Compare the2023 Lexus NXVS 2023 Subaru Forester

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The Lexus NX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Forester doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The NX offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Forester only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The NX has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Forester’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the NX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Forester and its not available on the Base.

Compared to metal, the NX’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Forester has a metal gas tank.

Both the NX and the Forester have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus NX is safer than the Forester:

	NX	Forester
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	.91 in
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	915 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	252	544
Head Peak Forces	65 G’s	81 G’s
Neck Compression	134 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	2.2 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.26 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the NX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Forester is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Warranty

The NX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Forester’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Forester. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Forester ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Forester’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 7th.

Engine

The NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (203 vs. 182) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 176) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (240 vs. 182) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (275 vs. 182) and 141 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 176) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (302 vs. 182) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Subaru Forester:

	NX	Forester
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	82.3 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Subaru Forester (base engine):

	NX	Forester
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.4 MPH	82.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Forester:

			MPGe
NX
	AWD	450h Electric Motors	93 city/75 hwy
Forester
			MPG
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
		Wilderness 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/28 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Forester:

			MPG
NX
	FWD	250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/33 hwy
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/37 hwy
		450h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
		250 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
Forester
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
		Wilderness 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/28 hwy

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Forester can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the NX 350h/450h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Forester doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the NX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Forester:

	NX	Forester Base	Forester
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.6 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.2 inches	11.2 inches

The NX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Forester are solid, not vented.

The NX stops shorter than the Forester:

	NX	Forester
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the NX has larger tires than the Forester (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R17).

The NX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forester Sport/Limited/Touring’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Forester. The NX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Forester Sport/Limited/Touring.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Forester doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The NX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Forester’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NX is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Forester.

The NX 350 AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Forester Wilderness pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Forester Touring (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the NX Premium/Luxury Packages’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Forester doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The NX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Forester uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Subaru. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 45% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Forester does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The NX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Forester doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The NX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Forester’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the NX’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. (Your Lexus service department must activate this window function.) The driver of the Forester can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The NX’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Forester’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Forester doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The NX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the NX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Forester doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The NX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Forester Wilderness/Limited/Touring.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus NX offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Forester doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Forester doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The NX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Forester doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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