2024 Lexus NX 350 & RX 350 vs Mercedes, Acura, INFINITI & Lincoln SUVs

Up first we see the Lexus NX up against the Mercedes-Benz GLA SUV, a well-established rivalry in a hotly contested segment. Since one of the big strengths of the NX is a wide variety of powertrain options, we've chosen the NX 350h, a hybrid that's priced close to the GLA 250 4MOTION. Both vehicles come with all-wheel drive in these trims, as well as 18-inch wheels and turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. The GLA has a slightly lower starting price, while the NX has a bit more horsepower. That doesn't quite make them even though, since the drastically better fuel economy in the NX will add up pretty quickly.

Looking at equipment, the NX also clearly offers much more for the money. Heated seats, something you definitely want in Ohio, don't even come standard on the GLA. You also don't get hands-free parking assist as standard in the Mercedes, and no matter how much you option up the GLA, the cargo space is lackluster at best. The infotainment touchscreens and stereos in these vehicles are really pretty revealing. Even optioning up the Mercedes, the premium versions of these things are barely an improvement over what comes standard on the Lexus, and the upgraded Lexus equipment is something Mercedes just can't touch.

Turning to the midsize offerings from each brand, we have the GX 460 up against the GLE 350 4MATIC. The GX comes in with a bit of a price advantage, and a big engine advantage. Not only does the Lexus make more power, but the 4.6-liter V8 offers smooth and linear power delivery in a way you just can't get by cranking up the turbo on a four-cylinder. And on the subject of smooth, an air suspension is offered on the GX, but not on the GLE. Making for a much more comfortable ride.

On the practicality front, the GX offers quite a lot more cargo space, but that's only the start. This is a segment where a certain amount of off-road capability is expected, and the GLE does come with an off-road mode. But it lacks the more serious features of the GX, like a higher ground clearance and crawl control. The GX also has body-on-frame construction, much more rugged than the unibody construction of the GLE.

To compete with the NX, Acura gives us the RDX, a compact SUV with an almost identical price when similarly equipped. That price gets you a few more horsepower in the Acura, but isn't quite enough to include the hybrid system that gives the NX such a massive advantage in fuel economy. And even with the slight power advantage, the RDX still somehow can't tow as much as the NX.

The Acura comes with an infotainment touchscreen that's very slightly bigger than the standard one found in the Lexus. But a 14-inch screen is available for the NX, and is even standard for several trims. Also not available for the RDX is a digital rearview mirror, which makes reversing much easier. Of course, as an alternative to reversing yourself in many situations, you can use the NX's parking assist feature, something else you can't find on the RDX.

Next up against the Lexus lineup is Acura's flagship SUV, the MDX. It faces off against the original luxury SUV, the Lexus RX. From the start, you can see that the Lexus has a price advantage over the Acura. And while the MDX has a bit more horsepower, the RX has a lot more torque, an important feature for a midsize SUV. Also important is fuel economy, another area where the RX is noticeably ahead, adding to the savings you'll get from choosing the RX over the MDX.

When it comes to equipment, the Lexus is way out ahead of the competition, and it's no different in this comparison. Not only do you get a nicer stereo, remote start, and rain-sensing wipers all as standard, the RX offers equipment that isn't even available on the MDX, like Safe Exit Assist, which helps prevent you from opening your door into another car or a cyclist.

INFINITI is the next marque to go up against Lexus, and the QX60 is clearly priced to compete directly with the RX 350. Both vehicles come with front-wheel drive as standard, and optioning up to all-wheel drive costs about the same. You get a bit more horsepower with the QX60, but a lot more torque with the RX 350. On top of that extra power, the RX350 will also deliver superior fuel economy, saving you money in the long run.

The Lexus also saves you money in the short term, with a lower MSRP and more standard equipment. The RX 350 comes with a bigger set of wheels as standard, and then also offers more and bigger options for those who wish to upgrade. And much like the wheels, the RX 350 comes with a better standard stereo, and offers a noticeably better optional system on top of that. Thanks to the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 being standard, the RX 350 comes with a whole suite of technology that either costs extra or isn't available at all on the QX60.

While most of Lexus's competitors don't make a plug-in hybrid to compete with the NX 450h+, Lincoln actually does make a plug-in version of the Corsair, so those are the trims we're comparing for this section. The Lincoln starts off with a bit of a price advantage, but as you look down the list, it starts to become obvious why. The Lexus offers more power, giving you better acceleration. And despite that, you also get better all-electric range and a higher MPGe.

Optioning up the Corsair's wheels to 20 inches, the size that comes standard on the NX 450h+, will cost you $1,150, accounting for a good chunk of the price difference. But it's not it, if you want ventilated front seats it will cost almost $3,000 more, and the package that also includes a head up display is more than $8,000. The Corsair might cost less initially, but the NX 450h+ is clearly a much better value for money.