Scores on the doors!

EDWARD STEPHENS TEST DRIVES THE SECOND GENERATION OF A LUXURY LEXUS

LEXUS’S best-selling model in the UK just got better - with the launch of the second generation NX 350h.

And while a whopping 95 per cent of the car’s parts are new, giving it a dramatic new look, it was a little things that catch my attention.

On the latest generation of this upmarket luxury car the latches are electric rather than mechanical and just need to be touched gently to open the door.

But there’s more to it than that as the new e-latch is connected to the car’s Blind Spot monitor which warns of any cars approaching from the rear.

If it detects any it sets off a buzzer and a warning light and if a passenger tries to open the door the e-latch just won’t work until the coast is clear.

It’s just one of a host of new safety features on the car and an innovation Lexus believes will prevent 95 per cent of accidents caused by door openings.

Safety apart, the new NX 350h has a new eye-catching look, new power trains, new connectivity and better

performance. And in true Lexus style it oozes class and top notch build quality.

Powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine working in conjunction with electric motors it features the company’s all-new fourth generation self-charging hybrid system.

With a 24 per cent increase in power, performance is dramatically improved, allowing the newcomer to hit 62 miles per hour in just 7.7 seconds and go onto to a top speed of 124 miles per hour.

At the same time you can expect average fuel consumption to be in the low to mid forties. And best of all there’s no range anxiety as the batteries are charged from the engine, so no plugging in.

The fresh new look for the NX 350h means plenty of kerb appeal thanks to its dramatic angular sports styling, super slim headlights and a huge, more upright, dramatically macho grille which has now been stripped of its chrome surround.

The F Sport version, driven here, comes with 20-inch alloy wheels and stylish sports body kit which makes it stand out even more, although it’s also at the higher end of the NX price range.

Step inside the car and it’s hard not to be impressed by the highbacked all-leather seats which are both heated for the winter and cooled for the summer. At the same time the outer rear seats are also heated, as is the car’s steering wheel.

A large panoramic opening glass sunroof is a bonus for the summer although the air conditioning on this car is among the best in the business.

The cabin is less cluttered than that of its predecessor as the number of buttons has been reduced from 78 to 45 with physical buttons sensibly retained for the most frequently used functions.

Or if you are really lazy you can just use the voice recognition system and ask the Lexus assistant to do your bidding. She will also find you the nearest parking location and best restaurants in the area.

Other on-board activities can be managed via the 14-inch, high definition touchscreen, which also gives superb clarity to both the satellite navigation system and the rear and birdseye view when reversing.

On the road the high stance of this SUV means excellent all round vision, and despite its height it handles bends and fast corners with aplomb thanks to its adaptive suspension and all-wheel-drive.

Little seems to phase it and it delivers a confidence building flat ride however much you push it. Perhaps not surprising then to find that Lexus used professional racing drivers to help hone its dramatic performance.

The engine is mated to a CVT automatic gearbox but there are paddles behind the steering wheel for F1-style driving if you want and there’s a selection of driving modes ranging from Eco to Sport S+. A Takumi Pack on our car added a Mark Levinson 17-speaker premium audio system, numerous extra safety features and a digital rear view mirror.

And with a head-up display thrown in for good measure it’s hard not to like new NX 350h.

Lexus believes will prevent 95 per cent of accidents caused by door openings