LDV D90 vs Lexus NX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

LDV D90 in South Africa

LDV D90

D90 Flagship Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 10.99 km/l
VS
Lexus NX in South Africa

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

LDV D90 vs Lexus NX: the short answer

D90 and NX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

D90 starts ZAR 174,300 cheaper D90 from ZAR 899,900 · NX from ZAR 1,074,200

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification D90 NX
Maximum Power D90160 kW @ 4000 rpm NX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque D90500 Nm @ 1500-2400 rpm NX430 Nm
Engine Size D901996 cc NX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy D9010.99 km/l NX12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance D90210 mm NX195 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

D90

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

NX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

D90

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

NX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec D90 NX
Model Introduced Year 2025 2023
Generation Current South African D90 generation. Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV
Facelift History No later South African facelift is published. Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style Seven-seat large SUV SUV
Model Year 2025 2026
Production Status active published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1760-1860 kg
Spec D90 NX
Length 5046 mm 4660 mm
Width 2016 mm 1865 mm
Height 1876 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 2950 mm 2690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 343 l 520 l
Kerb Weight 2370 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3100 kg 2370 kg
Payload Capacity 730 kg -
Towing Capacity 3100 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.45 m 5.8 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm -
Rear Headroom 990 mm -
Front Legroom 1050 mm -
Rear Legroom 950 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This D90 and NX comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: D90 82 vs NX 86.

Efficiency index: D90 45 vs NX 49.

Safety-equipment index: D90 93 vs NX 93.

Practicality index: D90 78 vs NX 65.

Ownership-cover index: D90 not separately scored vs NX not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

D90 leads by 1 points

D90 and NX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 68% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

D90

68% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 45
Performance 82
Efficiency 45
Safety 93
Practicality 78
Leads by 1 points
75
#2

NX

70% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 93
Practicality 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance NX +4 Efficiency NX +4 Safety Level Practicality D90 +13

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

D90

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 78/100

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index LDV D90 leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 75 pts for NX

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, D90 leads. However, NX may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

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NX vs Land Cruiser 76 →

D90 vs NX questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.