Compare the2024 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Lexus NX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid. But it costs extra on the NX.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available 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 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the NX:

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid’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.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (261 vs. 203) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 184) than the NX 250’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 21 more horsepower (261 vs. 240) than the NX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX (6 to 7). This means the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX every 15,000 miles.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the NX.

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

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

The design of the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (31.9 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (66.3 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

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

The power windows standard on both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the NX.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park 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.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid will be $987 to $7788 less than for the Lexus NX.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Lexus NX by almost four to one during 2022.