Martin J

I should have known better 😉

Entering this discussion at my peril, but I'm an NX owner who likes driving. Please do not try to convince me that I do not like driving! It's true that SUVs have higher CoG, greater frontal area and generally weigh slightly more than equivalently-priced saloons or hatchbacks (though only a few tens of kilos for the NX over the ES). It's more of a challenge to get an acceptable ride/handling compromise, too, though Lexus manage it pretty well. But many people (including me) like the higher driving position, easy of entry and exit, airy cabins, and practicality of crossover-type SUVs. There's now almost a continuum of aspect ratios for vehicle design, from slightly raised hatchbacks (GLA, UX) to taller SUVs like the RX and Discovery. If you take a long view, until the early 1960s cars had a similar height and seat hip point to many current SUVs. The quest for lowness, which predated concerns about economy, can be seen as something of an aberration in car design (with the exception of sports cars, for which handling and lightness are crucial design objectives). The "SUV" label is now somewhat unhelpful as it embraces an increasingly large proportion of the models on sale, and the unexpected sales success of the first Nissan Qashqai showed the huge appetite for slightly higher cars. Indeed, the Qashqai and Kuga are arguably now what family cars look like, rather than being some kind of niche vehicle. This is why I think campaigns for a blanket ban on "SUV" advertising on the grounds of reducing CO2 emissions are misplaced. It's surely better to focus on the CO2 emissions of all vehicles regardless of format, and let customers exercise choice as to the height of their vehicle. And when Tesla figure out how to build them properly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Model Y outsells the 3.

The Toyota/Lexus hybrid system is pretty bulletproof. We have a Prius with over 180K that's been trouble-free, and no doubt there are RX400h owners with even higher mileages. On an different point, one advantage of the Luxury over the Premier is that the former has a rotary infotainment controller that imho is much easier to use, especially on the move, than the awful trackpad thing..

I've also been lurking on Tesla forums since I started pondering a M3 or MY to replace the NX. But the build quality lottery, and concern about long-term reliability, make it very unlikely that Elon will be getting my money. While I've got some admiration for the way that he changed the weather on EVs, I can't understand from a business viewpoint why he has such a relaxed attitude to quality control. At the moment Teslas sell without any marketing spend, but that won't last indefinitely as the EV competition gets stronger. And life is too short to spend it trying to get your car fixed. Perhaps the Berlin-built Teslas will be a revelation. Perhaps.

When I bought new in 2015 the Luxury spec felt like good value over the SE, with powered leather seats, fog lights, and metallic trim inserts that looked much classier than the SE trim. The Premier spec seemed like a lot of extra cash for not much gain except the ML audio and head-up display. Navigation was optional but most Luxury spec cars - at least in the UK - seem to have been ordered with it. I guess the price increments between grades for 5-year old cars are now much smaller, so mileage and condition will be factors.

Great looking car, especially I think in darker colours. Out of interest, did you consider a slightly newer NX at the same price point? Impressed by how many RX450h owners get fuel economy close to or matching us NX owners. Does make me wonder whether the NX powertrain is as efficient as it should be.

Just sparing a thought for the RC, if indeed it does get pulled next month. I recall it was launched around the same time as the NX, and in that parallel universe where I didn't need to buy a family sized vehicle, I'd have bought an RC300h like a shot. It's a gorgeous piece of styling imho, and, in terms of distinctiveness, I've seen more Ferraris than RCs around Yorkshire in the last few years. The sporty pretensions of its competitors (though I'm not sure it really had any close competitors) probably made it even more vulnerable than other Lexus models to motoring journalists' congenital inability to understand hybrid drivetrains. RIP.

This question prompts me to wonder about smaller wheels, rather than bigger ones. The original NX300h had 17 inch rather than 18 inch wheels, presumably with taller sidewall tyres. I suspect it was the best-riding NX, but it would be interesting to hear from anyone who owns one or drove one. Personally I think the trend to ever bigger wheels and lower profile tyres has gone too far, especially with our disintegrating roads, but I know that the aesthetic appeal of big wheels is important for some buyers.

