The redesigned Lexus NX range has been priced ahead of its arrival later in January 2022.
The range opens $3300 higher than the old car but there’s a raft of new features available, not to mention a new platform and new powertrains.
The range now opens with the NX250, which features a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. From there, you step up to new, more powerful hybrid and turbocharged four-cylinder options, with the range topped by Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid model in Australia.
The NX line-up has been rearranged, with F Sport and Sports Luxury models now priced identically albeit offering different equipment. The flagship NX450h+ plug-in hybrid is available only in F Sport guise.
All models now feature safe exit assist, which prevents occupants from stepping out of the car into traffic.
There’s now a junction assist function for the autonomous emergency braking, as well as Emergency Steering Assist and Lexus’ Parking Support Brake which applies the brakes if it detects you’re about to reverse into the path of another vehicle.
Other new features for the NX line include a digital rear-view mirror, semi-autonomous parking assist, a panoramic sunroof, and heated, power-folding rear seats.
The suite of Lexus Connected Services has thus far only been confirmed to include SOS, stolen vehicle tracking, and automatic collision notification functions, however Lexus promises to reveal the full range of features plus pricing late in January.
The NX is backed by Lexus’ new five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which also includes the Encore owner benefits program. This includes special hotel offers and a 5c/litre discount at Ampol service stations.
The new NX has moved to the TNGA-K architecture that underpins the current generation of Toyota RAV4.
It’s 30mm longer between the wheels than the old model, 20mm longer overall, and 5mm taller, so expect marginally improved cabin space.
It gets a stiffer upper body thanks to a whole new structure, laser peening, and more high-tensile steel.
Greater application of sound-deadening foam, and new glass and seals, slash NVH intrusion by a claimed 15 per cent.
Pricing
- 2022 Lexus NX250: $60,800
- 2022 Lexus NX250 with Enhancement Pack: $63,800
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Luxury 2WD: $65,600
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Luxury AWD: $70,400
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Sports Luxury 2WD: $73,100
- 2022 Lexus NX350h F Sport 2WD: $73,100
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Luxury AWD with Enhancement Pack: $73,400
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Sports Luxury AWD: $77,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350 F Sport AWD: $77,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350h F Sport AWD: $77,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Sports Luxury AWD with Enhancement Pack 1: $80,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350 F Sport AWD with Enhancement Pack 1: $80,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350h F Sport AWD with Enhancement Pack 1: $80,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350h Sports Luxury AWD with Enhancement Pack 2: $83,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350 F Sport AWD with Enhancement Pack 2: $83,900
- 2022 Lexus NX350h F Sport AWD with Enhancement Pack 2: $83,900
- 2022 Lexus NX450h+ F Sport AWD: $89,900
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
The 2022 Lexus NX comes with a range of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The NX250 uses a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 152kW of power and 243Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. It has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.7 seconds.
The NX350 uses a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 205kW and 430Nm, mated with an eight-speed automatic. The 0-100km/h time is reduced to 7.0 seconds.
The NX350h has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain with 179kW of power. Lexus lists maximum torque figures of 239Nm for the engine and 270Nm for the 2WD model’s electric motor and 391Nm for the AWD models’ electric motors.
0-100km/h times are 8.7 seconds for front-wheel drive models and 7.7 seconds for all-wheel drive models, while the NX350h uses an electronic continuously-variable transmission (e-CVT).
The NX450h+ mates a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors and an 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery, with a total system output of 227kW of power and a 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds.
Fuel Economy
The 2022 Lexus NX uses 6.9L/100km in NX250 guise, 8.1L/100km in the NX350 and 5.0L/100km in the NX350h.
The plug-in hybrid NX450h+ has an electric-only range claim of 87km (NEDC standard) and a 1.3L/100km combined cycle fuel economy rating.
Dimensions
The 2022 Lexus NX measures 4660mm long, 1865mm wide, 1640mm tall and rides on a 2690mm wheelbase.
The NX250 weighs 1705kg, while the NX350h weighs 1810kg in front-wheel drive guise and 1870kg with all-wheel drive.
Servicing and Warranty
The Lexus NX is covered by Lexus’ new five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with electrified models featuring a 10-year, unlimited-kilometre battery warranty.
Service pricing has yet to be announced.
Safety
The redesigned Lexus NX has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- AEB with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection and junction assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition
- Safe exit assist
- Emergency Steering Assist
- Reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors
- 10 airbags
Standard Equipment
The NX250 and NX350h Luxury come standard with the following equipment:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 8.0-inch driver display
- Satellite navigation
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10-speaker sound system
- Power tailgate
- Dual-zone climate control
- Lexus Climate Concierge
- Heated front seats
- Eight-way power front seats with two-way driver’s lumbar support
- Keyless entry and start
- Electro-chromatic rear-view mirror
- LED headlights with auto-levelling and automatic high-beam
- Selectable drive modes
- Lexus Connected Services
The optional Enhancement Pack includes:
- Single-pane sunroof
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Wireless phone charging
There are two forks you can take once you step above the Luxury trim level: the luxury-focused Sports Luxury, or the sportier F Sport.
F Sport
The NX350 F Sport and NX350h F Sport include the following:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- “High-grade” 8.0-inch driver’s display
- Colour head-up display
- Surround-view camera
- Ventilated front seats
- Wireless phone charging
- Power driver’s seat with memory
- Adaptive suspension
- F Sport performance dampers
- F Sport seats
- F Sport pedals, scuff plates, steering wheel and shifter
- F Sport grille and bumpers
- Tri-beam LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- Hadori aluminium trim
- Selectable drive modes including Sport S+ and Custom
The optional Enhancement Pack 1 adds a panoramic sunroof, while Enhancement Pack 2 includes:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Digital rear-view mirror
- 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system
- Semi-autonomous parking assist (NX350h F Sport AWD only)
The Sports Luxury, conversely, receives the following over the Luxury grade:
- Leather-accented interior trim
- 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- “High-grade” 8.0-inch driver’s display
- Tri-beam LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- Colour head-up display
- Surround-view camera
- Ventilated front seats
- Wireless phone charging
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Mark Levinson 17-speaker sound system
- Sumi black walnut trim
Enhancement Pack 1 still includes only a panoramic sunroof, while Enhancement Pack 2 differs from the F Sport’s pack by offering:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated rear seats
- 60/40 power-folding rear seats
- Semi-autonomous parking assist (NX350h only)
The flagship NX450h+ F Sport features the same equipment list as the NX350h F Sport, but for the addition of the following:
- Single-pane sunroof
- Digital rear-view mirror
- Heated steering wheel
That means it misses out on the Mark Levinson sound system.
Colours
The NX range is available in the following colours:
- Sonic Quartz
- Titanium
- Sonic Chrome
- Onyx
- Graphite Black
- Caliente
- Khaki Metal
- Celestial Blue
- White Nova (F Sport only)
- Cobalt Mica (F Sport only)
NX250, Luxury and Sports Luxury models are available with the following interior trims:
- Black & Rich Cream
- Hazel
- Black
- Dark Rose
F Sport models are available with seats in either white, black or Flare Red.
MORE: Everything Lexus NX
