Lexus NX review - prices, specs and 0-60 time
Distinctive and beautifully made, but no good to drive
evo Verdict
The Lexus NX offers premium compact SUV buyers a stylish, beautifully built alternative to the dominant German players and Land Rover's duo. It's a top-quality piece of kit, with the promise of rock-bottom tax costs and one of the best ownership experiences on the market from a remarkable dealer network.
However, all of that is tempered by the complete lack of driver interaction and Lexus' determination not to develop a diesel engine. The hybrid model works well in an urban setting, but it can't come close to the official economy figures away from that and while the petrol-only NX 200t has a more satisfying powertrain, its chassis is unresolved, meaning it has even more limited appeal than it would have had.
evo Tip
When buying a high quality product like the Lexus NX it's tempting to tick all the (expensive) options, enjoy them for a few years and hope they'll be worth something when it comes time to sell the thing. One such item is satellite navigation, but be wary of going for the more expensive Premium Navigation, as it brings with it the Remote Touch Interface, supposedly an upgrade to the infotainment interface. It's a disaster though, giving the driver a fiddly touch-sensitive finger pad in place of the perfectly good rotary control.
evo Comment
When evo laments the lack of a diesel engine in a car you know that times have changed. But that’s how it is with the Lexus NX SUV. The 300h hybrid is a perfectly fine car for driving around town or a life in the city, but every one of the diesel alternatives is more satisfying to drive on the open road and also realistically more economical at a fast motorway cruise. Sure there's a relatively rapid petrol option in the NX, but few British buyers have a taste for such things, and those that do are already well-served by far more dynamically accomplished alternatives from Audi, BMW and Land Rover - even if the Lexus is well-priced.
