Lexus singlehandedly invented the luxury crossover segment in 1998 with the mid-size RX, but now it is playing catchup among the burgeoning breed of premium small crossovers with the all-new 2015 Lexus NX. As a growing number of luxury automakers scale down into the compact and subcompact utility vehicle markets, the NX follows suit with a level of styling and technology that will not only stand out among its competitors but also in Lexus showrooms.
When the 2015 Lexus NX goes on sale by the end of this year, Lexus expects that almost half of the units sold will come from buyers new to the Lexus brand, and with sales expected to be in the 360,000 per year range, the NX will be one heck of a luxury crossover gateway drug. To see how this new Lexus stacks up in a segment that seems to get more crowded each year, we recently had the chance to drive the NX both as the sporty-ish NX 200t and the hybrid-powered NX 300h.
In terms of size, the 2015 Lexus NX competes against the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, BMW X3 and Audi Q5, but its styling has it positioned against more expressive vehicles like the
BMW X4. Looking almost identical to the Lexus LF-NX Concept that was revealed last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the razor-edge lines of the production NX crossover make it an instant eye catcher, albeit quite polarizing. Although the eyes are instantly drawn to the NX’s face, it’s hard to get past the height impression Lexus engineers were going for with this design.
The height-enhancing visual cues include the tall hood and beltline, rising side body creases and the black plastic trim around the wheel arches. With 6.9 inches (175 mm) of ground clearance, the NX does have a sufficient ride height, but these cues help augment the CUV’s stance. Between this taller appearance and the more compact proportions, the Lexus NX is arguably the best-looking applications of Lexus’ current design language – including the upcoming RC coupe and its Barbara Streisand-like nose.
Everywhere you look on the NX’s body is some sort of added depth and dimension that really makes the overall styling more impressive. These 3D elements include the vertical slats in the front fascia, the triangular crease in the rocker panels and the LED taillights, which actually reach out from the body.
The 2015 Lexus NX is offered in three essential models – NX 200t, NX 200t F Sport and NX 300h – with each getting distinctive features. The hybrid gets the obvious blue badging and the NX 200t uses chrome exhaust outlets that Lexus says were inspired by motorcycles, but it’s the F Sport that brings the more dynamic look with the imposing grille, black mirror caps and the exclusive wheels.
During the presentation, Lexus said that it had four target areas for the NX: premium, urban, sport and gear. In non-marketing speak, it just means that it was going for a luxurious, small-statured/modern, fun-to-drive vehicle with plenty of room. Lexus definitely nailed the first three aspects with plenty of luxury and a hip, sporty styling, but if you’re aiming to haul a lot of gear, you might want to look elsewhere.
The interior styling and luxury might be the NX’s strongest suits with a bold design that matches the exterior.
Like the spindle grille, once inside the NX, the eyes are immediately drawn to the center stack, which uses a similar metallic hourglass trim. Carrying over the 3D look from the outside, the cabin of the NX features dark umber trim that rises out of the door panels and instrument panel, while the instrument panel itself has a wave-like, two-tier shape. This two-tier design makes access to the
HVAC controls simple, but the audio buttons are a bit trickier to reach on the fly.
In standard form, the Lexus NX uses a leather-like seating NuLuxe, although genuine leather is offered with the Luxury Package. This test model came with optional features like navigation, Intuitive Parking Assist and the Premium Package that brings heated and cooled front seats as well as a moonroof and 18-inch wheels.
After spending time behind the wheel of the 2015 Lexus NX, there was plenty of space for driver and front passenger, but the rear seat, unsurprisingly, wasn't as generous. As is the case with just about any modern vehicle with this much style, the extroverted body lines and window openings lead to obvious limitations in interior space and outward visibility. The visibility wasn’t too much of an issue on this model as it came with the option Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert; a backup camera is standard on all NX models.
Passenger space aside, the biggest disappointment overall for the NX is its cargo capacity. The hybrid model offers just 16.8 cubic feet (476 liters) of space with the rear seats in place and 53.7 cubic feet (1,520 liters) when you fold the rear seats down. Speaking of folding the seats down, it requires removal of the headrests, although we didn’t have the chance to test the optional automatic folding rear seat feature.
For comparison, the Toyota RAV4 (which rides on the same 104.7-inch /2,659 mm wheelbase and is about three inches / 76mm shorter) offers more than double the amount of cargo space behind the second-row seats, and there is more headroom and legroom; oddly enough, though, the NX delivers far more hip room than the RAV4. The limited rear seat space and cargo capacity could end up being the deciding factor for certain potential NX buyers. Even so, the Lexus NX's interior dimensions show that this is not only more spacious than the BMW X4, but also manages to outperform the X3, while falling behind the Audi Q5.
Fitting in with recent Lexus introductions, the 2015 Lexus NX delivers a surprising amount of technology. Just for starters, all NX models come with free HD weather and traffic for life as well as the Lexus Enform Safety Connect, which is free for the first year. Lexus now offers additional levels of Enform like Remote (allowing remote functions via a smartphone) and Destination Services.
From the driver’s seat, the NX comes with a full-color, 4.2-inch thin film transistor display screen, and like the
Lexus CT, the left gauge in the NX 300h’s instrument cluster is a charge/eco/power meter in most drive modes, but instantly brings a racier look when the Sport mode is chosen.
Some of the more key tech features introduced on the NX, though, include the next-gen Lexus Remote Touch Interface. Replacing the previous mouse-like control, the new RTI comes with a touch pad that features similar operation to a standard smartphone with slide, pinch-to-zoom and flick features, and to choose an on-screen option, you just push down on the pad.
