Driving report: Lexus NX 350h F Sport AWD

Even if the new Lexus NX has a lot of its own, there is still every reason to feel comfortable in its premium interior. The spoiled with comfort and a lot of new Top-Ttechnology

Lexus is still exotic for many German car customers. In addition, the Toyota subsidiary many things a little different than that Premium competition the domestic manufacturer. This is also the case in the comprehensively modernized new edition of the NX SUV model, which has been decisively improved in several respects. And that's exactly why the Japanese is recommended more than ever as an interesting alternative to the Q5, X3 and GLC.

Like the first NX generation, the new edition introduced at the end of 2021 is characterized by a self-confident and polarizing appearance. The 4,66 meter long SUV has retained its striking radiator grille and the idiosyncratic beading. But despite the similarities to its predecessor, the car looks more pleasing, modern and classy than before.

Review: Lexus NX 350h F Sport AWD
The quality of the interior impression is impressive

This applies once again to the completely redesigned cockpit. The premium claim of the brand is underlined by the many high-quality materials that have been used here layer by layer. This car affords no optical and haptic weak points. Thanks to excellent insulation, no acoustic ones either. As usual with Lexus, you only feel a little walled in in this premium cocoon, which is also due to the 14-inch widescreen of the infotainment system. The large screen also marks a major advantage of the new NX, because Lexus dispenses with the previously rather cumbersome pad cursor operation. The new touchscreen is not only large, it is also characterized by a classy-looking glass surface, fine graphics and very fast response times. As is usual with complex infotainment solutions, you have to look for some functions with difficulty. It is much easier to use the "Hey Lexus“ activated voice control. Finally someone listens and obeys every word. And not just in any way, but sovereign, precise and thus in a way that makes everyday driving a lot easier.

Review: Lexus NX 350h F Sport AWD
With its new infotainment system, the new NX is up to date

The operating logic, which is hidden behind two large buttons on the steering wheel, is also interesting. They can be used to control functions from the audio system or distance cruise control. However, not always in a direct way, because certain settings are hidden behind a menu structure that is available to the driver in the Head-Up Display is shown. This takes a little getting used to at first, but works very well in the case of cruise control.

Smartphones can also be connected quickly and reliably, and Android Auto functions can be used without any problems. Of course, the NX is connected to the Internet, which results in many useful additions such as real-time traffic information. If you play your music from your cell phone, which can also suck power wirelessly from a charging cradle, you may find that the optional audio system from Mark Levison gives the songs depth of sound. The premium sound solution does not show off with wattage and booming bass, but rather with staging some otherwise hidden subtleties of the music in a more differentiated way. Some instruments can be heard in the NX in amazing new ways.

Review: Lexus NX 350h F Sport AWD
The grille of the Lexus NX is probably the most concise element of its certainly not boring design

They can also amaze Door opener trigger. There is a small lever in the door, but you don't have to pull it, you have to push it. E-Latch is the name of this electromechanical solution. If you want to get out, you just have to hold it down with your thumb to unlock it. Since the door opening is linked to the blind spot warning system, unlocking is prevented if a cyclist approaches from behind. So-called dooring accidents, often caused by careless children, are a thing of the past.

Speaking of children: the NX is suitable for families. The space for four to five people is fine, the classic variable trunk can grow from 545 to 1.436 liters.
In the case of the 350h, it is a typical full hybrid drive from the Japanese that combines a 2,5-liter petrol engine with two electric motors that together mobilize up to 170 kW/244 hp. This takes you to 8 km/h in under 100 seconds, but the maximum is reached at 200 km/h. Overall, the hybrid with CVT transmission encourages a relaxed pace, which is also often silent in city traffic because it is electric. The system always supplies itself with self-generated electricity via recuperation, which then helps to reduce fuel consumption when accelerating. If you put your mind to it, you will get by with a value of around 5 liters in urban areas. Really modest for a 1,8-ton truck with automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. If you are mainly driving on the freeway, there is not much left over from the savings effect of the hybrid drive. But even the 7,2 liters we measured are a pleasingly low value.

Review: Lexus NX 350h F Sport AWD
Still a face in the crowd: Lexus NX 350h

You can't complain about the chassis either. Our version F Sport with a sportier one suspension tuning was certainly not too spongy. But unlike the equipment name suggests, you don't experience the Lexus as sporty even then.

The prices, on the other hand, are sporty. Even the basic version of the NX 350h AWD costs around 49.000 euros. With F-Sport equipment is 66.700 euros. However, it will not be much more expensive even for equipment fetishists, because for this version there is only a glass panorama roof and the Mark Levinson sound, which is recommended for audio fans, to choose from. If both are ticked, you stay just under 70.000 euros. In return, there is a lot of car, equipment and technology. For the money, however, you can also get purely electrically powered SUVs of the same format from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Lexus NX 350h AWD Specifications:

Four-door SUV with all-wheel drive, length: 4,66 meters, width: 1,87 meters, height: 1,66 meters, wheelbase: 2,69 meters, trunk volume: 545 to 1.436 liters

2,5 liter hybrid, continuously variable transmission, system output 179 kW/244 hp at 6.000 rpm, maximum torque: 239 Nm at 4.300 - 4.500 rpm, 0-100 km/h: 7,7 sec., Vmax : 200 km/h, average consumption according to WLTP: 5,9 - 6,4 l/100 km, CO2 emissions: 133-146 /km, emission standard: Euro 6d, efficiency class A+, price: from 48.990 euros

In brief

Why: exemplary workmanship and equipment, quiet, comfortable, networked

Why not: because there are now many purely electrically powered alternatives

What else: BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, Jaguar E-Pace

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