Is the Lexus NX a small car?
No. The Lexus NX is a compact luxury crossover SUV, not a small car. It sits above Lexus’ subcompact UX and below the mid-size RX in the brand’s lineup, offering more interior space and versatility than a typical small car or hatchback while remaining easier to maneuver than larger luxury SUVs.
How size class is defined and where the NX fits
In automotive terms, “small car” often refers to subcompact or compact passenger cars (sedans or hatchbacks) with a focus on city-friendly dimensions and tighter cargo space. The NX, by contrast, is built as a compact luxury crossover SUV, a vehicle category that blends a higher seating position, SUV styling, and practical cargo with premium features. This distinction matters for buyers who want more interior room and a higher driving position without stepping up to a mid-size SUV.
Before examining the NX’s place in the market, here are the key characteristics that place it in the compact luxury SUV category:
- Category: compact luxury crossover SUV
- Seating: typically 5 passengers
- Ride height and stance: elevated SUV-related height and visibility
- Platform: built on Toyota’s TNGA architecture, tuned for comfort and efficiency
- Drivetrain options: available all-wheel drive (AWD) in many configurations
- Powertrains: gasoline turbo, hybrid (and in some markets, plug-in hybrid variants)
In summary, the NX is designed to offer premium features and practical space within a compact footprint, rather than the small-car footprint of subcompact sedans or hatchbacks.
NX vs UX and RX: sizing within the Lexus lineup
To understand its size, consider how it sits relative to other Lexus crossovers. The UX is Lexus’ subcompact offering, smaller and more city-oriented. The RX is a mid-size luxury SUV, larger and typically roomier with a bigger footprint. Between these two sits the NX, which aims to balance agility with cargo and passenger space.
- UX (subcompact) is smaller than NX, prioritizing urban maneuverability and efficiency.
- NX (compact) sits between UX and RX, offering more interior volume than the UX while remaining easier to drive than larger SUVs.
- RX (mid-size) is larger than NX, with more rear-seat room and cargo capacity.
This placement reflects consumer expectations: the NX targets buyers who want premium features and SUV practicality without stepping up to the larger, more expensive RX segment.
Dimensions and practicality of the NX
Exact numbers vary by model year and market, but the NX generally fits the compact SUV envelope. Typical measurements emphasize a length in the low-to-mid 180s of inches, a wheelbase around 104 inches, and a width in the 70+ inch range. Cargo and interior space are designed to feel roomy for five occupants, with moderate rear-seat flexibility and a reasonable cargo area behind the rear seats, expanding significantly with the rear seats folded.
- Length: approximately 183–186 inches
- Wheelbase: about 104 inches
- Seating: 5 passengers
- Cargo behind rear seats: mid-teens to low-20s cubic feet, depending on configuration
- Maximum cargo with rear seats folded: roughly up to 50+ cubic feet in most configurations
- Drivetrain: available AWD in most trims
- Powertrains: gasoline turbo, hybrid, and in some markets a plug-in hybrid option
These dimensions reinforce the NX’s role as a compact luxury crossover: it offers premium design and practicality within a footprint larger than a small car, but smaller than a mid-size SUV.
Summary
Answering the core question: no, the Lexus NX is not a small car. It is a compact luxury crossover SUV that provides greater interior space, cargo versatility, and a higher driving position than subcompact or compact cars, while remaining smaller than Lexus’s RX. For buyers seeking luxury features and SUV practicality without the bulk of a mid-size model, the NX occupies a distinct, well-defined niche in the current market.
