MOTORS: Lexus an old man's car? Alan Douglas puts the NX350h through its paces to find out
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Unfairly, in the game of word-association, the name Lexus always seemed to be linked to “old man’s car”.
As one of them myself, that isn’t anything to be ashamed of, but dates back to when the brand was turning out some big, luxurious, relaxed saloons which were suited to elderly gentlemen using the car for nothing more demanding than a leisurely drive to the golf club.
But that was in the past and like the old jokes about Skodas, should stay there, because, like the Czech brand, things have changed dramatically.
Look through the Lexus catalogue and you’ll find fine pieces of machinery with one thing in common – they are all stylish, superbly finished with great performance and offering first-class reliability.
Their latest addition, the NX350h, continues that theme as a high quality, refined but extremely capable SUV with the added benefit of hybrid electric technology to help squeeze extra miles out of every wallet-bursting gallon of petrol and make it as efficient as a diesel while keeping emissions low at the same time.
The NX model began life as a plug-in hybrid but now it’s been joined by a simpler mild hybrid which automatically adds an electric boost without having to recharge with a cable.
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Lexus have grasped hybrid electric technology with both hands and every model in their range comes with electrified power.
They are justifiably proud of the latest NX, which like all of their cars is beautifully built, smooth and refined and pretty good on the looks front as well.
That’s why it’s their best-selling model in the UK with sales of 27,000 and more than 175,000 on roads around Europe.
The latest model comes in two different guises. Instead of the featured NX350h which has a starting price of around £40,000 mark, you can spend an extra £9000 and go for the Lexus 450h. This one plugs into a charging unit at home, a standard three-pin domestic mains socket or any public charger, and will cover up to 40 miles in fully electric mode.
That’s a hefty extra initial outlay but depending on your mileage and how you use the car, you should save a fortune by avoiding the need to call at the pumps.
Focusing on the 350h, it’s a smart looking car, oozing style with swooping lines, a decidedly futuristic appearance and a particularly attractive rear end.
Some entry-level NX are front-wheel-drive but the majority will be four-wheel drive, which makes them perfect for dealing with Scotland’s changeable weather and uncertain winter conditions.
The powertrain marries a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery. Total power is 241bhp, which is enough to achieve 0-62mph in under eight seconds.
The engine doesn’t like to be pushed too hard though and makes that known when revved. This is partly down to the continuously variable transmission, or CVT instead of the seven, eight or nine-speed gearboxes found in most of its rivals. Drive in a more relaxed fashion, however, and the Lexus NX is a remarkably quiet and relaxed cruiser which will eat up motorway miles without a murmur.
The suspension is soft and supple to absorb potholes and questionable cambers without complaint. It takes bends in its stride but Lexus have designed the car with comfort in mind rather than gritty sports performance so sit back and enjoy the experience rather than try to be first away from the lights, although it doesn’t hang about when asked to get going.
The interior of the NX has been completely redesigned. Gone is the unloved trackpad system, replaced by a much more user-friendly interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a neater and simpler dashboard layout.
As you’d expect there’s every creature comfort you could ask for, from heated electric leather front and rear seats to a 360-degree camera, high end sound system and hands-free kick sensor for the power tailgate.