In an earlier post I imagined a Tesla M3 or MY with the build quality and refinement of a Lexus, and wondered if such a car was still some years away. But here is the Polestar 2, now on sale, with a bunch of very positive reviews, especially in relation to build quality. It will be interesting to see if it lives up to the early assessments. https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/polestar/2

Had to smile at this. I'd almost forgotten about the misery of setting up the DAB on my NX when it was new. That was an afternoon I'll never get back.

Agree with Herbie, but just a word of reassurance on the nickel-metal-hydride traction battery. The similar battery on our 15 year old Prius has never gone flat, and still performs pretty much like new, holding its charge for extended periods of non-use. It's probably the very last thing to worry about on the car. Hope you enjoy the Lexus ownership experience.

I entirely agree with Colin about the best EVs being designed from the ground up. Indeed I'd hoped that the next NX might be just that, perhaps using the recently announced e-TNGA architecture. EVs ought to be a perfect fit with the Lexus values of silent, comfortable driving, but it seems to be taking them *forever* given the head start Toyota had with hybrids. On John's comment about "mugs", I thought he was referring to the idea, expressed in Harry's Youtube video, that we change our cars far too often given how durable they've become with regular maintenance. I don't entirely agree with Harry on EVs - he doesn't take account of the carbon footprint of refining and distributing fossil fuels - but on this I think he has a point. If the 2nd generation NX is indeed based on the "conventional" TNGA RAV4 platform, it probably won't represent enough of an advance to be worth changing my car for, and I'll hang on until Lexus have something to compete with the Model 3/Y.

..is not exactly top of my list of concerns at the moment. But lockdown has provided an opportunity to think about what, if anything, should replace my NX in the next couple of years. As a private cash buyer I tend to keep cars for a long-ish time, and for the last year or so I've been convinced that my next car really should be an EV with a range of at least 400km (since i have a regular family 330km trip). And I'd been very close to buying a Tesla Model 3 before lockdown. Since then, I've been reflecting on what I value in car ownership. Reliability, build quality and ease of ownership rate very highly for me, and on the very rare occasions when the NX has needed any attention it's been a delightfully straightforward and comfortable experience. None of these three areas are ones where Tesla currently score very highly, and buying a Model 3 still seems like a lottery in terms of build quality from my researches. This is an oft-told story, and I know that things are improving. But I don't have confidence about what a 6-year-old Model 3 will look and feel like. Another oft-told story is Toyota's reluctance to get into battery EVs, having bet the farm on fuel cells. I fear that the next NX will simply be based closely on the newish RAV4, and it seems pretty clear that it will therefore include a plug-in hybrid. But I'd expect more than that from a new generation of NX. I'd expect an NX450e. A Tesla with Lexus build quality and ownership experience; or a midsize Lexus with Model 3-beating range and technology would be a fine thing, but neither appears close. I'm starting to think that I'll still be driving my 2015 NX in 2025 (and in fairness it'll probably still be faultlessly reliable, and as edgy in design terms as the new cars of 2025).

Noted in the NX forum that I liked the UX, having had one as a loan car, but thought (as someone who prefers cash to PCP/lease) that it was poor VFM. However a quick look at the Audi configurator shows a Takumi-equivalent spec Q3 at around £44k. It may be that, for cash purchasers at least, this size of compact SUV from premium manufacturers just looks expensive compared with the next size up (in these cases NX or Q5). You really have to want the compact format!

Assume it's a 300h, and not a 200T? There are several older threads about 300h fuel consumption in the forum; 31.5 mpg is at the thirsty end of the ranges reported. I've averaged 41 mpg overall (typically 43 in summer, 38 in winter).

The CrossClimates SUV could have been designed for the NX. Quieter ride, terrific wet grip, and good wear. Only v minor reservation is that I don't think turn-in is quite as sharp as on my original Bridgestones.

