Attending to know the brand new Lexus NX
The final Lexus NX didn’t obtain glowing critiques from the automotive business – actually, it was fairly broadly panned for being a less-good, dearer model of a Toyota RAV4.
This new-gen one, although? It has been extensively lauded for its wise inside, luxurious appointments, fashionable powertrains and wow-factor exterior and inside design.
“Wow” was precisely what my companion mentioned when she first noticed it – however not in a great way. She mentioned she thought the grille was embarrassingly massive, and that it appeared prefer it was “designed by males, for males”.
Hmmm. Not off to begin together with her, then. However she quickly warmed to the NX – if to not its look.
One factor that appealed to her – and will enchantment to you, too – is the worth. The entry-grade hybrid model of the Lexus NX, the 350h Luxurious, has an inventory worth of $65,600 plus on-road prices… however that’s for the front-wheel drive mannequin. It’s in all probability all of the Lexus NX you really want.
Effectively, until you’re a ski bunny or dwell out within the bush, then the AWD may need a bit extra enchantment. That’s the model we now have – and it’s fitted with the Enhancement Pack, which pushes the checklist worth as much as $73,400 plus on-road prices.
So, it’s hardly going to be competing towards a Toyota RAV4 – essentially the most in-demand hybrid model of which is the Cruiser grade, which, when outfitted with the near-identical powertrain and AWD, is $48,750 plus on-roads.
The comparisons between the RAV4 and NX ought to actually finish there, although, as a result of the brand new, second-gen Lexus NX does greater than sufficient to face aside. The truth is, with this technology mannequin, Lexus deliberately got down to make it extra ‘Lexus’ and fewer ‘luxurious Toyota’.
A results of that’s the extra aggressive styling with that trademark (apparently relatively controversial) grille, the pinched LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels with relatively chubby 235/60-profile tyres (sadly, they’re runflats, so no spare within the boot), and the very enticing rear remedy, with a horizontal gentle bar spanning the tailgate.
I actually just like the look, and inside is simply as attention-grabbing.
There’s pink leather-based inside trim, which is gorgeous and in contrast to tan or white, it received’t present nasty marks from grubby youngsters fairly so simply. It’s fairly daring for a household SUV, and so is the almost-square media display screen show. I’ll have extra to say in regards to the usability of the multimedia system in subsequent month’s replace, however there’s Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, sat nav and digital radio.
The display screen additionally controls some points of the drive expertise, together with the lively lane-keeping help system, which I’ve taken to turning off each time I drive the automotive. I perceive this type of tech could be tremendous useful, however I discover the Lexus’s model to be overly interventional.
That’s definitely what I discovered when myself, my companion and our daughter took the Lexus for the primary of many street journeys in Could. We left the canine at their favorite kennel (there wasn’t sufficient room within the Lexus, and we didn’t plan to take them on this specific journey anyway!), and hit the street – first heading from our place within the decrease Blue Mountains to household in Goulburn, then from there onwards to Albury to go to pals.
The car was packed – we had our child seat, pram, a boot load of bags and the bub in her rearward-facing seat, and it was fairly darn tight. A lot tighter than my final long-term SUV, the Kia Sportage.
I attended the new-gen Subaru WRX launch occasion whereas within the border metropolis, and left the Lexus with Gemma to get round in. She had points, straight up.
First, the Apple CarPlay wouldn’t work for her. I’d observed it was hit-or-miss a few instances since amassing it, however she couldn’t get it to work together with her cellphone (which is similar as mine, utilizing the identical cable, so…?). That meant, secondly, she needed to depend on the built-in sat nav to get between the place we have been staying and our pals’ place – and it was laggy. She mentioned it will provide up the directions identical to, half a second behind the place you have been on the street. Which may imply the distinction between making a flip on the proper avenue, or the incorrect one.
Hardly deal-breakers, certain. However not nice. And she or he additionally didn’t just like the lane-keeping tech, and requested me the way to flip it off the following time she was driving it.
What she appreciated was that it feels very “pure” to drive – good steering, good dealing with, a cushty journey and it’s good and quiet, too. She appreciated that it’s silent at instances, with the battery powering the automotive alongside with out the necessity for the petrol engine.
I’ve loved watching the dwell powertrain graphic, seeing which a part of the drivetrain is heaving the automotive ahead. You’ll be able to anticipate to see the little inexperienced EV gentle shining pretty often, even on the freeway.
And whereas freeway driving was what we did most for this journey, we additionally had some city working round to take care of, and each of us have been impressed by the simple drive expertise on provide.
The journey residence was straightforward, and after 694km I topped up the tank for the primary time since I’d collected the automotive. It had used a median of 6.5L/100km, which I believed was fairly good. The official mixed cycle determine is 5.0L/100km.
From there it was onwards to residence, for extra errands, a run up and down the Blue Mountains with pals, a visit to the Sydney seaside suburbs and again, after which our first full month with the NX was over.
The second tank of gas noticed much less spectacular gas consumption of seven.1L/100km, however I attribute that to extra undulating terrain.
There was a 3rd tank throughout this primary month of attending to know the Lexus NX, after working but extra errands – a few journeys into town and again, buying runs and drives to see pals up the mountains as soon as extra. And fortunately for tank quantity three, I ended up with a return of 5.4L/100km.
I look ahead to seeing if I can get even nearer to that elusive official determine within the coming months.
Keep tuned to see how I fare – and in addition, subsequent replace I’ll offer you extra data on the inside, infotainment and connectivity of the new-gen NX.
Acquired: 28 April 2022
Distance travelled to date: 1343km
Odometer: 4369km
Common gas consumption to date: 6.3L/100km (measured on the pump)