This isn’t a traditional match-up, however hear us out.

First up, Australia’s best-selling electrical automobile (EV). The Tesla Mannequin Y remains to be top-of-the-line choices on the market for pure electrical automobile patrons, and it’s significantly cheaper now than it was at first of 2024.

It’s supplied with each rear- and all-wheel drive, and the lineup begins at lower than $60,000 earlier than on-road prices. It’s additionally able to not less than 450km on a cost and has the assist of the world’s largest fast-charging community.

The Mannequin Y bought in Australia is in-built Shanghai, although they miss out on updates to the Chinese language-delivered variations resembling larger vary, RGB inside ambient lighting, and a textile dashboard.

A full replace to the Tesla Mannequin Y is reportedly due subsequent yr, bringing upgrades just like the latest Mannequin 3 ‘Highland’ facelift.

Its challenger is a mid-sized SUV from Toyota’s luxurious model. It’s a member of the Lexus NX vary, populated by 9 variants – although solely eight are at present obtainable attributable to ongoing provide shortages on the flagship plug-in hybrid NX 450h+ F Sport.

We’re trying on the NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious AWD. It’s one of many a number of hybrid selections within the vary, has all-wheel drive, and is simply $1000 dearer than the Mannequin Y earlier than on-road prices.

It’s a bodily smaller automotive than the Mannequin Y, however its hybrid powertrain means you’ll obtain a larger vary earlier than needing to prime up.

It additionally options wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto within the Lexus, one thing Tesla nonetheless refuses to incorporate with its vehicles.

The comparability right here is about equally priced SUV choices, relatively than the deserves of various powertrain choices.

It’s clear the Mannequin Y and NX 350h are essentially totally different, although they’re more likely to be cross-shopped attributable to their related function and worth level.

Tesla’s providing remains to be a radical selection alongside the Lexus. It has a touchscreen-focused cabin and a minimalist cabin – one thing that may be polarising for brand new automotive patrons seeking to improve from an older automobile.

The Lexus, in the meantime, is a extra conventional automotive. You continue to get buttons for local weather management and a show behind the wheel, which is offered along with a big touchscreen for infotainment and automotive settings.

The Mannequin Y was by far 2023’s bestselling automotive within the VFACTS section these two share.

Within the medium SUVs for greater than $60,000 class, Tesla recorded 28,769 Mannequin Y deliveries. The NX was the second-best vendor, though it was some 22,000 models behind the Mannequin Y at 6875.

With that in thoughts, right here’s how the electrical SUV heavyweight stacks up in opposition to the luxurious Japanese hybrid on the spec sheet.

Observe: Photographs of the front-wheel drive Lexus NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious are used all through.

Pricing

The Mannequin Y Efficiency sits on the prime of its vary, and is the one Mannequin Y to value greater than $80,000 earlier than on roads.

The NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious is 2 rungs down from the height of the NX vary, and prices the identical as the same NX 350h F Sport. Each are solely outdone by the flagship NX 450h F Sport, which prices $95,248 earlier than on-roads.

The NX vary had a worth enhance for 2024, which included a $2550 hike for the NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious.

In distinction, the remainder of the Tesla Mannequin Y vary has had its worth decreased a number of instances in latest months, and the Efficiency has obtained a singular $8500 discount to this point this yr.

Drivetrains and effectivity

That is the place the 2 vehicles are furthest aside, for apparent causes.

Tesla doesn’t quote energy and torque figures like most different manufacturers. It has a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, which we’ve beforehand reported to be able to producing 393kW of energy.

Whereas Tesla doesn’t formally quote the battery’s capability, it’s fed by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a claimed vary of 514km on the European WLTP cycle.

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

As compared, the NX 350h is a hybrid and packs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 140kW of energy and 239Nm of torque by itself.

It has twin electrical motors for its all-wheel drive system, which produce a mixed 174kW and 391Nm. Meaning it’s good for 179kW all up, although Lexus doesn’t quote a complete system torque determine.

The hybrid unit is mated to an digital repeatedly 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 gasoline financial system of 5.0L/100km.

Dimensions

The Mannequin Y is bodily bigger than the NX in virtually each metric.

