2015 BMW X3 xDrive28d vs Lexus NX 300h

Compact luxury crossovers are all about the D – diesel.

Mercedes, Audi and BMW all currently sell a diesel compact CUV with a turbocharged diesel engine. But there is a luxury automobile manufacturer lurking in the shadows, looking to disrupt the German stranglehold on small fuel-sipping luxury CUVs. That company is Lexus.

With a recent history steeped in hybrid automobiles, it’s no surprise that Lexus is eschewing diesel technology. Brand new for 2015, the NX 300h uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain similar to the one found in the ES300h. Unlike that sedan though, the all-wheel drive NX features an extra 67 HP motor mounted in the rear.

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