1524-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
Cargo capacity depends on the total
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load.
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the
luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if
loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals
from being depressed properly, may
block the driver’s vision, or may result in
items hitting the driver or passengers,
possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever possi-
ble.
●Do not stack cargo and luggage in the
luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear seats,
long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the lug-
gage compartment. It is not designed
for passengers. They should ride in
their seats with their seat belts prop-
erly fastened.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on
the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
■When using a roof luggage carrier
(vehicles with roof rails)
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is dis-
tributed evenly between the front and
rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or
width. ( P.408)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is
securely fastened on the roof luggage
carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of gravity
of the vehicle higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly and
result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough
roads, or at high sp eeds, stop the vehi-
cle now and then during the trip to
make sure the cargo remains in its
place.
●Do not exceed 176.3 lb. (80 kg) cargo
weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo (vehicles with
moon roof)
Do not set luggage on the moon roof.
Failure to observe so may lead to cause
damage.
Capacity and distribution
1954-5. Using the driving support systems
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
WARNING
●If the part of the windshield in front of
the front camera is fogged up or cov-
ered with condensation or ice, use the
windshield defogger to remove the
fog, condensation or ice. ( P.280)
●If water droplets cannot be properly
removed from the area of the wind-
shield in front of the front camera by
the windshield wipers, replace the
wiper insert or wiper blade.
If the wiper inserts or wiper blades
need to be replaced, contact your
Lexus dealer.
●Do not attach window tint to the wind-
shield.
●Replace the windshield if it is damaged
or cracked.
If the windshield needs to be replaced,
contact your Lexus dealer.
●Do not allow liquids to contact the
front camera.
●Do not allow bright lights to shine into
the front camera.
●Do not dirty or damage the front cam-
era.
When cleaning the inside of the wind-
shield, do not allow glass cleaner to
contact the lens of the front camera.
Also, do not touch the lens.
If the lens is dirty or damaged, contact
your Lexus dealer.
●Do not subject the front camera to a
strong impact.
●Do not change the installation position
or direction of the front camera or
remove it.
●Do not disassemble the front camera.
●Do not modify any components of the
vehicle around the front camera
(inside rear view mirror, etc.) or ceiling.
●Do not attach any accessories to the
hood, front grille or front bumper that
may obstruct the front camera. Con-
tact your Lexus dealer for details.
●If a surfboard or other long object is to
be mounted on the roof, make sure
that it will not obstruct the front cam-
era.
●Do not modify the headlights or other
lights.
2674-6. Driving tips
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
driving conditions:
Do not try to forcib ly open a window
or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to
melt the ice. Wipe away the water
immediately to prevent it from
freezing.
To ensure proper operation of the
climate control system fan, remove
any snow that has accumulated on
the air inlet vents in front of the
windshield.
Check for and remove any excess
ice or snow that may have accumu-
lated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s
roof, chassis, around the tires or on
the brakes.
Remove any snow or mud from the
bottom of your shoes before getting
in the vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a
safe distance between you and the
vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced
speed suitable to road conditions.
Park the vehicle and move the shift
lever to P without setting the park-
ing brake. The parking brake may
freeze up, preventing it from being
released. If the vehicle is parked
without setting the parking brake,
make sure to block the wheels.
Failure to do so may be dangerous
because it may cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, possibly lead-
ing to an accident.
When the parking brake is in automatic
mode, release the parking brake after shift-
ing the shift lever to P. (
P.172)
If the vehicle is left parked with the
brakes damp in cold temperatures,
there is a possibility of the brakes
freezing.
If the vehicle is parked without set-
ting the parking brake, confirm that
the shift lever cannot be moved out
of P
*.
*: The shift lever will be locked if it is
attempted to be shifted from P to any
other position with out depressing the
brake pedal. If the shift lever can be
shifted from P, there may be a problem
with the shift lock system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
Use the correct tire chain size when
mounting the tire chains. Chain size is
regulated for each tire size.
