The Lexus 300 F Sport is a trim level for the Lexus NX luxury crossover, discontinued after 2021 with the new NX redesign. Featuring sporty styling and some suspension upgrades for a more athletic driving experience, the 300 F Sport is a mild corrective to the base 300’s ride quality.

If you’re looking for an affordable luxury crossover with comfortable seating and SUV styling—and you’re okay sacrificing some performance—the 2021 Lexus NX 300 is a decent option. While its infotainment touchscreen is lackluster and the driving experience is nothing to write home about, it’s a capable and extra-cushy crossover at an approachable price point.

But the 300 F Sport changes the game slightly, with some sporty touches that make driving the NX more fun. Here to run through the differences between the trims is

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Lexus NX insurance costs

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What’s the difference between Lexus NX 300 and Lexus NX 300 F Sport?

The Lexus NX is a small luxury SUV introduced in 2015 by Toyota’s luxury and performance counterpart. NX 300 and NX 300 F Sport are two trim levels of the NX available from model years 2018 to 2021: while the 300 is the base model, the 300 F Sport adds cool styling and a suspension upgrade.

The “NX” in the crossover’s name stands for “nimble crossover,” but the NX’s first generation doesn’t really live up to that name. While the NX is supremely comfortable and largely competent, its clunky tech and dull driving dynamics leave a lot to be desired.

A total redesign for the 2022 model year corrected many of those problems—and replaced the 300 and 300 F Sport with a fully-revised list of trims, starting with the NX 250 and topping out with the NX 450h+ F Sport (yeah, it’s a mouthful!).

If you own a 2021 or earlier NX, or if you’ve got your eye on a used 300 or 300 F Sport, here’s what you need to know about the differences between the trims:

The 300 is the base model, meaning that it’s got all the standard features and accessories, from power-adjustable front seats with memory functions and standard Apple CarPlay to adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor, and lane-keeping assist.

The 300 F Sport adds sporty exterior styling, a sport-tuned suspension, daytime running lights, paddle shifters, a sport steering wheel, and three drive modes for an additional $2,100 MSRP. All-season tires are standard, but summer tires are available.

Above the 300 F Sport trim is the Luxury, which adds a power liftgate, leather upholstery, and Lexus’s navigation system.

All three 2021 NX models are powered by a 235-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine. All-wheel drive is available for all three trims, but front-wheel drive is standard.

The 2021 Lexus NX is also available with a hybrid powertrain as the 300h. For 2022, either the hybrid 350h or plug-in hybrid 450h+ can reduce fuel consumption.

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Lexus NX model comparison (2022 vs. 2021)

Want a more complete breakdown of the difference between the NX 300 and NX 300 F Sport? Let’s take a closer look at the differences in pricing, performance, fuel economy, and more between these two trim levels—along with the other trim levels available for the 2021 and 2022 Lexus NX.

For each category, we’ll look at all six available trims for the 2022 Lexus NX and the five trim levels of the 2021 NX SUV.

Pricing

Both the 2022 and 2021 Lexus NX are available for purchase as a new vehicle, but you can save a little money by purchasing a used 2021 model. We’ve included Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Market Range for each trim level—just keep in mind that these price estimates vary based on location!

Model	Starting MSRP	KBB Fair Market Range
2022 Lexus NX 250	$39,425	n/a
2022 Lexus NX 350	$43,025	n/a
2022 Lexus NX 350h	$42,635	n/a
2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport	$48,125	n/a
2022 Lexus NX 450h+	$57,225	n/a
2022 Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport	$58,475	n/a
2021 Lexus NX 300	$38,685	$37,000 to $40,000
2021 Lexus NX 300 F Sport	$40,785	$37,000 to $41,000
2021 Lexus NX 300h	$41,235	$38,000 to $41,000
2021 Lexus NX 300 Luxury	$45,135	$42,000 to $45,500
2021 Lexus NX 300h Luxury	$47,685	$43,000 to $47,000

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Performance specs

The differences between the 300 and the 300 F Sport are largely aesthetic—but there are some major differences between the powertrains available for the NX. An automatic transmission is the only option for the NX, regardless of model year or trim level.

