Lexus NX 350h 2022 review

Lexus and its mainstream sibling Toyota have been at the forefront of petrol-electric hybrid technology for more than two decades. If you wanted a state-of-the-art hybrid, they were the go-to brands. 

Perhaps they focused on this tech a bit too long, however, overlooking the fact that others were forging ahead with fully electric vehicles.

Still, the EVs are coming, and Lexus has already quietly launched its electric UX 300e compact SUV.  

Divisive design

The new Lexus NX, though, still comes as a hybrid 350h, with the option of a plug-in hybrid 450h. The latter has a battery of unprecedented size for a plug-in, promising a range of 40-50 miles on battery power alone.

The 350h tested here is £7,900 cheaper, though, and likely to be the people’s choice. 

Let’s get to the elephant in the room. It’s no beauty. The 2022 Lexus NX looks even more brutal than its predecessor, like two JCBs have grasped it from each side while a third gives the nose a firm thump. 

As seen on screen

The high, long bonnet gives a sense of size that only partly translates to the interior. Those behind have less legroom than you might think, and it feels a bit gloomy back there. 

But goodness, it is impressive for the driver and front-seat passenger. They will enjoy great shoulder room, panoramic views and supremely comfortable seats. This being the top-spec, £55,720 F Sport AWD Takumi version, luxury features are maxed out, including a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system and seat heating all-round.

There’s also an excellent head-up display in the windscreen (which doesn’t adjust quite high enough) and a panoramic glass sunroof.

UX in the NX

Then there’s the interface with all the controls. The previous NX combined a touchpad, buttons and the touchscreen. Now, most controls have moved to the screen. It does mean a nice, clean interior design, but it can be frustrating trying to make even the simplest of adjustments, especially when you are driving. 

The NX’s camera system is even further advanced, overcoming the blind spots caused by the heavy rear pillars when manoeuvring. A new ‘E-Latch’ system stops you opening the doors into traffic, too.

The NX comes with just one engine option: a 2.5-litre petrol unit coupled to the hybrid drive. It has more power than before, but this is really a car for wafting along. It doesn’t do spirited driving particularly well, never feeling that rapid and getting noisy as the gears slip down to help it along. 

Take it easy, though, and the Lexus excels. It’s just a pity the ride is some way from being truly cossetting.

Going the distance

Quoted fuel economy is 44-48mpg, which is entirely feasible with a bit of restraint. Ten years ago that would have seemed impossibly good for a heavy petrol SUV. The fuel tank capacity is small, at just 55 litres, which gives a realistic range of 450 miles.

The NX starts at just under £40,000 for a front-wheel-drive model with a decent specification, making it a tempting proposition.

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