Item: Lexus NX
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The plug-in hybrid version of the Lexus NX can officially do up to 43 miles on pure battery power, before its 2.5-litre petrol engine takes over until you plug the car in again. Acceleration is surprisingly nippy, with 0-62mph taking 6.3 seconds.

450h+ 2.5

Estate

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

On the face of it, the cheapest Premium Pack model would seem to make the most sense. It gets plenty of standard equipment, including 18in alloys, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and artificial leather seats. The only caveat is that it comes with different suspension to the F-Sport version we’ve tried.

450h+ 2.5 5dr E-CVT [Premium Pack]

450h-25-5dr-e-cvt-premium-pack

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Lexus NX certainly isn’t the cheapest plug-in hybrid large SUV you can buy, but it’s reasonably priced compared with its premium-badged rivals. Its starting price undercuts those of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> TFSIe and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> xDrive30e, for example.

On the face of it, the cheapest Premium Pack model would seem to make the most sense. It gets plenty of standard equipment, including 18in alloys, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and artificial&nbsp;leather seats. The only caveat is that it doesn't have the same suspension as&nbsp;the F-Sport version we’ve tried.

Range-topping Takumi models certainly wouldn’t get our recommendation, though. Yes, they come with loads of luxuries, including ventilated leather seats, a sunroof and the 14in touchscreen infotainment system – but they push the price too close to that of altogether larger plug-in hybrid SUVs, including the seven-seat <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.

If you’re a company car driver paying benefit-in-kind tax, the NX will really appeal. Its low CO2 emissions combined with the fact it can officially do more than 40 miles on battery power means you’ll pay <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">company car tax</a> at just 7%. That’s a lot more than the 1% you’ll pay on a pure electric car, but a fraction of the 11-13% you’ll be charged on an Q5 TFSIe or X3 xDrive30e.

As for charging up the battery, this can be done at a rate of up to 6.6kW – roughly the same power you’ll get from a typical wallbox installed at your home. This means a 0-100% charge takes around 2hrs 45min, a lot less time than it takes to charge a plug-in Volvo XC60 or BMW X3. Those rivals can accept only 3.7kW of charging power.

Reliability is arguably the biggest reason to choose a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a>&nbsp;though. The brand finished top in the 2021 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> with excellent scores for all its models. That survey didn’t include the latest NX, but there’s no reason to expect a dip in form.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/top-10-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n20301">Euro NCAP</a> hadn’t finished its safety appraisal of the NX at the time of writing, but you certainly get lots of kit to help you avoid an accident. Automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition are standard across the range, with more safety aids on Takumi models or available as an option on the F-Sport.

When its&nbsp;battery is charged up, the Lexus NX plug-in hybrid operates just like a fully electric car. That means smooth, quiet and fairly nippy acceleration up to motorway speeds and beyond.

Indeed, the NX can run on battery power alone at speeds of up to 83mph. The petrol engine is summoned into life only if you use the very lowest reaches of the accelerator petrol – when you need to do a quick overtake on a country road, for example, or you want to match the official 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds.

Officially, the NX can do up to 43 electric-only miles, which is more than promised by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> 50 TFSIe and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> xDrive30e. Of course, you won’t actually manage 43 miles in real-world driving, but 30-35 miles should be achievable as long as you take it easy and the weather isn’t too chilly. That’s enough to cover most commutes.

When the battery runs flat, the 2.5-litre petrol engine fires into life. You can hear this happening and you’ll notice a small amount of vibration through the seat, although that’s mainly because of the contrast with full electric mode. It’s only when you put your foot down hard that it become a bit raucous.

By hybrid standards, the brakes are reassuringly predictable. When you push the pedal, the car slows in a linear manner, without the grabbiness that afflicts some hybrids and electric cars.

The only version we’ve driven so far was an F-Sport model. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> gives you adaptive sports suspension and chunky 20in alloys as standard with all F-Sports, but the ride is surprisingly comfortable at low speeds. Even potholes don’t cause it to lose its composure and send jolts through your backside.

It's not as&nbsp;impressive at motorway speeds – the NX jostles you around continually, almost as though you're sitting on a washing machine during a slow spin cycle. The experience isn’t overly irritating, but the Q5 TFSIe is far more settled at faster speeds.

The&nbsp;NX's cornering abilities are more than good enough. This isn’t a fun and sporty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUV</a>&nbsp;but it does grip&nbsp;the road well and there's not&nbsp;much body lean through corners. The steering is precise and the weighting is natural and consistent enough to give you confidence on a winding road. Overall, the NX is closer in ethos to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60</a> than the sharper X3.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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350h 2.5

350h-25

OUR PICK

450h-25

Believe it or not, the latest Lexus NX&nbsp;is the first plug-in hybrid model in the Japanese car maker’s 30-odd-year history.

It’s surprising not only because the premium brands <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> competes against have sold plug-in hybrids for years, but also because the company was a trailblazer for ‘self-charging’ hybrid technology back in the mid-Noughties. If you're not&nbsp;quite clear on the difference, let us explain.