When driving the vehicle
When parking the vehicle
WARNING
■When parking the vehicle
When parking the vehicle without apply-
ing the parking brake, make sure to
chock the wheels. If you do not chock the
wheels, the vehicle may move unexpect-
edly, possibly result ing in an accident.
Selecting tire chains
2694-6. Driving tips
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
Specific design characteristics give
it a higher center of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars. This vehi-
cle design feature causes this type
of vehicle to be more likely to roll-
over. Utility vehicles have a signifi-
cantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
An advantage of the higher ground
clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate
problems.
It is not designed for cornering at
the same speeds as ordinary pas-
senger cars anymore than low-slung
sports cars designed to perform sat-
isfactorily under of f-road conditions.
Therefore, sharp turns at excessive
speeds may cause rollover. Your vehicle is not designed to be
driven off-road. However, in the event
that off-road driving cannot be
avoided, please observe the following
precautions to help avoid the areas
prohibited to vehicles.
Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel.
Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before entering
private property.
Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that
Utility vehicle precautions
This vehicle belongs to the utility
vehicle class, which has higher
ground clearance and narrower
tread in relation to the height of its
center of gravity.
Utility vehicle feature
WARNING
■Utility vehicle precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death or seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:
●In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Therefore,
the driver and all passengers should
always fasten th eir seat belts.
●Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover causing death or serious
injury.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier (if equipped) will make the cen-
ter of the vehicle gravity higher. Avoid
high speeds, sudd en starts, sharp
turns, sudden braking or abrupt
maneuvers, otherwise it may result in
loss of control or vehicle rollover due
to failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly.
●Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
Because of its profile and higher cen-
ter of gravity, your vehicle is more sen-
sitive to side winds than an ordinary
passenger car. Slowing down will allow
you to have better control.
●Do not drive horizontally across steep
slopes. Driving straight up or straight
down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any
similar off-road vehicle) can tip over
sideways much more easily than for-
ward or backward.
Off-road driving
3155-5. Using the other interior features
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
5
Interior features
*: If equipped
To turn the compass on or off, press the
button for more than 3 seconds.
Directions are displayed as follows:
■Conditions unfavorable to correct
operation
The compass may not show the correct
direction in the following conditions:
●The vehicle is stopped immediately after
turning.
●The vehicle is on an inclined surface.
●The vehicle is in a place where the earth’s
magnetic field is subject to interference
by artificial magnetic fields (under-
ground car park/parking lot, under a
steel tower, between buildings, roof car
park/parking lot, near an intersection,
near a large vehicle, etc.).
●The vehicle has become magnetized.
(There is a magnet or metal object near
the inside rear view mirror.)
●The battery has been disconnected.
●A door is open.
Compass*
The compass on the inside rear
view mirror indicates the direction
in which the vehicle is heading.
Operation and displays
DisplayDirection
“N”North
“NE”Northeast
“E”East
“SE”Southeast
“S”South
“SW”Southwest
“W”West
“NW”Northwest
WARNING
■While driving the vehicle
Do not adjust the display. Adjust the dis-
play only when the vehicle is stopped.
NOTICE
■To avoid compass malfunctions
Do not place magnets or any metal
objects near the inside rear view mirror.
Doing this may cause the compass sen-
sor to malfunction.
■To ensure normal operation of the
compass
●Do not perform a circling calibration of
the compass in a place where the
earth’s magnetic field is subject to
interference by artificial magnetic
fields.
●During calibration, do not operate
electric systems (moon roof, power
windows, etc.) as they may interfere
with the calibration.
3206-1. Maintenance and care
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
6-1.Maintenance and care
Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally apply water to the vehicle body,
wheel wells and underside of the
vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a
sponge or soft cloth, such as a
chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use car
wash soap and rinse thoroughly with
water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the water-
proof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface,
apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
■Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coat-
ing that is resistant to small surface
scratches caused in a car wash, etc.
●The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from
when the vehicle is delivered from the
plant.
