Lexus NX350h Review: A Worthy Alternative To The Germans?

It is difficult to stand out from the German luxury car crowd. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes produce such good all-rounders that for any other brand to stand up to their might becomes a really difficult task. But one such manufacturer which has the capability to do that is Lexus. And with the new NX, they have made an SUV that at least on paper really stands out. It feels distinctive in all departments, be it powertrain or interior or even styling. But does the NX get the formula right to overcome rivals like the BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, and the Audi Q5?

Looks to Kill

According to me, the Lexus NX is the best-looking car in the segment. It has the right amount of muscle, elegance, and Japanese flair. Up front, the spindle grille is bigger than ever and it also gets a dark grey finish which makes it look more purposeful and sporty. The sharp LED headlamps too look classy and the sharply cut front bumper does grab eyeballs for sure. From the back, the NX looks fantastic with the stylish tail lamps and I also love the way the LED strip runs across the boot lid. In profile, the new NX looks sporty, with the right amount of sharp creases and muscle. In terms of size, the NX is larger than the outgoing car in every direction, which should give it more interior space. Also, it weighs in between 1790-1870kg, which is great for a full-fledged hybrid.

If you want an even sportier-looking NX then you can go for the F Sport variant which gives you sharper-looking 20-inch alloy wheels, chiselled bumpers, and black colour for your grille, wheels, and roof rails. With the F Sport, you also get adaptive dampers which promises a nicer drive experience.

Plush Insides

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Like on the outside, even the interior of the NX wows you. The dash design is modern with the massive 14-inch touchscreen system taking centre stage. This infotainment system has a high-resolution screen and the large icons make it easy to use. The whole centre console is heavily tilted towards the driver, which gives you the feeling of sitting inside an airline cockpit. Important controls fall to hand easily too, which makes getting used to the cabin easy.

Except for the plastics in the lower half of the cabin, Lexus has either used soft-touch materials or leather which makes the NX feel expensive and luxurious. Attention to detail is exquisite too, as all the knobs and switches feel robust and sophisticated in the way they operate. Even the motors for the power windows and the panoramic sunroof are extremely powerful, as their operation is extremely fast and silent.

The NX is feature-loaded too and is equipped with eight airbags, ESP, LED headlamps, panoramic sunroof, powered front seats with memory, cooled front seats, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera. Just like in other Lexus cars, you get a fantastic sounding Mark Levinson sound system that has a pleasing output and never distorts even at high volumes. Apart from the long list of equipment, you can also choose from several exterior and interior colour combinations in the NX350h.

As far as comfort is concerned, the front seats are one of the best we have experienced in recent memory. They have the right mix of suppleness and lateral support, and finding an ideal driving position is easy thanks to the long range of seat and steering adjustments.

The rear seat is roomy enough to accommodate even tall people and also wide enough to accommodate three in reasonable comfort. But there is a big hump in the middle of the backbench that results in compromised headroom for the centre passenger.

The boot at 520 litres is slightly smaller as compared to its rivals but the bay itself is well shaped, which makes loading and placing luggage easy. Unfortunately, you don't get a spare wheel in the NX. Yes, you do get run-flat tyres but given our road conditions, even a space-saver spare wheel would have been welcomed.

Relaxed Operator

Like with almost all Lexus cars, the NX350h is powered by a hybrid motor. Primary power comes from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol motor which makes 190PS. It is coupled to dual electric motors, one under the hood that primarily handles charging and the other in the rear differential to help drive the wheels. The rear-mounted motor works in tandem with the petrol motor to produce a combined 244PS.

Start the NX350h, and it feels like you are driving an EV as there is no sound of the engine cranking. As soon as you step a little hard on the accelerator the petrol motor comes to life and the NX350h moves ahead with minimal effort. The refinement is remarkable and when driven in EV mode only, the NX350h truly defies logic as there is no noise whatsoever. The petrol motor is a gem and the way Lexus has blended it with the electric motors is truly commendable. The transition from EV to hybrid power is seamless and at slow speeds in Eco mode, the NX is relaxing to drive as the CVT gearbox never jerks or sends extra power to the wheels than anticipated. Drive faster too and the NX feels quick enough but the throttle does feel a bit spongy in Eco mode. Normal mode feels the best, as it still retains a smooth character and there is a lot more enthusiasm from the powertrain and gearbox.

The NX350h’s CVT transmission gets preset ratios which you control through the paddle-shifters. Although this drive mode works well at moderate throttle inputs, anything more and the CVT gearbox merely holds the engine at high rpm. So overall the NX does feel quick but the slipping-feel characteristic of the CVT is not very energetic, nor is it very satisfying when you’re trying to hustle. The NX350h is much better suited to cruising or stretching a litre of fuel.

Drive the NX in a sedate manner and you will enjoy it. The steering is precise and has a fluid action. Long sweeping bends is where the NX feels the best as it shows good stability and composure. What limits its handling prowess however are the low resistance tyres which tend to squeal at the slightest hint of hard driving. The ride, on the other hand, is forgiving, comfortable, and well-judged. The suspension does a good job of insulating the passengers from the surroundings as it functions in a silent manner. A patch of heavily rutted road does catch it out though. The F Sport variant of the car comes with adaptive dampers for better driving manners but unfortunately, we just drove the Luxury variant which doesn't get this tech.

Verdict

The NX is priced in between Rs 64.9 lakh- 71.60 lakh ex-showroom, which makes it slightly more expensive than its German rivals. It also doesn’t feel as sporty nor does it have their wide sales and service network.

It is also not as fun to drive as a BMW X3 and its ride isn't as comfortable as an Audi Q5. But overall, as a package, it does feel special in a very different way. It looks gorgeous, has a beautifully crafted cabin, efficient powertrain, a comfortable ride, and easy-to-drive characteristics.