The 2023 Lexus NX450h+ adds a plug in electrification to an already great CUV. Starting on the outside, the Grecian Water color has an attraction like no other. I usually have a soft spot for reds but I just kept admiring the blue and so did many others. The 20” wheels didn’t look as big since the tire had a larger than usual sidewall. I did enjoy the ride of the taller sidewall as the sporty CUV segment tends to have smaller sidewalls and sacrifice ride quality. You’ll want to definitely opt for the triple beam LED headlights that come with the cornering lights. Living in a rural area, these were perfect because they illuminated wherever I was planning on turning into.

Getting into the NX450h+, the caramel colored interior was incredibly inviting. The seats were soft and comfortable and offered heating and venting. I grab the wheel and it was perfectly molded for my hands which made for a great driving experience. With the updated infotainment screen, you’re able to see your wireless Apple CarPlay on a large clear screen. It’s unfortunate that this model didn’t have a wireless charger to avoid dealing with cables.

Under the hood you have the 2.5L inline 4-cylinder plug in hybrid. The combined power will yield 304 horsepower to get the NX450h+ to 60mph in 6 seconds. With it being a plug in hybrid, this allowed for flexibility of what source of power to use. The different EV and HV modes helped me avoid the trip to the gas station by simply plugging it in when the 30 miles of battery range went down. I was also able to convert my gas to battery charge with the charge mode it had.

Overall the 2023 Lexus NX450h+ has made me consider my next vehicle to be a plug in hybrid. I don’t think I’m ready for a full electric as I still feel like I get range anxiety in an all electric vehicle. The great thing about the NX450h+ is that it gave me options when gas decides to creep to higher prices, I can plug in and charge the battery and run in EV only mode.