Car review: Lexus NX 300h Luxury

It’s a pretty refined set-up, says Mike Stone

6 February 2018

When Lexus’s NX 300h hybrid crossover first appeared in 2014 its styling had more folds and creases than a piece of origami. It was one of the first of a series of interesting-looking new models from the Toyota fold, such as the C-HR and the current Prius.

So it’s no surprise that the new revised NX sticks with the same design theme, and receives a few tweaks such as a slightly different grille, front bumper and headlights.

Inside, there’s a new touch pad with hand-writing recognition and a much larger 10.3-inch infotainment screen. Safety systems have been boosted and Lexus claim improved handling thanks to Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS).

Driving the car, the differences aren’t obvious. It is still powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, together delivering 195bhp. It’s a pretty refined set-up, mostly, although you are aware of the engine working when tackling hills.

Lexus claims 54mpg in the combined cycle, although the NX 300h was managing just 28.3mpg in our hands. But even if that figure fails to impress, on one 73-minute stage of the road test in and around Madrid, our test car was using purely electric power for 50 per cent of the time, without us making any great effort to drive economically.

Lexus’s entry-level model, the CT 200h, has received similar tweaks and feels much more sorted than when it first appeared six years ago. An F Sport version felt well clamped to the road and was more refined and involving than I remember the original car to have been.

It is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, together producing 136bhp.

The NX 300h (£34,895 to £44,395) and CT 200h (£23,495 to £31,245) are both highly competent self-charging full hybrids which quietly get on with the job and are good adverts for hybrid technology.

Lexus NX 300h Luxury

Combined mpg: 54 (claimed)

Emissions: 121g/km

Top speed: 112mph

Price: £37,895

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