Lexus NX (2021 - ) review

Lexus is Toyota’s premium brand, and that comes at a price. Which is reasonable enough even if NX doesn’t actually look that much more than the RAV4> on which it is based, though it’s difficult to compare like-for-like directly given the differing trim levels. That aside all NXs are hybrids combining a regular petrol engine with an electrified boost, the 350H perhaps better for private buyers given it’s a little cheaper upfront and doesn’t need plugging in, so is easier to live with. It’s a bit slower but you can now have the 350H with front-wheel drive only, which is cheaper to buy and a bit better on fuel. The NX 450H+, meanwhile, has much lower CO2 thanks to its bigger, plug-in battery and meaningful electric range, which could save you a packet if you’re running it as a company car with an eye to Benefit In Kind. The price increases by about 10 per cent compared with an equivalent 350H, but you could make that back in tax savings if the numbers work for you.

Between them Toyota and Lexus have made millions of hybrids, and made the most of their early lead with the technology to develop a proven and reliablecombination of petrol and electric power. Anecdotally Lexus dealers also have a great reputation for customer service, so in the rare event something does go wrong with your NX you’ll be in good hands. And while the standard warranty is nothing special at three years like parent brand Toyota you can extend this to up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if you commit to main dealer servicing on an annual basis.

Lexus offers tons of driver assistance tech as part of its Safety System Plus package, though it’s frustrating some of the genuinely useful stuff like blind spot monitoring and sensors to warn of passing traffic behind you are either reserved for higher trim levels or cost options on the lower ones. A problem on all modern cars, the constant bonging and chiming is also more of an annoyance than an aid, and borderline pointless when you inevitably lose track of what the sound is supposed to be warning you about. The speed limit detecting traffic sign recognition system is also a bit flaky, commonly getting road signs mixed up like when it picked up the 40 limit on an adjacent road when we were cruising along a 70-limited motorway. Cue more bonging…

Lexus makes a big noise about its cars not making very much noise at all, with a real focus on refinement and comfort in keeping with its premium position. Generally, this plays out in the NX, though the ride quality was surprisingly harsh at lower speeds and there was more tyre roar than we’d have expected for a car of this quality. Some models have adjustable suspension, which may help. But we’d be careful about going for any of the bigger wheel options. If you want a practical car for knockabout family use or carrying the dogs around a mechanically similar RAV4 is probably more appropriate than the posher Lexus but there’s still plenty of space front and back and – generally – a mature sense of serenity that’s all rather soothing. The hybrid system plays a big part here, the brand’s long experience with the tech meaning the engine and motors just purr away quietly in the background in a way that makes long journeys just fly by.

Lexus has made big strides with its interior design and tech recently, thankfully moving away from its previous laptop touchpad style control to a more conventional screen interface. It’s kept physical buttons for some of the more important features, though, which we appreciate. While you can pair your phone and use your apps the ‘native’ graphics and operating system aren’t as snazzy as those in German rivals like BMW, Mercedes or Audi, though, and if you like your tech the big vertical screens in Volvos, Teslas and Fords have a more contemporary feel. You also need to upgrade to at least the Premium Plus pack to get the bigger of the screen options as well. A pattern repeated in things like interior trim, which only really starts to feel special and worthy of Lexus’s premium image as you reach the higher trim levels. Meaning you might have to reach a little deeper into your pocket still.

Toyota and Lexus have been portrayed as being a little slow embracing full electric power, something the conspiracy theorists put down to them betting the farm on hybrids. While you can now get a fully battery powered Lexus in the shape of the RZ 450e this NX is more trad Lexus, with regular 350H and plug-in 450H+ options. The latter has an additional rear motor for a form of all-wheel drive, which is also an option on the 350H, which is what we tried. It’s a very easy system to appreciate as well, explaining the ‘Best Hybrid Car’ accolade owners gave it in the Auto Trader New Car Awards. The fact you don’t have to worry about plugging the 350H in removes a level of faff, and where some rivals bewilder with their driving modes and other settings Lexus keeps it simple and leaves the black boxes to figure out the fastest and most efficient combination of petrol and electric power. Which is just fine by us. True, there are faster cars out there by the numbers and the plug-in 450H+ has more grunt. But the chilled power delivery has performance where you need it, and we appreciated the NX’s generally relaxed driving manners and overall efficiency.