2020 Lexus NX 300 Comfort

The NX is Lexus's compact luxury SUV, the one you cross-shop with the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 if you want a smaller, more affordable step into the brand. It's a comfortable cruiser first, with a smooth ride that soaks up bumps well, though it's not the sharpest handler in its class. Inside, the cabin is quiet and well-built, with soft-touch materials and a simple layout, but rear legroom is tight for adults on longer trips. The infotainment uses a touchpad controller that takes some getting used to, but you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard this year. The Comfort trim adds heated front seats, a power liftgate, and blind-spot monitoring over the base Premium, while skipping the F SPORT's sportier styling and adaptive suspension. With 2.0L I4 making 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the all-wheel drive NX 300 moves with decent urgency, though the six-speed automatic can feel unhurried when you need quick passing power. Expect 24 mpg combined in mixed driving, which is respectable for an all-wheel-drive luxury SUV of this size.