Lexus NX E-Four Luxury

Beauty, it's said,is in the eye of the beholder. In the case of the Lexus NX, it’s tempting to suggest that either the beholder was hungover and didn't turn up on the day, or poked out said eye on one of the sharp edges. But perhaps that's just my opinion. And at least this arresting tangle of angles disproves the theory that all modern cars look exactly the same.

Besides, the showroom ready NX has been dialled back a bit (sanded down?) compared with the original LF-NX concept, which had the appearance of something badly reassembled after an unfortunate interaction with a wood chipper. The genuine article is much more finely honed than that. Muscular, even. The Audi Q5 and BMW X3 had better start worrying about their lunch money.

Underpinning the bold confidence of that origami exterior is the driving experience, for this is the latest Lexus to no longer require a pre formed list of excuses, laminated in anticipation of fresh passengers. The bumpy B-road ride may be an exception, but you can wave that away with some arm twirling at the first roundabout.

Is the front end ‘pointy’? Well, obviously. Look at it. But what’s neat is that the steering wheel and the tyres enjoy a healthy correlation for once. The overall impression is slick, but precise, and with suspension that’s stubbornly committed to not flopping over at first sight of a 90-right, it inspires all the confidence you need to cut through that rush hour traffic. Go you.

If all this is starting to upset your Lexus image of peace, love and hybrid harmony, don’t panic. Motorway comfort in the NX is a useful improvement over the IS saloon and refinement is basically excellent. Not only does the ‘planetary gear’ E-CVT automatic rev rather than shooting straight into max-power territory, the noise is more soothing than squalling. Solutions such as the ‘high rigidity’ windscreen sealant are said to help here. The thrill of beading, eh?

Plus the NX only comes as a 300h for hybrid at launch, which means silent running for short distances, surprisingly often. A 2.5-litre four and an electric motor send 195 bhp in the direction of the front wheels, while all but the entry level trim level get a second electric motor on the back axle, providing ‘E-Four’ four wheel drive as part of the package.

The second motor adds no extra performance, as output is limited by the battery so don’t expect to climb a mountain. Yet, given the penalty is only 5g/km CO2 and a tenner in annual VED, the £2k it costs to go from FWD S to the added traction and extra equipment of AWD SE seems entirely justifiable.

On the inside it's the impressive Blade Runner esque edifice of the dashboard and welcome amount of room for legs and heads, versus shallow window darkness and notorious Remote Touch Interface. Lexus has now ditched the mouse of mirth in favour of a rotary controller (or touchpad on Premium
models), but the menu structure remains arcane, and the screen is diminutive. Annoying, but no deal breaker.

If you’re looking for a smaller SUV that will stand out in the company car park, step this way. Just watch you don't blind yourself in the process.