The best of both worlds

The NX 300h has technology and refinement in spades but it’s up against stiff competition, writes Matt Kimberley

This is more of a case of what isn’t new, because the NX is fresh off the drawing board as a little brother to the much-respected RX. If the RX 400h hybrid was the father of socially-acceptable SUVs, the NX 300h is a not-sodistant cousin. The styling is as sharp as a supermodel’s face, and you’ll probably either love it or hate it. That’s what Lexus wants, because you can’t please everyone and it’s better to please some people a lot than fade into the background. The NX is no shrinking violet, as long as you avoid silver. There’s a completely new colour option that layers ordinary paint over a highly compressed layer of flake to create a deeper, more lustrous shine. Even in white the difference is obvious, and deliciously premium.

Space and practicality

Choose anything above the basic S model and you’ll benefit from winter-beating four- wheel drive. The NX is a bit of a Tardis, too, with 475 litres of boot space courtesy of a huge hidden compartment and enough rear legroom to let your kids have a game of boules. There’s also a space-saver spare wheel as standard – unique among the NX’s rivals. But check this out for a practical feature: the bottle holder in the centre console has a high-friction base so that you can open twist-cap drinks with one hand. Very neat.

Behind the wheel

For the most part the NX is high quality, especially the leathers. The touchpad computer interface is actually more intuitive than you might initially give it credit for, too. The drive is impressively refined, with supple suspension, decent body control and super-smooth response from the hybrid powertrain. The seats are worth a postcard home: big, perfectly supportive and highly adjustable. The Mark Levinson stereo – exclusive to the Premier trim grade – is worth a mention, too. It has special software to identify and compensate for the lost quality of compressed digital music, and as long as the source is hooked up via a wired connection it’s brilliant.

Value for money

The NX has stiff opposition from its German rivals, but it’s more than good enough to win fans at the mid-range luxury price of £34,495. Classic FM-smooth hybrid drive is a big selling point and the on-board tech is right on the money. It’s just a shame that so much of it is reserved for this £42,995 Premier range-topper. This deserves to be the car that boosts Lexus’ UK sales to the next level.

This car summed up in a single word: Advanced