Anyone else re-evaluating their Lexus purchase?

[Giguy2002]

I bought my wife a 2024 NX250 Lexus for her birthday last week and we're already planning to take it back, cancel the sale and get something else.  While customer service at the dealer was exemplary there's multiple detractors for this model and many others I've been reading about.

- Fixed non-adjustable annoying headrests.
- Worst shift configuration ever conceived. The push button P,R,D,N,S-(Sport) on our Lincoln was so superior to this insanity. What was Lexus thinking?
- 4CYL turbo has only 203HP while the same 4CYL motor in the 350 has 275HP? Nice way to hamstring a vehicle.
- The Navigation Application is a free standard option on almost every vehicle except Lexus where you have to pay a subscription fee?
- You have to manually turn off the eco engine shutdown/restart option every time you get in the car. Sheer ridiculousness.
- Can't reset the MPG option. I can reset trip history but the MPG stays the same as one continuous analytic. Even tried through the dash history/reset option.

We were excited to move up to a Lexus but after just 11 days that excitement has dissipated.  It doesn't make sense to keep it with so many things we don't like especially for a $50K vehicle. Wish we would have thought about this a little more before purchasing.

 

Edited May 21 by Giguy2002
adjusted sentences

[RX400h]

According to Consumer Reports, the best version of the NX is the hybrid with an overall score of 83 vs. the non-hybrid score of 72. They describe the hybrid as "more refined". They do describe the electronic interior door releases, the unintuitive gear selector, and low center dash vents as "small faults".

Fuel mileage of the hybrid is superior at 34 MPG, a 42% increase. Our RX400h cost us $50K (before tax), 19 years ago, so your $50k cost doesn't seem so bad. We get 25 MPG.

[Giguy2002]

Dave,

Thanks for the response. 

If you still have your  RX400 after all these years that says something about quality and reliability of the Lexus brand which I've read about being rather high. 

It looks like $50-$55K is about the norm for this vehicle and we got the only red one available in the area so the hybrid wasn't an option although those stats are certainly better.

I figure I'm getting about (24-27MPG) depending on driving mode.  I'm always in sport mode to compensate for the low HP so mileage is probably taking a hit there.

There's only a 10-day return policy and we're a few days past that now so we'll work on getting used to it unless my wife decides she just can't deal with the shifter mechanism and then we'll have to figure something out.

In the mean time maybe some free car washes and snacks once a week at the dealer will help lessen the discomfort. 😁

 

[John Zi]

John, I've had a new 2025 NX 350 for 9 days.  I hear where you are coming from because the complexity of this vehicle is unbelievable!  A 916 page user manual, 316 page multimedia (screen) manual make for a lot of reading and learning.  I didn't like the vehicle the first couple of days as I was intimidated thinking I could just drive off and be happy.  But each day I learn how to use this complexity to my benefit.  You will get used to the shift and the door handles, no problem.

But I want to try to help you with a couple of your concerns:

I wanted an NX 250 but in September there was a "no sell" status on this model because of a head rest recall.  Check to see if yours is affected.

Yes, the shift is a pain but you'll get used to it without even thinking about it.  Drive it, drive it, drive it.

Your engine is not turbocharged and has a lower compression ratio so can use regular gas; mine is turbo and requires 91 premium.  So there's the main difference in the horsepower.

"You have to manually turn off the eco engine shutdown/restart option every time you get in the car."  This is a government mandate and all new vehicles have this.  It'll become automatic to press that button every time you start up.

"Can't reset the MPG option."  I've read that you can but haven't tried/found it yet.

Happy Driving,

John Z.

[Giguy2002]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info.  I've been driving everywhere with this and I'm totally used to the shift mechanism now but that button is still a PITA.  I don't want shutting it off to be automatic because the government felt there was another piece of my life they had to control.  I'll end up rewiring it or reprogramming the code so it stays off.

Because the lack of power is still a hard pill to swallow even after 5 months of driving, I wrote the Lexus manufacturer asking about options to boost HP via a software tweak or aftermarket option which I know there are plenty of.

I received the expected response.  They know the car is crap but still don't offer tuning and don't recommend aftermarket options because they don't do any research in those areas and it might void the warranty.  Even Ford was able to give me a tune on my 2004 F150 so I would have expected a superior car company to have something other than "yea we know we built lemons but now you're stuck with it".

On the plus side I did find out how to reset the trip odo. A little button on the left of the dash.