AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 89
T
he NX is Lexus’ smallest SUV
yet and like many modern
SUVs it targets urban buyers.
Entry models are front-wheel
drive rather than all-wheel
drive because, according to
research, many buyers really
don’t know or care which wheels
put the power to the road.
NX’s aggressive, exaggerated
proportions suggest an attempt
to appeal to younger buyers —
and there are pleasing details in
its lights and garnish — but the
result seems too tall for its width
and too big for its wheels.
In offi cial sales charts, NX sits
in the compact SUV category
alongside the BMW X1, Audi Q3
and Mercedes GLA. However, at
4.6m long, it’s actually a whole
size larger and a more realistic
rival for the Audi Q5, BMW X3/X4,
Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC
and the Range Rover Evoque.
Pricing starts towards the
bottom of this pack at $54,800
for the front-wheel-drive NX200t
Luxury model and $60,800 for
F Sport. The AWD Luxury is
$59,300, F Sport is $65,300 and
Sports Luxury is $73,800.
The NX200t features Lexus’ fi rst
turbocharged engine, a 2.0-litre
petrol four with a handy 175kW of
power and 350Nm of torque. It’s a
sprightly, willing device.
The Lexus NX300h, as tested
here, runs a hybrid driveline
comprising a 2.5-litre four-
cylinder engine supplemented by
an electric motor. It drives the
front wheels via a continuously
variable transmission (CVT) and
draws its power from nickel
hydride batteries.
NX300h opens at $57,300 for the
front-wheel-drive Luxury variant.
F Sport is $63,300. All-wheel-drive
versions start at $61,800. F Sport
is $67,800 and Sports Luxury is
$76,300. AWD adds another 50kW
electric motor at the rear axle. It
comes into play at launch, through
corners and in slippery conditions.
The complex software
controlling all this means power
(147kW) and torque (270Nm) are
the same with or without the
rear motor. Zero to 100km/h
takes 9.2 seconds. That’s
leisurely by modern standards
and one reason is weight. The
NX300h is heavy compared to its
rivals at almost two tonnes. The
NX200t is around 100kg lighter
and more powerful.
The hybrid drivetrain sounds as
though it’s straining at times, too.
CVTs hold the most favourable
revs and adjust their internal
ratios. The result here is a loud,
unremitting note that doesn’t rise
and fall in the familiar way. It’s
far from luxurious.
Tall and top-heavy also sums
up the NX’s dynamics. Despite a
fi rmness to the suspension that’s
designed to counter body roll, it
handles like it looks. There’s little
here to reward a driver and this
is compounded by controls that
are distant and lack feedback.
The steering is slow and lifeless
while the brakes have the
uneven, wooden quality typical of
regenerative hybrid systems.The
interior presents as spacious,
comfortable, modern and
premium with stitched surfaces,
touch-sensitive switches and
up-to-the-minute options, such
as a wireless recharging pad for
phones. Fit and fi nish is always a
Lexus strongpoint.
However, most of what
looks like leather isn’t and
its rivals have better-quality
plastics. Chief among the cabin
drawbacks is a control screen
that can be hard to read and
even harder to navigate using a
touchpad to move a cursor. It’s
frustrating to use and inferior to
any of its rivals.
A slow power tailgate accesses
a high load fl oor with a temporary
spare underneath. Lexus claims
a load capacity of 475 litres but in
practical terms it looks a little
less accommodating.
As Lexus’ fi rst attempt at a
compact SUV, the NX arrives late
and too underdone compared
with a long list of much more
accomplished European rivals.
By Phil King
THINGS WE LIKE
Lexus quality and reliability
Well equipped
Comfortable seats
Adequate cabin space
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Transmission noise
Sluggish performance
Frustrating control system
Out-of-proportion design
Unrealistic fuel economy fi gure
High cargo fl oor
SPEX (NX300H)
Made in Japan
2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol/
electric hybrid/CVT/front- or all-
wheel drive
Combined system outputs: 147kW
of power and 270Nm of torque
0–100km/h in 9.2 seconds (claimed)
Max towing weight 1000kg
Warranty: Four years/100,000km
5.5–5.6L/100km highway;
5.8L/100km city; 91 octane
unleaded; CO 2 emissions are
131–133g/km; fuel tank is 56 litres
Standard: Stability control, eight
airbags, navigation, camera, front
and rear parking sensors, power
tailgate, 18in alloys, dual USB,
DAB+, Bluetooth, tyre pressure
warning, leather-faced seats
Redbook future values: 3yr: 61%;
5yr: 48%
Safety
ANCAP
Green Vehicle Guide
Performance
Handling
Quality and reliability
Comfort and refi nement
Value for money
Overall
STARS
(^3) S LEXUS NX FROM $54,800
compare with ...
Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace,
Mercedes GLC, VW Tiguan