The Lexus NX is refined elegance, coupled with a smooth and comfortable ride.The Globe and Mail
I am looking to purchase a 2025 luxury hybrid SUV that is not too big. I need space for a pet cargo in the back to travel with two dogs and myself and my husband. Much of my research centres around the Lexus models, but there is also Volvo and perhaps Mercedes.
Should we look at the plug-in options? Which is better and more cost effective? What stands up best during cold Canadian winters? Finally, luxury may not be as important if there is a vehicle that meets your recommended criteria and offers good value for the price. – Jill
Mark Richardson: Jill sounds like a true Canadian. She doesn’t want the biggest SUV out there, but the right-sized vehicle for two people and two dogs. She’s surely looked at the Lexus UX series already, though it depends how big those dogs are.
Petrina Gentile: That’s true. The UX is the smallest and most affordable Lexus in the SUV family. But if she needs more space, she can move up the ladder to the Lexus NX – it’s available with gas, hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Richardson: The NX is basically the luxurious Lexus version of the popular Toyota RAV4, and like that compact SUV, the plug-in hybrid is more powerful than the hybrid and the conventional gas-powered models.
Gentile: You can also tell the difference inside the cabin. The NX is filled with high-quality and high-end materials; it’s posh and attractive compared to the RAV4’s cabin.
Richardson: And that shows in the price, of course. The most expensive RAV4 sells for about $50,000, plus tax, while the cheapest NX starts at $54,000. The plug-in hybrids are even more expensive, topping out at $65,000 for the RAV4 and around $80,000 for the NX.
Gentile: There is a price premium to pay for plug-in hybrids and since we don’t know Jill’s budget, she’ll have to decide if the price premium is worth the fuel savings in the long term. It will almost certainly take her years to recoup those savings in fuel costs.
Richardson: I think she’ll be happy to spend the money to get all those tactile luxuries – she’s also considering Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, after all. There’s less of a wait for the plug-in Lexus over the plug-in Toyota, too. She can probably get the Lexus right away.
Gentile: True. Let’s look at some other options she mentioned, like the Volvo XC60?
The Volvo XC60 is spacious, comfortable, filled with safety technology, and it also comes with a plug-in hybrid option.Courtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: The XC60 is lovely in a more minimalist, Scandinavian way, and it certainly knows how to handle a Canadian winter. It may be too large, but if so, there’s the smaller XC40 to consider.
Gentile: The XC60 is spacious, comfortable, filled with safety technology, and it also comes with a plug-in hybrid option. But it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive.
Richardson: Jill doesn’t want exciting. She wants comfortable and capable, and ready for winter. That’s the XC60. I’m not going to dissuade her, but she should drive one at a dealership and see if she likes the feel of it. It’s an airy car, with smart use of space.
Gentile: For me, Volvos always feel well built, solid and safe when you get behind the wheel. They’re very capable vehicles.
Richardson: Jill also mentioned Mercedes-Benz, and I think she’d like both of its smaller SUVs. The GLA would be a good fit if the dogs are not too large, but if they’re labradors or bigger, she’ll prefer the GLB.
Gentile: The GLA is too small. I think the midsize GLC SUV would be better than the GLB, too.
Richardson: Why do you dismiss the GLA so quickly as too small? It’s a great size for a couple of passengers, and if the dogs are small, the size of cats, then there’s plenty of space for their carriers and everything else. And why do you prefer the GLC over the GLB?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is only about $5,000 more than the base GLB, and it’s a little more powerful.Courtesy of manufacturer
Gentile: GLA is definitely too small for Jill’s needs, especially in the cargo area – she’d be hard pressed to put two dogs there, even if they’re small. The GLB’s boxier shape lends it to better passenger and cargo space, but the GLC is equally spacious and comfortable. I prefer its smoother road manners over the GLB.
Richardson: The base GLC is only about $5,000 more than the base GLB, and it’s a little more powerful. Those base price numbers can be seductive though, because most buyers will want additional features that cost extra. Sometimes, a lot extra.
Gentile: Exactly. The options can add up fast so you have to be wary. Even those bundled packages can be pricey, if you have to pay big bucks for four or five items when you only want one of them.
Richardson: This is especially the case with premium vehicles. A mainstream car, like a Ford or a Hyundai, can usually add maybe 50 per cent to its cost from buying the basic model to buying the most loaded and powerful model, but premium cars like Mercedes and BMW can double the cost and sometimes more.
Gentile: That’s so true – it’s the price you pay for buying a luxury vehicle.
Richardson: I drove a BMW 3 Series recently and it did not have active cruise control, just regular cruise control. It’s available as an option, of course, but I was surprised I’d have to pay extra on a vehicle that already costs $65,000, when it’s standard on the most basic $27,000 Toyota Corolla.
Gentile: It’s a standard feature on my Honda Civic, too. But I digress. So, what do you think is the best option for Jill?
Richardson: I think she’ll get the best value from the Lexus NX, but the $64,000 Volvo XC60 will also be a good choice if she likes its interior. They’re both priced about the same when you include additional features on the Lexus that are standard on the Volvo. And don’t bother with the PHEV versions – they have a little more power, but the fuel savings are wiped out by their higher purchase prices.
Gentile: My pick for Jill is the Lexus NX – it’s refined elegance, coupled with a smooth and comfortable ride. And it’s also made in Canada, rolling off the line in Cambridge, Ont.
Richardson: Good point. The plug-in hybrid NX is made in Japan, but both the regular and hybrid NXs are Canadian-built. The Volvo XC60 that’s sold in Canada is made in Belgium and the Mercedes-Benz GLC is made in Germany. This is important these days.
Gentile: Exactly. It’s Team Canada time now. Elbows up.
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