2023 Lexus NX Interior and Cargo

A blend of soft-touch plastics and high-quality synthetic leather upholstery create a positive first impression, and that doesn't change when you spend more time behind the wheel. All models get NuLuxe upholstery and Stippled Black trim as standard. Black Prism and Black Open-Pore trim options are available with certain interior color schemes on upper trims. F Sport models get Dark Graphite Aluminum accents instead.

The upholstery color choices are Black, Rich Cream, Palomino, or Rioja Red, but some limitations apply depending on the exterior hue you select. For instance, Cadmium Orange exterior paint can't be paired with red seats F Sport models have a choice between Black or Circuit Red upholstery. Aluminum pedals and scuff plates also set the F Sport derivatives apart.

According to Lexus, there's 22.7 cubic feet of cargo volume available behind the second row of seats. Although this is an improvement over its predecessor, the NX still doesn't have the biggest trunk in this segment. Folding down the rear seats frees up 46.9 cubes, and hands-free access to the trunk is available.

Interior storage isn't spectacular. The door pockets are tiny, but at least the dual front cupholders and the central armrest storage spaces are more accommodating. Occupants at the back have seatback map pockets and a fold-down armrest with another two cupholders.

The base Lexus NX ships with standard features like climate control, heated front seats, a drive mode selector, auto-dimming outside mirrors, a rearview camera with dynamic gridlines, and remote start. The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard even on this model and this suite includes risk avoidance emergency steer assist and dynamic radar cruise control with curve speed management. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also standard. Premium models add a power tilt-and-slide moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and parking assist with automatic braking, rear cross-traffic braking, and rear pedestrian detection. On Luxury trims, you get a ten-inch color head-up display and thematic ambient lighting, as well as a heated steering wheel and an upgraded high-resolution multi-information display.

Finally, we can stop complaining about the awful touchpad used to control the infotainment system in Lexus vehicles. The NX is the first to benefit from the new Lexus Interface system. Touch is the first layer of control and uses pinch-to-zoom and other familiar screen controls. The second layer is voice control and the Lexus voice assistant, with the highlights being natural language support and the ability to control vehicle functions with voice. For example, say, "Lexus, I'm too hot," and the assistant will adjust the HVAC system to cool down the cabin by a couple of degrees.

Navigation now uses Google's resources and is a huge step up from the previous system, but the important point is that the whole system is cohesive, and the user interface will be familiar to anyone using a smartphone, which is just about everyone at this point. If you don't want to connect your phone, all you're missing is phone calls and messages, since apps like Apple Music and Spotify are available to connect. If you do connect your phone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The screen itself is a 9.8-inch unit as standard with an upgrade to a 14-inch screen available. The user interface also includes many of the climate controls into the display. There's also a little trickery in the way the screen is bonded to reduce glare.

The base sound system is a ten-speaker setup from Lexus, but a premium Mark Levinson Surround Sound system is available and includes 17 speakers and a ten-inch subwoofer.