Compare the2024 Hyundai TucsonVS 2024 Lexus NX

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the NX.

Both the Tucson and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Hyundai Tucson is safer than the NX:

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The NX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the NX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the NX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the NX’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tucson’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

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

Both the Tucson and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Tucsons have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Tucson uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Tucson higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (6 to 7). This means the Tucson produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

The Tucson stops much shorter than the NX:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the NX (108.5 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Tucson Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 450h AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8.3 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Hyundai Tucson may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The design of the Hyundai Tucson amounts to more than styling. The Tucson has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the NX (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Tucson get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Tucson uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Tucson has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (74.8 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Tucson has a higher standard payload capacity than the NX (1280 vs. 1125 lbs.).

The Tucson has a higher maximum payload capacity than the NX (1283 vs. 1205 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Tucson and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tucson is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Tucson’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the NX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The NX 350h/450h+’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the Tucson owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Tucson will cost $130 to $2235 less than the NX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Tucson will be $7090 to $10455 less than for the Lexus NX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Tucson and the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Lexus NX by almost three to one during 2023.