Model	Engine	Horsepower	0 to 60 time	AWD
2022 Lexus NX 250	2.5-liter four-cylinder engine	203 hp	8.2 seconds	Optional
2022 Lexus NX 350	2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine	275 hp	7.0 seconds	Standard
2022 Lexus NX 350h	2.5-liter four-cylinder engine w/electric motor	239 hp	7.2 seconds	Standard
2022 Lexus NX 450h+	2.5-liter four-cylinder engine w/two electric motors	304 hp	6.0 seconds	Standard
2021 Lexus NX 300	2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine	235 hp	7.0 seconds	Optional
2021 Lexus NX 300h	2.5-liter four-cylinder engine w/electric motor	194 hp	8.8 seconds	Standard

Fuel economy

While the Lexus NX 300 F Sport has the same basic drivetrain as the base 300 model, the sport-oriented package has a small impact on gas mileage, especially at highway speeds. The table below shows how mpg (city/hwy/combined) compares for all 2022 and 2021 Lexus NX models.

Model	City	Highway	Combined
2022 Lexus NX 250 FWD	26 mpg	33 mpg	28 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 250 AWD	25 mpg	32 mpg	28 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 350	22 mpg	29 mpg	25 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport	22 mpg	28 mpg	25 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 350h	42 mpg	37 mpg	39 mpg
2022 Lexus NX 450h+	n/a	n/a	36 mpg (gas only) to 84 MPGe (hybrid)
2021 Lexus NX 300 FWD	22 mpg	28 mpg	25 mpg
2021 Lexus NX 300 AWD	22 mpg	28 mpg	24 mpg
2021 Lexus NX 300 F Sport	22 mpg	27 mpg	24 mpg
2021 Lexus NX 300h	33 mpg	30 mpg	31 mpg

Tech, safety, and comfort

Comfort and safety are the NX’s biggest strengths—but tech is its Achilles heel.

The first thing you’ll notice if you take an NX for a test drive is how quiet the ride is. There’s also plenty of headroom and legroom—even in the rear seats and the 300 F Sport’s sport seats—and creature comforts are abundant, especially in the new Lexus NX redesigned for 2022. Dual-zone climate control is standard, and heated front seats are an option on 2021 models and standard on 2022 models. Pay a little extra for packages and standalone options, and you could add luxe upgrades like a heated steering wheel, perforated NuLuxe upholstery, and a moonroof.

Both the 2021 and 2022 models are IIHS Top Safety Pick+ selections, thanks to the standard Lexus safety system, which includes safety features like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning and mitigation on every single NX.

Although the tech is plentiful—it’s not all user-friendly. Standard Bluetooth-activated Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa capability is great, as is the free year of onboard Wi-Fi available with the 2021 NX. But reviewers agree that the 2021 NX’s infotainment system touch screen is easily the most maddening and nonfunctional in the class. Cargo space is also minimal, though optional power-folding rear seats make it a little more convenient to use.

Insurance costs

One of the most important considerations for any vehicle purchase is the cost of ownership—that is, the long-term costs associated with owning a vehicle on top of loan payments. Insurance is one of the biggest costs of car ownership: here’s how that cost compares between different Lexus NX models.

Model	Average annual insurance premium
2022 Lexus NX 250	$2,124
2022 Lexus NX 350h	$5,820
2021 Lexus NX 300	$3,267
2021 Lexus NX 300h	$2,451
2021 Lexus NX 300 F Sport	$2,760

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How to save on Lexus insurance costs

As you can see from the table above, insurance costs for Lexus NX models vary considerably—and they’re higher than average car insurance costs, as you can expect from any luxury vehicle.

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