It’s round 100mm longer and 50mm wider, and sits on a wheelbase that’s precisely 200mm longer. It’s has a decrease roof than the Lexus by 46mm, and has 33mm much less floor clearance if it’s ever wanted for mild off-roading.

The NX is greater than 400 litres quick on the subject of storage capability with the rear seats in place.

The most important disparity is the determine when the rear seats are folded, which at greater than 1000 litres aside makes the Tesla appear a way more sensible automobile.

Servicing and guarantee

The Mannequin Y is roofed by an unconventional four-year, 80,000 kilometre guarantee. Its high-voltage battery is roofed by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.

The NX, in the meantime, is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. Lexus additionally backs its high-voltage battery with a 10-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

There’s no service plan for the Mannequin Y. The NX requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, with capped-price servicing supplied for the primary 5 visits. For fashions constructed after March 1, 2024, that worth of every service $595.

NX fashions constructed earlier than that date are solely supplied with capped-price servicing for the primary three visits, which value $495 every.

Security

The Tesla Mannequin Y obtained a five-star ANCAP security ranking in 2022, primarily based on checks carried out by Euro NCAP.

Equally, the Lexus NX obtained a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on testing carried out by Euro NCAP in the identical yr.

Each vehicles have AEB methods that embody pedestrian detection, bicycle owner detection (daytime-only for the NX), and junction help, although the NX misses out on a reverse perform.

It does acquire three airbags over the Mannequin Y, together with for the motive force’s knee space.

Lane-keep help within the NX is included with Lane Tracing Help (lane centring), whereas there’s additionally a lane-departure alert and emergency steering help.

Lexus additionally affords Protected Exit Help, which helps detect vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists approaching from behind when exiting the automobile.

Right here’s a breakdown of every automotive’s security scoring:

Customary options

These vehicles have many related options, take a look beneath to see how they stack up in opposition to one another.

Key variations on the surface are largely superfluous, apart from some options with the driving expertise. The Mannequin Y Efficiency includes a carbon-fibre spoiler and bigger wheels than the Lexus, nonetheless.

If glass roofs are your factor, the Mannequin Y has you coated with its all-glass roof. There’s no sunroof on the NX as commonplace, however you’ll be able to have one added with the $3000 Enhancement Pack 1 – the one addition in that pack.

The $6000 Enhancement Pack 2 provides a panoramic sunroof, whereas throwing in another goodies that will probably be detailed in a while.

Each vehicles provide artificial leather-based upholstery, they usually’re carefully matched on their inside appointments.

The NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious affords a digital rear view mirror and paddle shifters as commonplace, contrasting the dearth of any transmission tools within the minimalist Mannequin Y. Accessible as an choice on the Tesla are white seats with black trim.

You may go for a heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats on the NX, all of which come as commonplace on the Tesla. In distinction, ventilated entrance seats are solely included with the Lexus.

The most important distinction within the two is inside tech. As is thought for Tesla, there may be neither an instrument cluster nor a head-up show; all features are operated by means of the centre touchscreen. In distinction, the NX affords an 8.0-inch digital cluster and a color head-up show.

Tesla remains to be one of many solely producers to keep away from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as an alternative preferring to depend on its native system and app connectivity. You may join each Apple and Android methods wirelessly within the NX.

You get 13 audio system as commonplace within the Tesla, whereas the NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious features a 17-speaker Mark Levinson-branded sound system.

Choices

Each vehicles have a number of choice packages on provide, so right here’s a full breakdown of what you may get for every.

Tesla Mannequin Y choices embody:

• White and black inside ($1500)

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

• Full Self-Driving ($10,100, when accepted in Australia)
  • Site visitors mild and cease signal management
  • Auto steer on metropolis streets

Lexus NX 350h Sports activities Luxurious choices embody:

• Enhancement Pack 1 ($3000)

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

Which might be your decide? Tell us within the feedback.

BUY: Get in contact with a vendor a few Tesla Mannequin Y
MORE: All the things Tesla Mannequin Y

BUY: Get in contact with a vendor a few Lexus NX
MORE: All the things Lexus NX