29 January 2016
The ‘spindle’ grille and the intricate cluster of LED headlights have distinctive L-shaped daytime running lights. A bold move by Lexus and a feature that looks much better in real life. The headlight and running combination are an instantly recognisable Lexus design, so all who see will know and I must admit that I like what I see.
It comes as no surprise that even the standard NX 200t has an impressive quality finish, premium trims and fine enhancements throughout the range. With seven variants to choose from - two and four-wheel drive options, hybrid and petrol turbo powertrains, performance-oriented F Sport and luxuriously appointed Limited grades – there’s a model for all your needs.
Almost perfect
The interior got me thinking the most. Once again the Lexus seats and trim are very comforting to both the body and eyes. The car seats are one of the most comfortable that I’ve ever sat in, making short work of long journeys. The soft leather surrounding parts of the dashboard and centre console add to the luxury, while the touch sensitive map and interior lighting saves any fumbling in the dark. Infotainment includes Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming capability. The central display and heater controls took a little getting used to, due to the overwhelming amount of buttons and an interesting Lexus Remote Touch Interface (touch control pad).
Artificial Intelligence Inside
Driving the NX 200t was fantastic! The power, delivery and handling are smooth and the SUV does everything it should with ease. This is due to the 2ltr turbo which is kitted out with a twin-scroll turbo. The fuel economy has also been very well considered as the engine produces 175kW whilst only drinking 7.7-7.9 combined l/100km. Both the 2.5 hybrid drive and 2.0-litre petrol turbo engines are paired with a 6-speed transmission. They also feature a suite of advanced technologies, including AI-Control (Artificial Intelligence Control). This automatically changes shift patterns in response to road conditions and driver inputs, making the NX 200t more involved in your driving experience.
The NX 200t achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating as it incorporated a raft of top of the line safety features. This includes the Radar Cruise Control which maintains a safe following distance and slows automatically to match the speed and distance of the leading vehicle. In the future it would be good to able to adjust the following distance as it would help to ease cruise control use on busy motorways whilst preventing cars from regularly pulling out in front of you.
All in all I would say that it’s a great mid-size SUV that has exceeded everything required from a vehicle in this category. The NX 200t also does well to add all the class that’s expected from any Lexus owner.