway rating of 25 mpg and 32 mpg, respectively. The Lexus NX 250 and NX 250 AWD get an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050.
The 2024 Lexus NX 350 and NX 350 F Sport Handling get an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 combined mpg. The estimated annual fuel costs for these models total up to $2,900.
The 2024 Lexus NX 350h gets an impressive EPA fuel economy rating of 41 mpg in the city, 37 mph on the highway, and 39 combined mpg. The annual fuel costs for this model total up to only $1,800.
The 2024 Lexus NX 450h and 450h+ are the most impressive, with an all-electric range of 37 miles and 84 MPGe. The NX 450h models have the lowest estimated annual fuel costs of $1,250.
The Audi Q3 40 TFSI models have an MPG rating of 22 in the city, 29 on the highway, and 25 combined. The more powerful 45 TFSI models have a slightly lower rating of 21 mph city, 28 mph highway, and 24 mpg combined. The 2024 Audi Q3 has a 15.9-gallon fuel tank, and the annual fuel costs for the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI models are $2,300 and $2,400, respectively.
Interior Room and Cargo Space
Interior Proportions
| 2024 Lexus NX | 2024 Audi Q3 | |
| Front Headroom | 38.3 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Front Legroom | 41 inches | 40 inches |
| Rear Headroom | 38.5 inches | 37.6 inches |
| Read Legroom | 36.1 inches | 36.1 inches |
| Cargo Space (Behind Front Row) | 46.9 cu.ft | 48 cu.ft |
| Cargo Space (Behind Second Row) | 22.7 cu.ft | 23.7 cu.ft |
The 2024 Lexus NX is a great luxury SUV with a well-thought-out interior. It features rich leather surfaces with eye-catching colors, helping make the interior edgy and modern. Lexus offers heavily bolstered front seats for the most support. The 2024 Lexus NX has a spacious cabin accommodating up to five passengers. Its interior offers a quiet, composed ride with minimal noise upon hard acceleration.
The 2024 Audi Q3 has some of the best interior offerings in its class. It offers a spacious and inviting five-seat cabin with plenty of tech. Since Audi upgraded the Q3 in 2019, everything looks modern and functions intuitively. The larger cabin offers more front-seat comfort and an improved driving position. Audi offers multiple standard equipment, including a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and leather upholstery.
Infotainment and Technology
The base Lexus NX 250 gets a smaller 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. Luckily, the infotainment system across the lineup comes standard with features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The higher Lexus NX trims get a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. Both systems are easier to use than the predecessor’s touchpad system.
Lexus also enables voice commands with the infotainment system, placing dual microphones on the driver and passenger side. The system is easy to use and intelligent enough to recognize the commands and respond through the speakers nearest to whoever spoke. The Lexus NX also gets a 10-speaker audio system as standard.
Some optional features include a wireless charging pad, head-up display, and the 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system.
The base 2024 Audi Q3 gets a standard 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Audi also fits a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and hands-free Bluetooth phone connectivity.
Opting for the Technology package introduces a larger 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a more comprehensive 12.3 digital driver’s display, Amazon Alexa integration, etc.
Safety Features
The 2024 Lexus NX has plenty of standard driver assistance features, including lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, etc. Lexus also fits all 2024 NX models with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 with lane tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and intersection support, lane departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, intelligent high beams, and an all-speed dynamic radar cruise control with curve speed management.
The 2024 Audi Q3 gets a decent selection of safety and driver assistance features, including Audi pre-sense front, adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance, a top view camera system, side assist with rear cross-traffic assist, and a lane departure warning system. The Audi Q3 also gets additional standard features, including automatic high beams and automated emergency braking.
For more information about the Lexus NX and Audi Q3 crash test results, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
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Warranty Coverage
Lexus offers one of the best warranty packages in the segment. The warranty coverage includes a 4-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty, a 6-year or 70,000-mile powertrain warranty, an 8-year or 100,000-mile hybrid component warranty, and a 1-year or 10,000-mile complimentary maintenance cover.
Audi offers a standard warranty coverage that includes a 4-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty and a 4-year or 50,000-mile powertrain warranty. There’s no complimentary scheduled maintenance like in BMW or Lexus models.