●The restoration time differs depending on
the depth of the scratch and outside tem-
perature. The restoration time may
become shorter when the coating is
warmed by applying warm water.
●Deep scratches caused by keys, coins,
etc. cannot be restored.
●Do not use wax that contain abrasives.
■Automatic car washes
●Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door (if equipped)
Start washing from the front of the vehicle.
Extend the mirrors before driving.
●Brushes used in automatic car washes
may scratch the vehicl e surface and harm
your vehicle’s paint.
●Rear spoiler may not be washable in
some automatic car washes. There may
also be an increased risk of damage to
vehicle.
■High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do not bring
the nozzle tip near the gaps around the
doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray
these areas continuously.
■Note for a smart access system with
push-button start
●If the door handle becomes wet while the
electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock
repeatedly. In that case, follow the follow-
ing correction procedures to wash the
vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft.
(2 m) or more away from the vehicle.
(Take care to ensure that the key is not
stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. ( P.117)
■Aluminum wheels
●Remove any dirt immediately by using a
neutral detergent.
●Wash detergent off with water immedi-
ately after use.
●To protect the paint from damage, make
sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when
they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weather
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Cleaning instructions
3987-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
■Unlocking the door
1
Insert the mechanical key while
pulling on the driver’s door handle.
2
Turn the key in order to perform the
following operations.
Unlocking the door
Opens the windows and moon
roof
* (turn and hold)
Closes the windows and moon
roof
* (turn and hold)
*: This setting must be customized at your
Lexus dealer
3Remove the key, return the handle,
and then pull the handle again.
■Locking the door
1
Move the inside lock button to the
lock position.
2
Close the door.
1
Ensure that the shift lever is in P and
depress the brake pedal.
2
Touch the Lexus emblem side of the
electronic key to the engine switch.
When the electronic key is detected, a
buzzer sounds and the engine switch will
turn to IGNITION ON mode.
When the smart access system with push-
button start is deactivated in customization
setting, the engine switch will turn to
A
B
C
WARNING
■When using the mechanical key and
operating the power windows or
moon roof
Operate the power window or moon
roof after checking to make sure that
there is no possibility of any passenger
having any of their body parts caught in
the window or moon roof.
Also, do not allow children to operate the
mechanical key. It is possible for children
and other passengers to get caught in
the power window or moon roof.
Starting the engine
4228-1. Specifications
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
nation, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related
termMeaning
Cold tire infla-
tion pressure
Tire pressure when the
vehicle has been parked
for three hours or more, or
has not been driven more
than 1 mile or 1.5 km under
that condition
Maximum
inflation pres-
sureThe maximum cold inflated
pressure to which a tire
may be inflated, shown on
the sidewall of the tire
Recom-
mended infla-
tion pressureCold tire inflation pressure
recommended by a manu-
facturer
Accessory
weight
The combined weight (in
excess of thos e standard
items which may be
replaced) of transmission,
power steering, power
brakes, power windows,
power seats, radio and
heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equip-
ment (whether installed or
not)
Curb weight
The weight of a motor
vehicle with standard
equipment, including the
maximum capacity of fuel,
oil and coolant, and if so
equipped, air conditioning
and additional weight
optional engine
Maximum
loaded vehi-
cle weight
The sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options
weight
Normal occu-
pant weight
150 lb. (68 kg) times the
number of occupants
specified in the second
column of Table 1
* that fol-
lows
Occupant
distribution
Distribution of occupants
in a vehicle as specified in
the third column of Table 1
*
below
Production
options
weight
The combined weight of
installed regu lar produc-
tion options weighing over
5 lb. (2.3 kg) in excess of
the standard items which
they replace, not previ-
ously considered in curb
weight or accessory
weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers,
roof rack, heavy duty bat-
tery, and special trim
Rim
A metal support for a tire
or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads
are seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diam-
eter)Nominal diameter of the
bead seat
Rim size des-
ignationRim diameter and width
Tire related termMeaning