Lexus ushers in the 2022 NX compact SUV with major upgrades under the hood and inside the cabin.
The love-it-or-hate-it spindle grille still glares angrily at oncoming cars. Other aspects of the exterior design receive minor changes.
The big news is the significant expansion of the powertrain lineup, which includes a plug-in hybrid. While Toyota has had plug-in hybrids for years, this marks the first one for its luxury brand, Lexus.
The interior receives a welcome redesign, with a new infotainment system leading a long list of improvements. The safety equipment suite is also enhanced.
2022 Lexus NX 250 (starting at $39,425)
Serving as the entry-level trim, the NX 250 rides on the latest Toyota RAV4 platform and shares that SUV’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing a modest 203 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission routes power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
Lexus has eked out more space inside the cabin, which has room for four adults, five in a pinch.
In front of the driver is a 7-inch instrument display, and in the center of the dash sits a 9.8-inch touchscreen. There is an optional 14.0-inch touchscreen, and Lexus’ at-times fussy infotainment system gets a complete redesign with a slick new infotainment system. In addition to taking commands via touch, it also works — and works well — by voice. You can give an instruction or even make a reference, and it will seek to suit you. For example, feeling too hot? Say, “Hey Lexus, I’m hot,” and the system will take action to cool the cabin.
Wisely, Lexus has also kept rotary controls for frequently used functions such as climate control and audio volume. There is also a traditional gear shift lever instead of the kind of buttons some rivals have. But the gear is on the small side and takes some getting used to.
Wireless phone charging is a new optional feature, and there is also an optional 10-inch head-up display.
New seat designs offer more headroom and legroom, and the seats come heated as standard in front and with optional heating in the rear. An optional interior illumination system can treat occupants to a multi-color ambient lighting display.
Another new feature for the NX is a panoramic sunroof that can be opened by front and rear passengers.
Outside, the NX comes with three new color choices: Redline, Cloudburst Gray, and Grecian Water. The rear of the vehicle has been redesigned with a full-width combination light, and a 3-projector headlamp display is optional.
One of the major improvements is the enhanced suite of safety features. Known as Lexus Safety System 3.0, the suite includes blind-spot warning, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Further refinements to the system include detection of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists in a turn, steering and braking assistance to avoid collisions, road sign recognition, and safe vehicle exit assist. The latter works in conjunction with the new electronic door handles. Instead of pulling a latch, you press a button to open the door both inside and out. This can prevent the door from opening to the danger of, say, a passing car or cyclist. You can override the system, mechanically open the door with a small key if need be.
The NX is also offering an optional camera-based rearview mirror, which provides a clear view behind the vehicle even if rear sightlines are obstructed by passengers or cargo inside.
In base models, all-wheel drive (AWD) is $1,600. It is standard on all other models. But while the NX 250 is the most affordable grade, we would recommend stepping up at least one trim level to the NX 350, which provides significantly improved performance.
Adding in the $1,075 destination fee, the Lexus NX 250 sticker comes to $40,500. Given 3% financing over 60 months and no down payment, that would produce a monthly payment of $728. Find a 2022 Lexus NX 250 for sale
2022 Lexus NX 250 includes:
- Impressive safety aids – Impressive and extensive suite of safety systems.
- Revised infotainment system – Claimed to be much more user-friendly.
- New seat designs – More comfortable and spacious for passengers.
2022 Lexus NX 350 ($43,025)
The NX 350 boosts power output to 275 horsepower thanks to a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Here again, the transmission is an 8-speed automatic. As previously mentioned, another perk with this engine is standard all-wheel drive.
This powertrain makes the Lexus NX a peppy and entertaining companion that also never forgets its primary duty of being comfortable and compliant. We found the Lexus NX 350 to be very competent on both city streets and the open highway.
You can also order the NX 350 in F Sport form, which adds some cabin trim enhancements to the interior and an active suspension system. Inside, the F Sport changes include a unique steering wheel, sport seats, aluminum pedals, and scuff plates.
The F Sport exterior is distinguished by a different grille, bumpers, and 20-inch gloss black wheels. A further refinement to the F Sport version is an available luxury package, which adds the 14-inch touchscreen, unique headlamps, and the multi-color interior lighting system. The 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport retails for $48,125.
Adding in the $1,075 destination fee, the Lexus NX 350 sticker comes to $44,100. Given 3% financing over 60 months and no down payment, that would produce a monthly payment of $792. Find a 2022 Lexus NX 350 for sale
2022 Lexus NX 350 includes:
- Turbocharged engine – Significant power boost brings swifter acceleration.
- F Sport option – Dresses up the standard NX 350 with unique trim inside and out.
2022 Lexus NX 350h ($42,625)
The first of two hybrids in the NX line, the NX 350h is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors. With one electric motor mounted at the rear, the NX 350h comes as standard with AWD.
The system’s total power output is 239 horsepower, which is a significant 20% jump from the previous NX hybrid model.
While the 350h trades some of the power found on the non-hybrid 350, you can expect improved efficiency — the primary reason most buyers seek a hybrid. That said, it’s also an able companion in town and country. Other than some drone from the continuously variable transmission (CVT) under hard acceleration, there’s not much to dislike — and much to love as you pass gas stations. The EPA rates the NX 350h at 41 mpg city/37 mpg highway/39 mpg combined.
You can also order the NX 350h in F Sport trim.
Adding in the $1,075 destination fee, the Lexus NX 350h sticker comes to $43,700. Given 3% financing over 60 months and no down payment, that would produce a monthly payment of $785. Find a 2022 Lexus NX 350h for sale
2022 Lexus NX 350h includes:
- Standard AWD – A plus for cold climate buyers.
- Improved hybrid fuel economy – It’s rated at 37 miles per gallon on the highway.
2022 Lexus NX 450h+ ($57,225)
The new range-topping NX trim is the 450h+, a plug-in hybrid that adopts the same 302 horsepower powertrain as the Toyota RAV4 Prime.
With a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors, one at each axle, the NX 450h also comes with AWD as standard. This NX is unusually powerful for a vehicle in its class, which makes it the trim of choice for performance enthusiasts. In addition to being the most efficient model in the lineup, it’s also the most potent and fastest, with a 0-60 mph time of just 6 seconds. EPA combined fuel economy with gasoline is 36 mpg.
If buyers want more visual appeal and handling prowess, the same F Sport package offered on the NX 350 and NX 350h is available.
For more eco-minded consumers, the NX 450h+ achieves 37 miles on battery power alone. The standard 3.0-kW charger will take 4.5 hours to recharge the battery using a 240-volt outlet. An optional 6.6-kW charger cuts that time to 2.5 hours.
Adding in the $1,075 destination fee, the Lexus NX 450h sticker comes to $58,300. That is a significant difference between the other models, but as a plug-in hybrid, the NX 450h+ is eligible for up to a $7,500 federal tax credit. Given 3% financing over 60 months and no down payment, that would produce a monthly payment of $1,048. Find a Lexus NX 450h for sale
2022 Lexus NX 450h includes:
- Performance potential – More than 300 horsepower makes the NX peppy.
- Battery range – Can run up to 37 miles without using the gasoline engine.
- F Sport package – Dresses up the standard NX appearance.
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