Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/627675
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 2016 VI Motoring Lexus NX - The luxurious odd one out THERE was always that 'different' feel about owning a Lexus and as the com- pany launched itself into the compact SUV territory, the men behind the machine made it a point to adhere to the 'different' aspect. Enter the Lexus NX - the only mid-sized SUV not offered with a diesel engine. Whilst sharing parts with the Toyota RAV4, a NX300h hybrid engine powers the Lexus NX. Alternatively one can opt for the first ever turbo-charged Lexus and go for the 2.0ltr NX200t, which runs on petrol. However, whilst missing out on the diesel segment, the company has packed the NX with tons of tech. On the NX, Lexus did not hold back on being bold, with the company's designers claiming their inspiration to have derived from 'the intricate beauty of molten metal'. Fluid lines lead the owner to the door handles, which light up, whilst a side 'kick- up' line paves the way towards the car's coupe-like silhouette. On the NX300t F Sport version we tested, the aggressive front grill, LED triple-projector headlights and arrowhead daytime running lights, together with the L-shaped LED taillights, attracted lots of attention on the streets. At the same time the car's chamfered corners make the NX look smaller and more nimble that it actually is. But the element Lexus excelled in on the NX is the interior. A leather clad dash- board follows the exterior's fluid lines, whilst an array of knobs and switches are placed well within the driver's reach, clearly portraying the design input of chief engineer Takeaki Kato. Other sporty in- spirations materialise in the form of drilled aluminium pedals, sporty front leather seats and a highly contoured, small-diam- eter steering wheel. A stand-up screen sits high in the middle of the dashboard providing the hub of Lexus's infotainment system, whilst Lexus's Remote Touch controller has turned into a haptic touch pad and an ergonomic wrist rest on the centre console. With a boot capacity of 475 litres, extendable to 1,520 litres by lowering the 60:40 split-folding rear seat, the NX flaunts more boot space than the Range Rover Evoque, however the towing capacity is just 1,500kg. The 2.5-litre, four-cylinder hybrid engine delivers 194bhp, but only 153bhp of that comes from the petrol plant, the remainder is derived from an electric motor. The combined power results in a 0-62mph claim of 9.1sec. The advantages of the hybrid engine flourish when the NX is driven around on short, traffic-peppered trips. The smooth silent 'woosh' of the drivetrain can only be compared to taking a sailing boat out on a decently breezy day. The NX can also run exclusively on battery power for short trips. Additional energy is passed to the high output electric motors each time the brakes are applied or the vehicle decelerates, and that energy is stored in the hybrid battery for eventual use. This braking energy is lost as heat on conventional engines. However for those fans of the hybrid system, the F Sport trim also comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, married to a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox. Meanwhile, the hybrid engine is paired to a CVT automatic transmis- sion. Fuel usage is claimed at 56.5mpg for the hybrid and at 43.5mpg for the turbocharged petrol option. The NX offers a comfortable ride, with firm suspension and good steering feel. Drivers can choose between the super quiet EV (Electric Vehicle) Mode, the emission conscious Hybrid mode or the friskier SPORT mode. All trims come as All-Wheel Drive. Safety features on the Lexus NX include Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic High Beam Switching, Pre-Crash Alert - which warns drivers of objects ahead, applies brakes and tightens seatbelts accordingly - Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Whiplash Injury less- ening seats, eight airbags. The Lexus NX comes in five different trims. The S, SE, Luxury, F Sport and Premier, and even the entry-level S comes with a number of extras not found on the competition's entry level models, including dual-zone climate control, a DAB radio and a USB music connection, as well as Bluetooth and parking aids. It is available in nine different exterior colours and ten interior trims, including black, ivory and dark rose leathers. The Lexus NX300H is available lo- cally from Michael Debono Ltd, starting from €47,600. The turbocharged petrol NX200T would be available on order. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION