LEXUS NX
With its hybrid power and edgy, new-age styling, the Lexus NX is a standout compact SUV.
When you first see a Lexus NX, it takes you back a little bit. Its shapes, creases and angles call to mind a piece of origami. It is dramatic, beautiful and sporty all at once. It’s hard to believe that this design will be 5-years old this year, such is the impact that it makes and the ageless quality of the work from Lexus’s design department.
While facelifted in 2017, the NX is still very much the car that was upon its initial release in terms of looks and technology, though recently it has scrapped petrol-only power to offer only hybrid technology as the option – Lexus does not use diesel in any of its creations.
The hybrid unit is something very impressive though, a combination of a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo engine and a battery pack, producing no more than 194bhp at any given time. Both two- and four-wheel drive models are available, and the latter gets an extra electric motor for the rear wheels. At its most efficient, the NX pushes out just 116g/km of CO2, while being capable of 56.5mpg on a combined cycle.
Trim levels are pretty interested at Lexus, with the NX available in 6 different stages - S, SE, Sport, Luxury, F Sport and Premier. This is rather a lot, but to Lexus’s credit, the firm keeps a very short options list and encourages customers to select the trim level that suits them best, rather than racking up options into the £x,000’s – something that’s very easy to do with other brands.
All NX models get impressive levels of equipment, even the entry level S gets adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, DAB digital radio and Bluetooth as standard. At SE level, heated seats and automatic lights and wipers are added, as well as the option of all-wheel drive, while Luxury level and above comes with leather upholstery and keyless entry.
A truly impressive SUV that really stands out from the crowd, this luxury hybrid Lexus NX is something quite special, showing a very Japanese character and huge confidence in its design and engineering.