Despite the useful haptic feedback, it still took a few minutes to get the hang of using the new system, but it is a big improvement over the previous design. More tech features include an optional wireless charging tray inside the center console and a radar-based adaptive cruise control system.
Those not interested in the hybrid will be especially pleased when opting for the NX 200t F Sport.
Not only does this model come with more supportive sport bucket seats and a cooler instrument cluster with a turbo boost gauge and a g-force meter, but it also includes the driver-controllable Active Sound Control system. Like BMW, the NX’s
ASC provides a sportier engine sound when activated. When you get heavy on the throttle, you can definitely tell the difference between when this system is active or not.
When it’s off, the NX sounds like your run-of-the-mill four-pot CUV, but with the faux engine noise piped in through a dedicated speaker, you’d be hard-pressed to convince your passenger that you’re not dealing with a V6. Overall, it’s an excellent feature in theory, but the execution is mediocre. Instead of the hard-to-reach dial buried between the steering column and the center stack, this system would have been much more useful if it automatically engaged when Sport mode was activated.
Optimal performance from the 2015 Lexus NX lineup will come from the NX 200t with its 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder producing 235 hp (175
kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) paired to a six-speed automatic. Gift your car with Dynamic Torque
AWD and you'll receive a
FWD-biased all-wheel drive that can send up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. but we spent most of our time behind the wheel of the more fuel-efficient NX 300h hybrid. Toyota all but owns the market for hybrids, and it’s easy to see why after driving the NX 300h.
This model mates a 154-hp (114 kW) 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder with a 141 hp (105 kW) electric motor equating to a total system output of 194 hp (145 kW), which is sent to the front wheels using a continuously variable transmission. All-wheel drive is optional on the NX 300h, but even so, there is no mechanical connection to the rear wheels using electric motors instead. In this configuration, there is no mistaking the NX for anything sporty with a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of more than 9 seconds, which is about three seconds slower than the turbo.
Obviously, the hybrid isn’t for performance, though, it’s for fuel economy, and while Lexus has yet to release official EPA figures, it has expectations of around 33 mpg (7.1 l/100 km) city, 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) highway and 32 mpg (7.35 l/100 km) combined for the all-wheel-drive model.
Not only are these considerable gains over the comparable AWD NX 200t (21/28/24 mpg), we found them to be a bit conservative as we averaged about 34.5 mpg (6.8 l/100km) in combined driving through the hilly back roads surrounding Nashville, TN.
In this configuration, the NX has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kg), while the max towing for the 2015 NX comes from the NX200t equipped with the Luxury Package, which bumps towing capacity up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg). As an automaker, Toyota has made a science out of platform sharing, but the NX is more just than a fancy Toyota RAV4. Lexus says that the NX uses a heavily modified RAV4 chassis (“loosely based” as Lexus puts it) with 90 percent new parts and 20 percent more rigid, which is instantly obvious out on the open road. Where the RAV4 and even the RX are conservative appliances in their respective segments (and a key reason why they are top sellers in their classes as well), the NX brings a passion that Toyota definitely needs to exhibit more often.
For a compact hybrid crossover, the NX has impressive steering response, but like most hybrids, the brakes are the weakest link. The squishy noise from the brake pedal and the mushy response were obvious along the twistier sections of road. Fortunately, the stopping feel of the NX 200t was pleasing.
You’re certainly not going to mistake the NX for a Q5 or X3, but this hybrid model was surprisingly nimble and tossable.
That conclusion stands even with its 4,180-pound (1,896 kg) curb weight. Lexus helped ensure this by giving the NX a solid structure through the abundant use of high-strength steel, additional body and chassis spot welds and body adhesive.
The on-sale dates for the US market have been set for 18th of November if you live on the West Coast and 26th the same month if you’ll buy it from the East Coast.
Not surprisingly at all, the 2015 Lexus NX 200t base model with FWD will be around 4 grand cheaper than the entry-level BMW X3, getting a price tag of $34,480 (without the $950 destination charge) and coming with standard features like leatherette seats, remote keyless entry, cruise control, electric power steering, dual zone climate control, electric mirrors, Bluetooth connectivity, emergency braking assist, LED daytime running lights and more.
The AWD 200t will come at $35,880, while the hybrid NX 300h, which too can be had in both front- or all-wheel-drive, comes at $39,720 and $41,310 accordingly.
As for the European market, the order books for the NX are already open, with the vehicle landing in October. That is when the NX 300h arrives, whereas 200t buyers have to wait until February or March 2015, depending on the market.
In the UK, the OTR (on the road) prices for the hybrid range between GBP 24,495 and GBP 42,995, creating an attractive financial advantage when compared to its German rivals. Speaking of the Germans, the entry-level NX 300h there starts at €39,800 (including 19% VAT) and goes as much as €52,800 for the F Sport version.
Regardless of how much the 2015 Lexus NX costs, this model definitely puts some heat on its luxury crossover competition. Like recent new products such as the 2013 Lexus GS and 2014
Lexus IS, the premium Japanese carmaker is trying to change its image, and it accomplishes this in dramatic fashion with the NX. Although it is fashionably late to the premium small CUV party and it has a few shortcomings that might discourage the traditional Lexus buyer, the combination of its edgy styling and the peppy yet efficient powertrains, Lexus is making up for lost time with the NX by launching it in 80-plus markets.