HYBRID CROSSOVER FULL

As expected from a Lexus, it’s also incredibly comfortable on longer motorway runs, although the F Sport seats could be less cossetting.

HYBRID CROSSOVER FULL

The NX claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds, but it’s at its best if you are a little gentler with your right foot and only call upon the full power of engine and electric motors when overtaking or getting out of a tight spot on a twisty road.Īnd it’s on these twisty roads that the NX starts to settle into its groove, proving it’s actually a pretty fun crossover to drive, soaking up the bumps yet staying upright in the bends and impressively sharp when it comes to steering. This is a heavy crossover SUV at the end of the day, and one where the engineers’ eyes were always focused on fuel economy figures. Using Sport on this car is something of a misnomer. That’s something that might raise eyebrows when Lexus refers to our range-topping test version as the F Sport. And with a combined output of 309bhp from the mix of petrol engine, 134kW front electric motor and 40kW rear electric motor, it never feels underpowered. This time the NX features a more robust 2.5-litre petrol engine that doesn’t start to complain unless you really kick down on the throttle. This was also an issue evident in the first-generation NX with its 2-litre engine. The interior is where this new crossover shines With smaller engines supporting the electric motor, it leads to far more engine whine as they run to their rev limits under the control of CVT automatic transmissions. For an example of when the recipe went awry, look to the rather lacklustre CT. At the pinnacle, look to the stunning LFA. While Toyota is fixated on fuel economy, Lexus wants to blend those savings and environmental concerns with a more engaging premium driving and performance experience.

Lexus has always delivered a better hybrid driving experience than its Toyota cousins simply because they opt for larger engines. Using a regular plug socket for an overnight charge, it covered all our driving needs for the first few days of pootling into town and around the suburbs.Īfter that, and with the battery depleted of its plug-in charge, the fuel economy settled into the region of 5.5 to 6 l/100km, which is on a par with the non-plug-in hybrid version of the car.

While Lexus claims an ambitious electric-only range of 74km from the NX’s 18.1kWh battery pack, we did manage an impressive 54km from it, on a mix of roads and up to motorway speeds. Not only that, but with this plug-in version Lexus has managed to combine an impressive fully-electric range with decent fuel economy when the battery is depleted. For that money you also move up to all-wheel drive. But with a price difference of under €3,000, it would seem a real shame to miss out on the ability to plug it in – and access a grant for a EV home charger if you are lucky enough to have a private driveway. Just to be clear, the new NX comes in two flavours: regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid. In reality, it would seem foolish to forego the electric supports on a PHEV, particularly when they offer so much useable range and driving benefits as they do in the new Lexus NX 450h. These motorists, it’s alleged, just drive around on the petrol engine, carrying the battery and electric motor along for the ride, thereby burning more fuel and emitting more carbon than a regular combustion engine car. Plug-in hybrids have been the focus of a lot of ire by those who claim owners buy a plug-in hybrid, or PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) for the tax rebate, but never use the plug. This is a quality proposition from the powertrain through to the premium interior However, while an entirely EV fleet might be the end goal, right now for many Irish motorists, the plug-in hybrid offers the easiest bridge to electric motoring, particularly if you don’t live on the east coast conurbations where charging points are more widespread. That car is likely to steer a lot of attention Lexus’ way. Thankfully that’s changing, first with the all-electric version of the UX currently on sale, and later this year with the arrival of the new RZ 450e. That was largely down to the powertrain strategy of its parent Toyota, but it blunted Lexus' innovative edge. Amid waves of new models coming from heavyweight European rivals like Audi, BMW and Mercedes, Lexus was often overlooked.įor a brand that pioneered premium petrol-electric hybrid technology – and foresaw the death of diesel several years ago – Lexus has been slow to make the next logical leap to plug-in power. Its allure is all the more surprising given that, of late, the Japanese premium brand has seemed a little lost. Without giving the game away in the first line, Lexus has a hit on its hands with the new NX hybrid.

Hybrid crossover