Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs Lexus NX

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 starts from $76,200 before on-road costs, while the Lexus NX opens at $71,700. That makes the Lexus NX the more affordable entry point by $4,500.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $83,820 and $78,870 respectively.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Lexus NX, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Lexus NX hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 91% for the Lexus NX.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Hyundai IONIQ 5, against 6 on the Lexus NX.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 8 in the Lexus NX.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Lexus NX gets a 9.8-inch display and 8-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 stands out with panoramic roof, ventilated seats, V2L and Bose audio that you will not find on the Lexus NX. The Lexus NX counters with Mark Levinson audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Hyundai IONIQ 5 gets leather upholstery while the Lexus NX offers synthetic leather.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 uses a Electric producing 168kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Lexus NX responds with a Hybrid making 179kW and 239Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.

The Lexus NX has the clear power advantage at 179kW vs 168kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus NX is 0.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 measures 4,655mm long on a 3,000mm wheelbase, 5mm shorter than the Lexus NX at 4,660mm (2,690mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 527L in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 520L in the Lexus NX, giving the Hyundai IONIQ 5 a 7L advantage.

For towing, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads with a 1,600kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai IONIQ 5) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus NX). The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus NX).