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The Lexus NX has been at dealerships since October last year. It's been almost a year since this SUV was presented. A design that pleases or rather provokes? One thing is clear - a Lexus is always available in a hybrid drive variant. So also this NX. The 300X NX now had to undergo the my-auto-blog car test.
Rough face, fine manners
Lexus NX300 - the hybrid SUV in the driving report
The NX follows the mainstream stream's desire for a decent SUV. With its 4,63 meters, the SUV fits exactly into the class of Audi Q5, X3 and Mercedes GLC. And that's where the premium Japanese want to go too. Because for the less lifestyle-heavy customer, he has Toyota Group also the RAV 4 on offer. The coarsely cut NX, on the other hand, is the premium “way of drive”. And there is one thing that it definitely has ahead of the competition: as a hybrid SUV, with a standard consumption figure of around 5 liters, it beats its competitors by more than just the length of a beer mug.
Design using a geo triangle?
Visually, the Lexus goes its own way. With an oversized radiator grille, striking flanks with many acute angles and a more coupé-like silhouette, the SUV wants to impress with its emotional design in particular. The trunk volume hardly suffers from this. There are a good 555 liters that fit in there. Anyone who folds down the rear seat, which also works electrically for an extra charge, increases the trunk volume to around 1.600 liters. The loading area is not quite level, but this seems manageable for a car whose purpose is probably more the lifestyle than the hard use as a replacement for a transporter.
[one_half] [=”notification_mark” ]The basics:[star_list]
- Performance: 197 PS
- Consumption: 5.3l / 100km
- Base price: 52.800 €
[star_list]
- Infiniti FX
- BMW X3
- Listen Q5 and Mercedes GLC
buzz-buzz-ssssurrr
The drive train of the hybrid SUV consists of the already classic hybrid combination of the Japanese. For the SUV, a 155 hp 2,5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine is coupled via a continuously variable planetary gear with an electric motor that is also installed there. The electric engine delivers 105 kW or 143 hp. The NX 300h can be bought in two variants as a hybrid SUV friend. In principle, front-wheel drive is a possibility. However, our test car was a 4×4, because only then is such an SUV not exposed to ridicule in winter. The 4×4 version gets another electric motor with 55 kW. This sits in the rear and drives purely the rear axle. For trailer drivers, the 4×4 NX is the only possible choice. Because only the all-wheel drive is offered with a trailer hitch (max. 1.5 tons).
Rather incomprehensible the leveling of the system performance. Both 4 × 4 and 4 × 2 are specified with the same system output of 197 hp (145 kW).
The continuously variable planetary gear drives like a continuously variable transmission: it takes some getting used to. It is precisely this rubber band effect, this non-binding reaction, that makes the hybrid models so difficult to get used to. If you just glide along easily, you can come to terms with it more quickly, but beware of demanding performance more emphatically. Accelerate, engine speed roars, at some point the box pulls forward. For the average Joe on the German autobahn, this feeling of driving, which is often referred to as chewing gum or a rubber band, is the biggest problem. Because, theoretically, stepless automatics have an advantage, regardless of the technical solution implemented.
And even if the electric motors with the torque are early in the thing, you want to be fast forward, you depend on the petrol engine and makes his 210 Nm stupidly only between 4.200 and 4.400 revolutions. Zero on Tempo 100 takes a proud 9.2 seconds. And more than 180 km / h are not feasible due to the maximum transmission ratio in the powertrain.
Anyone who can break away from the hustle and bustle of the meritocracy drives a quiet boot with the NX 300h. Easy, calm and relaxed. Hybrid drive, lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
But the NX is also rather tight and sporty damped - this contradicts its drive character, but helps the SUV to be driven with ease.
Theoretically, 5.3 liters should be sufficient according to the standard. We have not been able to reduce consumption below 6.4 liters. But everyday life with 7 liters was problem-free. Sounds like “too much”, but if you consider the size, space and weight of the NX 300h, it is proof of the efficiency of the hybrid drive train. At the push of a button, 1-3 kilometers of purely electric crawl speed are possible.
The operation of the cockpit and the "finding your way around" is only a little complex for the NX newbie. You quickly get used to the operating logic and even the touchpad and the force feedback controller are a good interface for controlling multimedia and navigation after a few days. However, it is disappointing that the display is rather coarsely pixelated.
Efficiency:
[tabgroup] [tab title=”Everyday driver”]In everyday life, consumption values around 7.0 liters are feasible to 6.4 liters.[/tab] [tab title=”Without consideration”]Even in field service mode it remains below the 10.0 mark.[/tab] [/tabgroup]
Equipment and prices
Our test car came to the test as “F-Sport” and at € 52.800 you can definitely use the word “Premium”. But the test car had everything on board that makes life easier and more beautiful. It starts with the LED light, includes chic 18-inch alloy wheels, the useful reversing camera, a fine multimedia system including a Mark Levinson system, the adaptive cruise control, park beeper, electric seat adjustment, leather seats, an electric tailgate and also one Inductive charging cradle for your personal smartphone.
And finally ...
No, the Lexus NX 300h is not a cheap treat. And a plug-in hybrid variant could make the entire package even more attractive. But, like any other Lexus, the NX is a real premium alternative. A car for people who don't want to drive their third Audi, fourth Mercedes or fifth BMW on the road.
The vehicle registration for the Lexus NX 300h - F-Sport
| For sale: | in trading since Oct. 2014 |
| Base Price: | From 39.800 € |
| Engine performance: | 197 hp |
| Drive and transmission: | Stepless, planetary gear hybrid |
| Acceleration: | 9,2 seconds for 0-100 km / h |
| Consumption - combined: | 5,3 liters / 100 km NEDC standard |
| maximum speed: | 180 km/h |
| Length, width, height, wheelbase | 4.630, 1.850, 1.650, 2.660 mm |