First Drive: 2015 Lexus NX

Likes:

Edgy, dynamic styling is anything but bland
Well-designed interior is both modern and luxurious
Available hybrid powertrain should appeal to eco-conscious buyers

Dislikes:

New turbocharged engine somehow misses the oomph you’d expect from 235 hp
Exterior design is eye-catching, but lacks cohesion and looks a bit busy

Luxury crossovers are one of the hottest segments in the market, and smaller sized entry-level premium crossovers have become especially enticing for new car buyers. More practical than a sedan, and with the kind of features and performance befitting a luxury car, these little utes are being snapped up by young couples and single professionals in surprising numbers.

2015 Lexus NX 200t

Which makes it somewhat strange that Lexus hasn’t offered a compact crossover, especially given the dominance of the larger RX in the mid-sized segment. The new NX looks to fix this glaring omission, with the kind of styling and performance that Lexus hopes will surprise folks.

In designing the NX, the aim was to capture the same dynamic feel as the IS sports sedan. One look at the front of the car and you can’t miss the bold spindle grill and arrowhead shaped running lamps featured on the IS. Although it is loosely based on the RAV4 platform, the NX is 90 percent unique and features a turbocharged engine — a first for Lexus. Like with the IS, there is also an F Sport model that features a unique front fascia and distinctive interior accents.

Lexus NX 300h Hybrid interior

We were recently invited to Seattle, Washington to drive prototypes of the 3 versions of the 2015 NX. Although we only had a few hours behind the wheel, we were able to spend some time in the base NX200t, the F Sport, and the NX300h hybrid. First impressions are always a bit tricky, but what stood out is that Lexus has spent the time and resources to create a unique and competitive product.

Both the base NX200t and the NX200t F Sport models feature a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Output is a healthy 235 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. torque, with the torque coming on early at just 1650 rpm. The engine also features VVT-iw, which allows the engine to switch to the more efficient Atkinson cycle during low load situations. An all-new 6-speed automatic transmission designed to work with the turbocharged motor handles shifting duties, and AWD is available on both models.

Lexus NX 300h Hybrid – center console

Although the engine provides a decent amount of thrust, it lacked the kind of authoritative acceleration we’ve come to appreciate from similar small turbo motors. Part of the blame might be the 6-speed transmission, which is short a few cogs compared to the 8-speed autos offered on much of the competition, but Lexus insists that this is the optimum number of gears for this particular motor. While navigating afternoon traffic near downtown Seattle, we were a bit disappointed in the somewhat lackluster acceleration when trying to pass slower vehicles.

For the NX300h, Lexus is using the same hybrid powertrain as the ES300h, which is also used in the Toyota Camry and Avalon hybrids. This tried and true system works perfectly fine in the NX and should deliver mileage figures in the mid 30s when driven cautiously. Given the unspectacular performance of the NX200t, we would actually give the hybrid serious consideration, especially if we planned on using it for a longer commute.

2015 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid

All three models exhibit good road manners, although none will fool you into thinking you’re driving a sports sedan. Cornering grip is quite good, but push it too hard and the NX defaults to predictable understeer, with the front tires howling in protest. Given that few will buy such a car to practice their slalom skills, the NX is more than sporty enough, although we wish it had the handling chops to match the aggressive exterior design.

While the exterior design is borderline risqué with all of its sharp angles and creases, the interior hews to a more conservative approach, with an intuitive layout that is easy to navigate. Befitting the brand, craftmanship appears first rate, as does the quality of materials. About the only nit we would pick is with the center stack, of which the climate control display is tilted in such a way that makes it very hard to read in full sunlight. On the plus side, the Enform infotainment system does a decent job of integrating the various electronic systems through a standard 7-inch multimedia display. As expected, the NX can be optioned with the latest in technology and safety features, including blind spot monitor, lane departure alert, and radar cruise control.

Lexus NX 200t Enform 7-inch display screen

Pricing is currently unavailable, as the NX doesn’t hit dealers until later this fall. Given the level of competition in this segment, it’ll be interesting to see if the NX is able to make significant inroads. Lexus hopes to attract new customers, with a goal of 50% of buyers being new to Lexus. Unfortunately, there is some tough competition in the form of the Q5, X3, GLK350, and RDX. All of these small crossovers offer similar features and performance, but the NX is, surprisingly, the most visually distinctive of the bunch, and the only one available with a fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain.