New Lexus NX now on sale

LEXUS Australia has introduced its next-generation NX, replete with a complimentary package for the range-topping NX450h+ plug-in hybrid and a new Lexus Connected smartphone app. 

As GoAuto reported late last year, the Japanese premium marque’s five-seat medium SUV is priced from $60,800 (plus on-road costs) and offers various engine choices, including a direct-injection 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, and both petrol-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. The newcomer comes in two- and all-wheel-drive guises.

In addition to the broad powertrain line-up on offer, the NX introduces a range of next-generation design and technology features, including new safety and connectivity features. Four trim grades are available, in conjunction with Lexus’ optional Enhancement Packs.

The NX range begins with the NX250. Fitted with a 152kW/243Nm normally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, the two-wheel drive variant debuts Lexus’ “human-centric” Tazuna cockpit, which includes power adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and a 9.8-inch infotainment array featuring “Hey Lexus!” voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, plus DAB+ digital radio reception.

The entry-grade NX also features 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, a power-operated tailgate, as well as an extensive range of safety technologies. The NX250 includes safe exit assist (SEA) with new e-latch electrically activated door handles, which can detect cyclist and passing vehicles and prevent the Lexus’ doors from being opened. 

The Lexus-first system joins intersection-turn assist (ITA), emergency steering assist (ESA), parking support brake (PKSB), blind-spot monitor (BSM), dynamic radar active cruise control (DRCC), lane-tracing assist (LTA), and road-sign assist (RSA). All NX derivatives are further equipped with Lexus Connected Services, which includes SOS call functionality.

Lexus says the NX 250 can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and that it has a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.9 litres per 100km.

The Enhancement Pack (+$3000) for the NX250 includes a wireless phone-charging pad, moonroof, and kick sensor for the powered tailgate.

Moving up the price sheet, the $65,800 (+ORCs) NX350h Luxury range will arrive with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine coupled to an electric motor. The maximum combined power for two-wheel drive variants is listed at 179kW/239Nm (petrol engine), with the electric motor adding its own 270Nm kick. On the all-wheel drive variant ($70,400 +ORCs) the peak output of the electric motor is 391Nm. Both variants feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Lexus says the two-wheel-drive NX 350h Luxury can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and the AWD variant is a second faster. Optimal combined-cycle fuel economy is 5.0 litres per 100km. The NX 350h’s equipment levels are otherwise identical to those of the NX 250.

The Enhancement Pack (+$3000) for the NX 350h is identical to that offered on the NX 250.

Next up is the NX350h Sports Luxury. Priced from $73,100 (+ORCs), the mid-tier derivative is available in two- and all-wheel drive guises, but offers additional equipment compared with its Luxury-spec siblings. 

Extra features include 20-inch alloys, tri-beam LED headlights, leather-accented upholstery, a larger 14.0-inch infotainment screen, 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, colour head-up display, 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, digital rear-view mirror, wireless smartphone charging pad and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system.

The NX350h Sports Luxury is available with two enhancement packs. Enhancement Pack 1 (+$3000) adds a panoramic moonroof, while Enhancement Pack 2 (+$6000) adds a panoramic moonroof, heated steering wheel, digital rear-view mirror, parking assistant ­ this marks the first time that automatic reverse parallel- and perpendicular parking have been offered on the NX.

The F Sport range is also priced from $73,100 (+ORCs) and is offered with the hybrid powertrain found in the NX350h or with a 205kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed automatic combination. Lexus says the latter can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds and return a combined cycle fuel economy figure of 8.1 litres per 100km.

F Sport derivatives include a sports body kit, body-coloured wheel arches, black window surrounds, scuff plates, perforated leather-accented steering wheel and transmission lever, alloy pedals, sports seats, Hadori aluminium ornamentation, and five-mode Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with performance dampers front and rear.

Lexus’ F Sport range is available with the same enhancement packs offered on the NX350h Sports Luxury.

Finally, and priced from $89,900 (+ORCs) is the NX450h+ F Sport all-wheel drive. The range-topping variant merges the equipment from standard NX F Sport grades with a moonroof, heated steering wheel and a digital rear-view mirror.

The NX450h+ F Sport is powered by a 227kW plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a 2.5-litre petrol engine and dual electric motors – one on each axle. Power is sourced from an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which Lexus says can provide an all-electric driving range of up to 87km. 

The flagship variant is said to be capable of accelerating 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds and its optimal combined cycle fuel economy is rated at just 1.3 litres per 100km. 

Included in the price of the NX450h+ are two charging cables and a complementary home-charger installation (by JetCharge). The latter is claimed to reduce charging times (from depleted to fully charged) to about two-and-a-half hours. 

Customers can also choose to upgrade to a premium charger with additional scope of functionality, such as a touch-display, Wi-Fi and Ethernet compatibility, smartphone app connectivity and dynamic load management.

What’s more, NX450h+ owners will receive a three-year membership to the Lexus Encore Platinum owner benefits program, which includes Lexus on Demand, through which members can borrow another Lexus on four occasions, for up to eight days.

The Lexus Encore Platinum members are also provided with eight valet parking passes to use at select Westfield shopping centres and the Chadstone shopping centre in Melbourne.

Finally, the brand has also introduced a new Lexus Connected smartphone app to coincide with the arrival of the NX. Like in ES and LS models, the NX comes with complimentary Lexus Connected Services, including automatic collision notification, SOS emergency call and stolen vehicle tracking.

Together with the existing Lexus App, through which owners can access the Lexus Encore owner benefits program, the new app introduces new connectivity features, such as Lexus Remote Connect, which allows owners to operate some of the vehicle’s functions via their phones, Lexus Status Connect, which allows access to a wealth of vehicle information and analyses the driver’s acceleration, braking and cornering behaviour to produce a "Drive Pulse" rating, as well as Lexus Multimedia Connect, which includes cloud-based connected navigation with live traffic, weather, parking and map updates, location searching, and first-mile and last-mile routing.

It also offers personalisation of various functions, broader voice command functionality, access to notifications and web browsing through the head unit using Wi-Fi tethering to a user's smartphone.

On NX250 and Luxury grades, the system uses cloud-based maps – where a Data Communication Module (DCM) connection is available – and provides surrounding area map data for temporary offline navigation. The system allows the driver to ask their Lexus for info about the nearest petrol station and receive live directions, live traffic, parking and location services via the DCM.

In addition, F Sport and Sports Luxury grades feature embedded satellite navigation mapping.

Lexus Australia also says that customers who have purchased a facelifted IS (build date September 2020 onwards), or the latest versions of the ES and LS, will be offered the Lexus Connected smartphone app with complimentary new convenience and safety technologies.

Lexus offers three years’ complimentary Lexus Connected Services subscription and membership of the Lexus Encore owner benefits program (from the registration date of applicable models).

All Lexus passenger vehicles are backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants receive a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the battery.

2022 Lexus NX pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.