2024 Tesla Model Y Performance v Lexus NX 350h Sports Luxury comparison

This isn’t a conventional match-up, but hear us out.

First up, Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV). The Tesla Model Y is still one of the best options out there for pure electric vehicle buyers, and it’s considerably cheaper now than it was at the start of 2024.

It’s offered with both rear- and all-wheel drive, and the lineup starts at less than $60,000 before on-road costs. It’s also capable of at least 450km on a charge and has the support of the world’s largest fast-charging network.

The Model Y sold in Australia is built in Shanghai, though they miss out on updates to the Chinese-delivered versions such as greater range, RGB interior ambient lighting, and a textile dashboard.

A full update to the Tesla Model Y is reportedly due next year, bringing upgrades similar to the recent Model 3 ‘Highland’ facelift.

Its challenger is a mid-sized SUV from Toyota’s luxury brand. It’s a member of the Lexus NX range, populated by nine variants – though only eight are currently available due to ongoing supply shortages on the flagship plug-in hybrid NX 450h+ F Sport.

We’re looking at the NX 350h Sports Luxury AWD. It’s one of the multiple hybrid choices in the range, has all-wheel drive, and is just $1000 more expensive than the Model Y before on-road costs.

It’s a physically smaller car than the Model Y, but its hybrid powertrain means you’ll achieve a greater range before needing to top up.

It also features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the Lexus, something Tesla still refuses to include with its cars.

The comparison here is about similarly priced SUV options, rather than the merits of different powertrain options.

It’s clear the Model Y and NX 350h are fundamentally different, though they’re likely to be cross-shopped due to their similar purpose and price point.

Tesla’s offering is still a radical choice alongside the Lexus. It has a touchscreen-focused cabin and a minimalist cabin – something that can be polarising for new car buyers looking to upgrade from an older vehicle.

The Lexus, meanwhile, is a more traditional car. You still get buttons for climate control and a display behind the wheel, which is presented in conjunction with a large touchscreen for infotainment and car settings.

The Model Y was by far 2023’s bestselling car in the VFACTS segment these two share.

In the medium SUVs for more than $60,000 category, Tesla recorded 28,769 Model Y deliveries. The NX was the second-best seller, although it was some 22,000 units behind the Model Y at 6875.

With that in mind, here’s how the electric SUV heavyweight stacks up against the luxury Japanese hybrid on the spec sheet.

Note: Images of the front-wheel drive Lexus NX 350h Sports Luxury are used throughout.

Pricing

The Model Y Performance sits at the top of its range, and is the only Model Y to cost more than $80,000 before on roads.

The NX 350h Sports Luxury is two rungs down from the peak of the NX range, and costs the same as the similar NX 350h F Sport. Both are only outdone by the flagship NX 450h F Sport, which costs $95,248 before on-roads.

The NX range had a price increase for 2024, which included a $2550 hike for the NX 350h Sports Luxury.

In contrast, the rest of the Tesla Model Y range has had its price reduced multiple times in recent months, and the Performance has received a singular $8500 reduction so far this year.

Drivetrains and efficiency

This is where the two cars are furthest apart, for obvious reasons.

Tesla doesn’t quote power and torque figures like most other brands. It has a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, which we’ve previously reported to be capable of producing 393kW of power.

While Tesla doesn’t officially quote the battery’s capacity, it’s fed by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a claimed range of 514km on the European WLTP cycle.

With the pedal mashed from a standstill, it’s claimed to be capable of reaching 100km/h in 3.7 seconds.

In comparison, the NX 350h is a hybrid and packs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 140kW of power and 239Nm of torque on its own.

It has dual electric motors for its all-wheel drive system, which produce a combined 174kW and 391Nm. That means it’s good for 179kW all up, though Lexus doesn’t quote a total system torque figure.

The hybrid unit is mated to an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and its 0-100km/h time is quoted at 7.7 seconds. It consumes 95 RON premium unleaded petrol and has a claimed fuel economy of 5.0L/100km.

Dimensions

The Model Y is physically larger than the NX in almost every metric.

It’s around 100mm longer and 50mm wider, and sits on a wheelbase that’s exactly 200mm longer. It’s has a lower roof than the Lexus by 46mm, and has 33mm less ground clearance if it’s ever needed for light off-roading.

The NX is more than 400 litres short when it comes to storage capacity with the rear seats in place.