‘Self-charging’ hybrids have small batteries that are charged up using energy that would otherwise be wasted (i.e. when slowing down) so it can be used to drive an electric motor to assist the petrol engine, cutting fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.&nbsp;The electric bits can’t, on their own, drive the car along for more than a few hundred yards.

A plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, has a much bigger battery and can effectively function as a pure electric car for a limited time. The catch is that, as the name suggests, you need to plug it in to charge up – otherwise it turns into a petrol car lugging around a heavy battery and electric motor.

A regular or ‘self-charging’ hybrid version of the Lexus NX will also be offered, although it’s coming later and we haven’t tried it yet.

So, is Lexus’s first plug-in hybrid a good one? Well, the numbers would suggest so because it has an official electric range of more than 40 miles. That’s better than promised by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUV</a> rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> TFSIe and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> xDrive30e, and qualifies the Lexus NX for cheaper company car tax as a result. The NX can also charge up faster than both of those German models at speeds of up to 6.6kW.

But while numbers are undoubtedly very important for any plug-in hybrid, the Lexus NX needs to be a good car in other respects. Among other things, it needs to be comfortable, refined, practical and well built, and over the next few pages of this review we’ll tell you how good&nbsp;it really is.

When you’ve finished reading our review, we can help you find your next new car for the lowest price available if you search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It's a great&nbsp;place to find the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus/nx/estate/deals">Lexus NX deals</a>.

The driving position in the Lexus NX is excellent, with comfortable electrically adjustable front seats fitted to all models. You don’t even have to worry about expending any energy moving the steering wheel to where you want it because that job is taken care of electrically, too.

The seats are trimmed in artificial&nbsp;leather if you go for the cheapest Premium Pack model, with genuine leather used in F-Sport and Takumi versions. As for the rest of the interior, it feels really well put together, with lots of soft-touch plastic on the dashboard and the insides of the doors. It’s only a few minor details, such as the faux leather stitched panels next to the gearlever, that stop the NX outdoing the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> for overall plushness.

We’ve given <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> some flack in the past for its overly complicated infotainment systems. Thankfully, the NX has a much more intuitive system that won’t leave you tearing your hair out.

It's a touchscreen – measuring 9.8in with the Premium Pack and 14in on other trims – so it's more distracting than the rotary controller interface in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>. However, on the larger screen we’ve tried, the icons are well spaced out and the screen responds quickly to prods. It’s certainly better than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60</a> system.

Importantly, you don’t need to use the touchscreen to adjust the interior temperature – there are some good old-fashioned dials for that.&nbsp;

All models come with smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android phones, along with a four-year subscription for Lexus’s online services. Takumi versions have a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system – worth considering if you love music.

A fine all-rounder and the best car Lexus has launched for years

As the Lexus NX is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUV</a>&nbsp;you probably wouldn’t expect to struggle to fit in the front. And you won’t – even if you’re really tall. Storage space is respectable&nbsp;too, with decent-sized door bins, a cubby under the centre armrest and a couple of cupholders between the front seats.

Rear space isn’t class-leading but there’s more than enough leg and head room for a couple of six-footers. Three adults in the back will find it a&nbsp;bit of a squeeze – the same is true in most rivals – but you can recline the seatbacks for a more laid-back seating position on long journeys.

If you want a really big boot and are not fussed about a premium badge, there are better options, including plug-in hybrid versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>. The NX’s boot is hardly small, though, and at least there’s no hump in the floor to accommodate the battery underneath as there is in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a> xDrive30e.

You can fold down the rear seats when you need extra space for luggage, although the seatbacks split in a 60/40 arrangement rather than the more flexible 40/20/40 split you get in some rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a>. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> gives you a powered tailgate as standard on all trim levels.

Petrol/Plug-In Elec Hybrid, Petrol/Electric Hybrid

Premium Pack

So far, this is the only version of the NX we’ve tried – and that’s important to note because F-Sport models have different suspension to other trims. Ride comfort is good at low speeds, with some fidget on faster roads. Worth a look if you want a sportier look and plenty of standard kit.

F-Sport

f-sport

The range-topping Takumi doesn’t get our recommendation. It comes with loads of luxuries, including ventilated leather seats, a sunroof and a 14in touchscreen infotainment system – but it’s also very pricey.

Takumi

takumi

A fine all-rounder and the best car Lexus has launched for years

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

Hybrid

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Usefully long electric-only range</li> <li>Exceedingly frugal</li> <li>Cheap company car tax rates</li> <li>Smooth switching between electric and petrol power</li></ul>

If you're not ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle&nbsp;but have the capacity to charge your car at home or at work, a plug-in hybrid could be the perfect compromise. Electric batteries paired with a petrol or diesel&nbsp;engine means you'll never be left short of charge&nbsp;but can capitalise on cheap running costs, thanks to a surprisingly long electric-only range.

There's plenty of choice, too, whether you're after a sporty saloon like the BMW 3 Series, the 330e variant of which providing up to 36 miles of electric-only driving on a full charge, or a large load-lugging large SUV, including the Volvo XC90 T8, which claims an extraordinary&nbsp;113mpg.

Throw in competent handling and driving prowess, despite the added weight of the electric batteries, and a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;makes a compelling case for frugal buyers.&nbsp;

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