Lexus has become a household name in the luxury segment. They have many vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, to please nearly every buyer. Launched in 2014, the NX is the second SUV in their lineup and has multiple available powertrains. We drove the most fuel-efficient, the NX 350h. The second generation, unveiled in 2021, provided an excellent opportunity to drive the NX for a week, enabling us to appreciate its significance in the Japanese automaker's lineup. The tested Lexus NX 350h Executive has an MSRP of $66,950 and is built at the Cambridge, ON plant.
The Lexus NX entered its second generation in 2021, using the Toyota RAV4's platform, and followed in the first generation's footsteps regarding sales. With nearly 650,000 units sold since 2014, Lexus has tried to keep a winning formula intact. The design features a redesigned hourglass front grille flanked by refreshed lighting elements. The grille gives it a meaner and aggressive look; it has a distinctive charm compared to the rest of the category. The profile is also more aggressive thanks to its 20-inch alloy wheels and lighting assembly stretching far on the sides. In the back, no Lexus badge can be found. Instead, the automaker's name is spelled across the tailgate under the lightbar, thus providing this compact SUV with a more luxurious feel. Overall, the NX has a great blend of sportiness and sophistication, capitalizing on this model's trademark since its introduction. The colour on our test model, called Grecian Water, is bright blue, which helps to bring out the vehicle's design elements.
The Lexus NX 350h's interior is refreshing, featuring the automaker's latest interior design. The steering wheel, gauge cluster and infotainment screen are a few of the new elements. The gauge cluster has been updated with a new 7-inch multi-information display, replacing the old setup that featured two physical gauges. While digital, the display has some drawbacks: it only offers a little more information than the previous system, such as a full-screen map, and its size is relatively small compared to rivals like Mercedes and BMW. The steering has been improved; it feels much nicer in the driver's hands, the buttons feel premium, and the red stitchings add a nice touch. Moving towards the middle, a welcome sight: Lexus has ditched the archaïc older 10.3-inch touchscreen for a larger and better 14-inch display. Another good news is that the remote touch interface (the touchpad) is no longer in the new Lexus NX; we hope it will be gone from the rest of the lineup soon! That said, while including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a nice touch, the lack of dedicated climate controls is a letdown. The only physical controls are the temperature knobs and two basic buttons. The heated/ventilated seat and steering wheel functions are integrated into the screen and automatically adjusted with the temperature for optimal comfort. Finally, we can give a good grade on the optional Mark Levinson 17-speaker sound system; it sounds pretty good and is a nice addition to the vehicle.
On a different note, as for the rest of the interior, the Lexus NX has added luxury-inspired door handles to open the door with an electronic release. You get used to it, and if you're stuck or the 12-volt battery is dead, you still have the mechanical release to get out of the car safely. The seats are comfortable, and size-wise, the NX is a compact SUV that can easily seat four adults, with the middle seat being better suited for kids. The amenities in the back include two USB-C ports, heated rear seats and climate vents. The ISOFIX ports are easily accessible and indicated on the seats, and the rear anchors are present, too. In the back, the cargo capacity is about what you can expect for a vehicle in the category. We also liked the netting present in our test model, which prevents the items in the trunk from rolling outside when you open the tailgate.
The Lexus NX has four different powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid variant, two gas-only engines and the tested regular hybrid. Under the hood, you will find a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine coupled to two different electric motors on each axle and a small 1.6kWh battery pack, bringing the total output to 240 hp and a 7.4 seconds 0-100 kph time. This vehicle has AWD-e due to the dual electric motors. Lexus' hybrids focus on comfort rather than sportiness, and the NX is no different. The eCVT works well and calmly. In Sport mode, the difference is barely noticeable acceleration-wise, and the engine sound is not enjoyable. The brakes are squishy, and the suspension absorbs the bumps pretty well while allowing some body roll, although nothing unusual for the segment. Overall, people choose the NX 350h primarily for its fuel economy, which is good but could be better. We averaged 6.8L/100km (34.6 mpg) during our test week, though on colder days, it was closer to 8.0L/100km (29.4 mpg). Unfortunately, the fuel efficiency didn't quite exceed the advertised figure of 6.0L/100km (47 mpg) combined.
The Lexus NX 350h Executive is a respectable offering in the segment. Although it isn't cheap, it costs at least $5,000 more than similar rivals; the NX is stylish, practical, and has some good technology. The powertrain could offer better efficiency and power; we recommend checking out the plug-in hybrid version with an announced 61 km range. Otherwise, the base engine in the NX 250 will be more than enough for most people. The NX is a capable, compact luxury SUV and a reliable choice.
Lexus has lent us this vehicle for one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Lexus Canada. The above reflects our personal opinion of the cars referred to above.
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