The largest disparity is the figure when the rear seats are folded, which at more than 1000 litres apart makes the Tesla seem a much more practical vehicle.

Servicing and warranty

The Model Y is covered by an unconventional four-year, 80,000 kilometre warranty. Its high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

The NX, meanwhile, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Lexus also backs its high-voltage battery with a 10-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

There’s no service plan for the Model Y. The NX requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, with capped-price servicing offered for the first five visits. For models built after March 1, 2024, that price of each service $595.

NX models built before that date are only offered with capped-price servicing for the first three visits, which cost $495 each.

Safety

The Tesla Model Y received a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022, based on tests conducted by Euro NCAP.

Similarly, the Lexus NX received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP in the same year.

Here’s a breakdown of standard safety equipment on each car:

Tesla offers two optional packages for the Model Y.

For $5100, Enhanced Autopilot adds:

• Navigate on Autopilot
• Auto Lane Change
• Autopark
• Summon
• Smart Summon

For $10,100, Full Self-Driving will add (when approved for use on Australian roads):

• Traffic light and stop sign control
• Auto steer on city streets

Lexus doesn’t offer any optional safety packages with the NX, but the $6000 Enhancement Pack 2 – which isn’t safety-oriented – includes semi-autonomous parking assist.

Every new NX purchase of one comes with a three-year complimentary subscription to Lexus Connected Services.

Both cars have AEB systems that include pedestrian detection, cyclist detection (daytime-only for the NX), and junction assist, though the NX misses out on a reverse function.

It does gain three airbags over the Model Y, including for the driver’s knee area.

Lane-keep assist in the NX is included with Lane Tracing Assist (lane centring), while there’s also a lane-departure alert and emergency steering assist.

Lexus also offers Safe Exit Assist, which helps detect cars, pedestrians, and cyclists approaching from behind when exiting the vehicle.

Here’s a breakdown of each car’s safety scoring:

Standard features

These cars have many similar features, have a look below to see how they stack up against each other.

Key differences on the outside are largely superfluous, except for some features with the driving experience. The Model Y Performance features a carbon-fibre spoiler and larger wheels than the Lexus, however.

If glass roofs are your thing, the Model Y has you covered with its all-glass roof. There’s no sunroof on the NX as standard, but you can have one added with the $3000 Enhancement Pack 1 – the only addition in that pack.

The $6000 Enhancement Pack 2 adds a panoramic sunroof, while throwing in some other goodies that will be detailed later on.

Both cars offer synthetic leather upholstery, and they’re closely matched on their interior appointments.

The NX 350h Sports Luxury offers a digital rear view mirror and paddle shifters as standard, contrasting the lack of any transmission equipment in the minimalist Model Y. Available as an option on the Tesla are white seats with black trim.

You can opt for a heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats on the NX, all of which come as standard on the Tesla. In contrast, ventilated front seats are only included with the Lexus.

The biggest difference in the two is interior tech. As is known for Tesla, there is neither an instrument cluster nor a head-up display; all functions are operated through the centre touchscreen. In contrast, the NX offers an 8.0-inch digital cluster and a colour head-up display.

Tesla is still one of the only manufacturers to avoid Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, instead preferring to rely on its native system and app connectivity. You can connect both Apple and Android systems wirelessly in the NX.

You get 13 speakers as standard in the Tesla, while the NX 350h Sports Luxury includes a 17-speaker Mark Levinson-branded sound system.

Options

Both cars have multiple option packages on offer, so here’s a full breakdown of what you can get for each.

Tesla Model Y options include:

• White and black interior ($1500)

• Enhanced Autopilot ($5100)
  • Navigate on Autopilot
  • Auto Lane Change
  • Autopark
  • Summon
  • Smart Summon

• Full Self-Driving ($10,100, when approved in Australia)
  • Traffic light and stop sign control
  • Auto steer on city streets

Lexus NX 350h Sports Luxury options include:

• Enhancement Pack 1 ($3000)
  • Panoramic sunroof

• Enhancement Pack 2 ($6000)
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Semi-autonomous parking assist
  • Power-folding rear seats
  • Heated outboard rear seats

Which would be your pick? Let us know in the comments.

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Tesla Model Y
MORE: Everything Tesla Model Y

BUY: Get in touch with a dealer about a Lexus NX
MORE: Everything Lexus NX