The Lexus NX is one of the most aggressively designed crossovers in its segment. It’s also going on its sixth year in production. At some point, the NX’s dynamic design will wear off, and Lexus will need to do something fresh to inject some excitement back to the NX nameplate. Give credit to Lexus, then, because that’s exactly what it’s doing.

For the second time this year, Toyota’s premium car brand will roll out a Black Line Edition for the NX crossover. The new Black Line Edition is based on the NX300 trim of the popular crossover. It mostly features aesthetic and visual upgrades to the exterior and interior, including one specific highlight that brings all these details together in one impressive special edition design package. Only 2,000 units of the 2020 NX300 Black Line Edition will be built. Each model will carry a starting price of $45,735. That price tag could go up to $47,135 if you eschew the front-wheel drive version in favor of the all-wheel drive model.

2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Special Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Special Edition
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 235 @ 5600
  • Torque: 258 @ 4000
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What Makes the 2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Edition Special?

Like most people, I was taken aback by the Lexus NX when it first arrived on the market. It was based on the outrageous LF-NX Concept that Lexus first unveiled in 2013. While I wasn’t expecting Lexus to completely adapt the design of the concept on the production model, there were enough styling cues that made their way to the production model that gave the NX the super aggressive look that it had. Five years after hitting the market, I still find the NX attractive. But I’m also aware that, as aggressive as it still looks, it needs an injection of fresh takes to compete against newer crossovers. We first caught a glimpse of what Lexus had in mind now that the NX is well-entrenched into the latter stages of its production life when the LF Sport Black Line Edition was launched in February.

But what Lexus added to the crossover provided us a glimpse of what it could do when other versions of the NX received their turn in the special edition spotlight. Those possibilities finally materialized upon the launch of the 2020 NX300 Black Line Edition.

In keeping with the theme of past Black Line Edition models, the NX300 Black Line gets a heavy dose of black trim and accents throughout its muscular-looking body. The front grille, for example, is decked completely in black, as is the grille surround. The side mirrors also received the black treatment. There are enough black trims and accents to go around, but the irony of this particular special edition NX isn’t in all the black trims it received, but in the use of other colors to bring the special edition treatment together. Take the available color options for the NX Black Line Edition, for example. Black isn’t one of them. Instead, you can choose between white, gray, or red for the color of your NX300 Black Line Edition. You can even choose body-color fenders to match the color of the crossover that most appeals to you. That’s great and all, but the real standout detail of the 2020 NX300 Black Line Edition is the set of wheels the crossover is sitting on.

Have any of you noticed the prevalence of bronze wheels these days? It’s become en vogue for automakers — and aftermarket tuners — to use bronze-finished wheels in recent years. It’s become such a popular accent — it’s on par with the gold accent rush from the 1990s and the over-dependence on chrome details in the last decade — that Lexus couldn’t resist dipping its toes in all that hype. Mind you, we’re not just talking about bronze-finished wheels; we’re talking about bronze-finished wheels that are exclusive to this particular special edition crossover. No other Lexus model, least of all another NX trim, will be available with these wheels. That’s one of the reasons why this particular NX Black Line Edition is so appealing.

Of course, that’s not the end of it. Open the door to the interior and you’ll be greeted by a cabin space that’s swimming in more bronze accents. Even the floor mats — we can’t forget the floor mats — benefit from a little touch of bronze acting as contrast piping along the edges of the carpets. There’s some black in the interior, too, in case you’re looking for it. The black headliner isn’t much of an appealing addition, but it does tie the whole look of the interior together. Outside of the exclusive design cues, the NX300 Black Line Edition is also stacked on tech features. A power liftgate with a kick sensor comes as standard, as do the heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen that can be used for a variety of purposes.

The 2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Edition doesn’t come with any engine upgrades, and don’t expect one to arrive anytime soon unless you look in the aftermarket world. If you’ve come to grips with that, you can still appreciate what the NX300 has to offer. The crossover is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which, in turn, sends power to the two front wheels, or all four wheels if you avail of the all-wheel drive option. It takes 6.9 seconds for the NX300 Black Line Edition to hit 60 mph from an idle position. Top speed maxes out at 124 mph.

2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Special Edition specifications

Engine

In-line 4-cylinder aluminum block and heads

Designation

8AR-FTS

Valvetrain

DOHC 16-valve with Dual VVT-iW

Displacement

2.0 liter twin-scroll turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder with intercooler

Bore x Stroke

3.40 in. x 3.40 in. (86.0 mm x 86.0 mm)

Compression Ratio

10.0:1

Horsepower

235hp@ 4,800-5,600 rpm

Torque

258 lb.-ft. @ 1,650-4,000 rpm

0-60 mph Acceleration (mfg. results)

7.0 sec. (AWD) 7.2 sec. (FWD)

Top Track Speed

124 mph –electronically limited


I’m a fan of the 2020 Lexus NX300 Black Line Edition. I like the upgrades that Lexus provided for the crossover. I like the styling of the whole package, too.

Unfortunately, Lexus only plans to build 2,000 units of the 2020 NX300 Black Edition. Prices start at $45,735 for the front-wheel drive model and $47,135 for the all-wheel drive model. If you’ve got that kind of scratch and you’re interested in those bronze wheels, reach out to Lexus and see how much damage it’s going to cost you to get this kind of setup.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 Lexus NX F SPORT Black Line Edition.

Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus NX.