Used 2021 Lexus NX for Sale near South Carolina

How much does the 2021 Lexus NX cost?

Prices have softened 1.06% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 977 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Lexus NX a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Lexus NX earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 8/10.

Owners consistently praise its stylish design, safety features, and comfortable cabin, and they also point to the NX as a dependable, trouble-free choice for long-term ownership. The overview also frames it as a polished everyday SUV with broad appeal, especially if you want a luxury compact SUV that feels easy to live with.

The trade-offs are interior materials that feel cheap and poor handling, with a cramped back seat also standing out as a drawback. Even so, the NX remains a strong fit if you value comfort, style, and a premium-feeling daily driver more than sharp dynamics or rear-seat space.

With 39.1% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still meaningful value in the market.

Is the 2021 Lexus NX reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a reliable, dependable SUV that owners feel good about keeping for the long haul, with praise centered on its stylish design, safety features, and comfortable interior. The expert review also describes the NX as a traditional Lexus with a historically strong reliability reputation, and it notes that the model is backed by a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The NX also benefits from Lexus Enform Services Connect, which can alert you to factory-recommended maintenance and help keep ownership on schedule. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that a neglected example could be more expensive to refresh if prior maintenance was inconsistent.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Lexus NX?

At 72.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the listing price looks unusually attractive. Focus on signs of prior bodywork, uneven panel gaps, interior wear, and any evidence that the cabin or electronics have been heavily used. Because the NX is a luxury SUV, condition matters a lot when you compare similarly priced examples.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The NX 300 comes in base and Luxury trim levels, while the NX 300 F Sport adds a sportier look with a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, quilted NuLuxe sport seats, and an available Circuit Red interior. The base trim gets 17-inch wheels and power-folding outside mirrors, so it is the one to scrutinize if you want the most equipment for the money.
• Powertrain: The NX 300 and 300 F Sport use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on every trim level.
• Safety package: Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 is standard and includes a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard as well, while park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights are optional extras.
• Infotainment: An 8-inch touchscreen is standard, and a 10.3-inch screen is available with the Navigation package. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the Navigation package adds predictive traffic information, HomeLink, and Lexus Enform Destination Assist.
• Fuel efficiency: The FWD model is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while AWD versions keep the same city and highway figures but lower combined efficiency to 24 mpg.

Which 2021 Lexus NX trim should I buy?

The 2021 Lexus NX is offered in 3 trim levels: NX 300, NX 300 F Sport, and NX 300 Luxury.

Here's the short version:

• NX 300: This is the best-value starting point if you want the NX experience without paying for the sportier appearance or the higher-priced Luxury trim. It gives you the core Lexus design, standard safety tech, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the 8-inch touchscreen.
• NX 300 F Sport: Choose this if you want the most distinctive styling and a more aggressive look, including the honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, and quilted NuLuxe sport seats. It is the trim to pick if appearance matters most, but it is not a true performance model.
• NX 300 Luxury: This is the trim to consider if you want the most upscale feel and are willing to pay more for it. It suits you best if comfort and premium presentation matter more than value.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 is standard across the lineup, and blind-spot monitoring plus rear cross-traffic alert are standard too.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Lexus NX?

The market looks moderate and selective buyers should still find opportunities.

• Deal availability: 39.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 977 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.06% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 72.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $27,444, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Lexus NX's resale value?

The current average of $28,319 sits slightly below last year's $28,624.

That modest decline suggests the NX is holding value reasonably well, but not aggressively appreciating. For a future seller, that means pricing discipline matters: if you buy well and keep the vehicle in strong condition, you should be able to stay competitive in a market that still values the NX’s premium image and comfort.

The softer price trend also gives you a useful benchmark for setting expectations when you eventually sell. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Lexus NX safe?

The 2021 Lexus NX earns a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 is standard, and it includes a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard too, while park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights are optional extras.

The main caveat is that some of the most helpful parking and visibility upgrades are not standard, so you should check whether a used example has them if they matter to you.

Should I buy a 2021 Lexus NX or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 39.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 72.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.06% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• One year ahead of its redesign, the NX still delivers the familiar strengths of good looks, a high-quality interior, and agile driving dynamics.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $35,008, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $28,319 average.
• The redesign brings a more attractive, more dynamic, and more technologically advanced cabin.

The bottom line: If you want the lower entry price and the familiar Lexus formula, the 2021 is the smarter buy. If you care more about newer tech and a more modern feel, it makes sense to stretch for the 2022; price-sensitive buyers should stay focused on the 2021.

How does the 2021 Lexus NX compare to the 2021 Toyota RAV4?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Lexus NX:

• Pros: Stylish design, Comfortable, Quiet cabin.
• Cons: Interior materials feel cheap, Poor handling, Cramped back seat.

2021 Toyota RAV4:

• Pros: Quiet cabin, Plenty of cargo space, Great safety ratings.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance, Sluggish touchscreen response.

Our experts score the 2021 Lexus NX 7/10 and the 2021 Toyota RAV4 7.3/10. The NX feels more upscale and stylish, while the RAV4 gives you more cargo space and slightly better expert scoring. If you want a quieter, more premium-feeling cabin, the NX has the edge; if practicality and value matter more, the RAV4 is the stronger all-around pick.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.