Lexus NX 300h 2015 Review

In developing the NX compact SUV Lexus deserves praise for not just aping the Germans, which dominate this part of the market with the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

Instead the NX has a pretty aggressive version of the controversial spindle grille, some acute exterior and interior styling angles and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain – rather than the ubiquitous diesel fuel-saving option. That's where the 300h moniker comes from.

(A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol option becomes available soon, but that's another story).

Backing up the points of difference are a broad and predictably well-appointed three-model range – Luxury, F Sport and Sport Luxury – that spreads from $55,000 to $75,000 (plus on road costs).

The base model front-wheel drive Luxury we are testing here is the only version to offer front- as well as the E-Four all-wheel drive system, which drives the rear wheels via an electric motor rather than a traditional mechanical connection.

Under the bonnet is a petrol-electric series-parallel hybrid, which combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor, planetary gear CVT and Nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Derivatives of the Lexus ES, GS and IS, as well as the locally-manufactured Toyota Camry Hybrid, use a similar set-up.

In effect Lexus is offering the hybrid in competition to the frugal diesel offerings of the Europeans. The 300h's official claim is a pretty impressive 5.6L/100km. By way of example, the Audi Q5 2.0 TDI is officially rated at 6.1 and the BMW X3 xDrive20d at 5.4.

Highlights of the Luxury's equipment package include eight airbags, reverse camera, parking sonar (front and rear), tyre pressure warning sensors, satellite navigation, power rear tailgate, heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment, 18-inch alloy wheels, 10-speaker audio with dual USB inputs, DAB+ and Bluetooth, power steering column adjust and a space saver spare wheel.

The F Sport and Sport Luxury both add some significant gear like adaptive dampers, 360-degree panoramic view monitor, Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio and a heap of standard and optional driver assist systems.

There's more detail on the equipment, pricing and where the NX fits against its opposition here.

Climb aboard the NX and the funkiness of the exterior continues. While most car dashboards flow, the NX juts and staggers down from a tablet-style screen through a series of angular waves. It takes some getting used to.

Most challenging is the third-generation Lexus Remote Touch Controller, which uses finger touch on a pad to control a series of functions including sat-nav, telephone and climate. Like any mouse pad adaptation takes time and it is not hard to become distracted – which is not good when you are driving.

When needed, a 'back' button helps dig you out of the maze.

Continuing the new-age theme are the drive mode controller – which primarily sets the NX's powertrain up to run in Eco, Normal or Sport – the electric park brake and an EV switch that allows electric-only running briefly at low speed.

More orthodox are the storage opportunities in the cabin, which include door bins, cupholders and a centre lidded bin. Inside you'll find the expected 21st century plug-in requirements. Smartphone connection via Bluetooth was a straight forward process.

Rear-seat room is adequate rather than outstanding. The tale of the tape explains why. Compared to the Q5 and X3 the NX is between 40 and 50mm narrower and about 150mm shorter between the axles.

But its tapered body is around the same length overall, which helps explain why it still has a decent boot at 475 litres. It is claimed to fit four 9.5-inch golf bags or two 77cm Samsonite suitcase. Fold down the rear seats and the space expands to 1520 litres, which is enough to handle a full-size mountain bike laid flat with the front wheel removed.

So what's not to like? The driving actually.

The problem is that at its very core the NX is based on an old Toyota RAV4 architecture. Lexus is very keen to stress the NX's underpinnings are 90 per cent new. But all that work still hasn't delivered a vehicle competitive with the best in class.

Drive it on a bumpy, rough and rutted Australian urban or country road and the NX gets messy. Fundamentally, it feels like Lexus has tried to overcome fundamental weaknesses with a stiffer set-up of the front struts and rear double wishbone suspension systems – like lacquering concrete onto a cardboard box.

Low speed ride is too brittle and intrusive and doesn't improve much as the pace rises.

The handling is soggy when pushed, albeit smothered by the stability and traction control tune. Low-speed steering is light for town work, but pick up the pace and rutted corners will provoke kickback and rack rattle through the steering we haven't encountered for years.

Urban manoeuvrability isn't helped by a poor 11.4m turning circle and limited vision to the rear and sides.

The regenerative braking system is just way too sensitive to modulate smoothly. A tap of the pedal will dive the nose of the car suddenly forward.

Road noise on coarse surfaces is also more intrusive than we would expect from a Lexus, although it's still darn quiet. Of course you don't hear much at all when the NX is in EV mode, which theoretically it can be up to 45km/h. That's definitely good for fuel saving in dense urban traffic.

We didn't encounter much of that which helps explain our 8.5L/100km fuel consumption average. It also meant we got to hear plenty of the engine working hard.

Despite the power and torque boost the electric motor delivers, there is no doubt the NX doesn't have the sheer grunt of its diesel opposition – or the latest turbo-petrol engines either. A 9.2 sec 0-100km/h acceleration time underlines that.

The CVT doesn't provide much joy either. Even with the ability to change manually via six 'steps' there's not the interactive connection of a dual clutch transmission or quality torque converter automatic.

All of which leaves us really disappointed. We expect better from Lexus.

There is an undoubtedly compelling case for Lexus to build the NX 300h compact SUV and there is every chance it will be a big sales success.

And there is no doubting it has some strong attributes; but it also some serious shortcomings that leave it lagging the best and most popular vehicles in the class.