REFRESHED 2018 LEXUS NX DOESN’T MESS WITH SUCCESS
Toyota brand’s second-best-selling model gets only a few updates in Year Four
Lexus introduced the NX just three years ago, but the luxury compact SUV has proven so popular it now represents 27 per cent of all vehicles sold in Canada by Toyota’s premium brand. Essentially an upscale model with Toyota RAV4 underpinnings, the NX is Lexus’s second-best-selling vehicle here, slotting in behind the larger RX.
For 2018 the NX gets a mild refresh, as well as a somewhat new moniker, at least for the gasoline version. The car formerly known as the NX 200t will now be called the NX 300, while the electrified version remains the NX 300h.
When it went on sale in 2014 as a 2015 model, the NX 200t was the first Lexus to feature the firm’s direct-injected, 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four engine. The same 235-horsepower engine powers the NX 300, and it drives all four wheels via a six-speed automatic. The NX 300h hybrid returns with the 2.5-L Atkinsoncycle four-cylinder engine, which combines with two electric motors to produce 194 hp. The engine powers the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission, while the electric motors power the rear wheels, thus making all Canadian-spec NX models all-wheel drive.
Styling changes are minimal, but especially noticeable from the front. On the NX 300 and NX 300h, the wide, gaping grille now extends lower than before, making the Lexus “spindle” more prominent, while the grille on the sportier F Sport model gets a more complex mesh pattern. Both new grille designs are now flanked by air intakes that enhance engine and brake cooling, and all models get redesigned LED headlights.
At the rear are slightly wider tail lights, and creases in the tailgate now mimic the spindle shape of the grille. A redesigned bumper has larger tailpipe openings on the F Sport, and there’s a more prominent rear diffuser on the other models.
Inside, you’ll find the same inviting wraparound cockpit, but with a few new features. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are now standard, as is the eight-inch infotainment screen. Also standard, from the Luxury trim and higher, is a segmentlargest 10.3-inch infotainment screen. All trim levels get a new, larger console-mounted touchpad with an improved interface. Heated seats are standard; a heated steering wheel is standard on all but the base NX, and heated rear seats are now available for the first time.
Curiously, Lexus has refrained from incorporating Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for smartphone connectivity. Instead, Lexus incorporated its own Enform operating system, which was introduced on the LC and includes a series of apps for providing info on traffic, sports, weather and stock markets, plus Slacker Radio and a Yelp search engine. Also included in the system is Scout GPS, which uses your cellphone’s GPS for navigation. On higher trim levels with the 10.3-inch screen you can get an embedded navigation system. Lexus includes a four-year Enform subscription.
Suspension has been upgraded across the trim levels, including revised shocks and suspension component bushings on models with conventional suspension. And there is an updated version of the variable adaptive suspension available on the F Sport that responds quicker to varying road conditions. The revised suspension combines with sharp, well-weighed steering to provide a composed, well-controlled ride.
The interior is very well isolated from road and wind noise, and big bumps are muted to gentle thumps by the time they reach the occupants. If you pull a trailer, towing capacity is 2,000 pounds (905 kilograms) on the gasoline model and 1,500 (680 kg) on the hybrid.
The turbocharged engine provides enough mid-range torque to get you by slower traffic easily and without fuss. The NX 300h takes a bit more time to complete a pass, and its CVT causes the engine to rev higher when doing so, which makes it sound like it’s working harder. In return for the slightly more laborious acceleration on the hybrid, you get better fuel economy: a 7.5 L/100 km average, compared to 9.7 for the 300. As tested, the NX 300 F Sport averaged 9.6 L/100 km, and I saw 8.1 on the hybrid. Note that the slightly thirstier gas version also prefers premium fuel, though it’s not required.
There are a few new standard driver assists, including dynamic cruise control, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and collision mitigation with pedestrian alert. A few new available assists include rear-traffic alert with automatic braking, and a 360-degree camera monitor.
Lexus claims the NX is designed to attract younger drivers, and it certainly is more luxurious, sportier and more powerful than the RAV4 on which it’s based. The F Sport, starting at $51,350, is the most appealing variant, with its aggressive styling, and in top trim, its adaptive suspension.
If you’re thinking of opting for the fuel efficiency of a hybrid, go for the RAV4 instead. Its starting price is almost $20,000 lower than the $55,300 NX 300h, and it uses the same powertrain; buyers would seem to agree, as the NX 300h accounts for only five per cent of all NX units sold. Pricing for the base NX 300 starts at $44,050, and it is at dealers now. Driving.ca