Glad you're enjoying the NX. 30/34 mpg sounds on the very low side, but there are several older threads on here about fuel consumption. Many owners report a big seasonal variation so your fuel economy may improve with warmer weather (in winter I usually average around 38 mpg, and 43 in summer). A plug-in version of the next generation (2021?) seems likely given that Toyota have launched a 302 bhp PHEV version of the new RAV4 and will bring it to the UK (and presumably to Ireland): https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-la-motor-show/toyota-rav4-plug-hybrid-uk-details-confirmed

Good to see Toyota and Lexus finally making the leap to full EV, but hard to see the UX300e being more than a niche model unless it gets more range. I thought the TNGA platform on which the UX and ES are based was designed from the outset to accommodate a range of drivetrains. But is seems there's a specific e-TNGA platform in the offing: https://www.electrive.com/2019/10/21/toyota-introduces-their-e-tnga-platform/

Interesting review. Just had my NX serviced and had a UX (with premier pack) loaner. Have to say that it's a nice surprise to have the chance to drive a different model from the range (have always in the past been given an NX), especially as I'd had no plans to test drive a UX. Quick impressions align with the review (discounting the usual journalist rubbish about hybrids). Positives Great to drive: responsive drivetrain (the new 2 litre engine is a cracker), with more EV running than in NX, and notably brisker acceleration. Excellent handling and ride (less unsettled than NX). Appealing dash and interior architecture, and more spacious than expected from reviews. The washi dash top finish is distinctive and attractive. Economical: a 60 mile trip using the AC that would have yielded 40 mpg in the NX showed 60 mpg. Negatives Although mostly very quiet, road noise on some surfaces (notably the concrete section of the M1) was appalling, and worse than the NX. More NVH work needed on typical British surfaces, I think. Finishes: some nasty hard plastics in hard places, and both the door trims and the rear of the cabin are too austere at this price. The boot really does seem small, and the rear of the cabin was claustrophobic according to passengers because of the high waist line and thick C pillars. It's very expensive for what you get, and makes the NX look good value. Lexus UK seems to have limited the available exterior and interior colour choices compared with other markets, as is their wont. Why? For example the burnt orange colour in which the UX looks fantastic is only available on the Fsport, and dash trim colours which enhance the washi finish seem to be unavailable here. We seriously pondered whether the UX could replace our NX, but it's too small to be our main family car. Still, an appealing package which could easily be improved (and hopefully will be at facelift time).

Thanks Alan, very useful comments. Inclined at the moment to wait for the gen 2 NX before thinking about replacement.

There have been a few mentions of the new TNGA-based RAV4 in various threads but I'm interested in knowing whether anyone is contemplating replacing their NX with one. I was quite impressed with the cabin of one I examined on a recent trip to a Toyota dealer, and there are significant improvements in emissions, performance and economy over the NX. Presumably we'll have to wait at least a couple of years for the next-gen TNGA/GAK-based NX, so it's worth thinking about. The old RAV4 was much cruder than the NX, however, despite sharing most of the platform, which is a disincentive. Has anyone driven one back-to-back with their NX?

I've come late to this thread - so late that I've missed Paul. It's worth picking up on the oft-discussed "CVT drone" and "gearbox" points though. Owners who enjoy their NXs may feel defensive about this because motoring journalists cut and paste the same criticisms of Lexus models from one review to the next. As long as people expect to hear a linear relationship between engine revs and road speed, they will never get used to a modern hybrid. Even describing the compact power-split e-CVT unit as a "gearbox" kind of misses the point, as though Lexus & Toyota selected it in preference to conventional transmission options for the hell of it. Over 14 years of hybrid ownership I've got completely used to the decoupling of engine speed from road speed, and I still think that the Lexus/Toyota hybrid system is a generation *ahead* of any pure ICE drivetrain. It's a fact than when accelerating hard the NX hybrid system is noisy. It's also a fact that most of the rest of the time - and especially in urban situations - it's much quieter. Since hard acceleration is probably less than 1% of the time spent in the car, it's a tradeoff I'm delighted to make. Others - like Paul - may differ. There's still a challenge for Lexus sales staff in articulating this for potential buyers; and a risk that Lexus might be tempted to compromise the efficiency of the hybrid architecture by trying to replicate the behavior of conventional drivetrains. Perhaps all of this will be rendered irrelevant by the arrival of Lexus EVs in a few years.

I've seen a couple of references elsewhere on the forums to the WLTP fuel economy and emissions regime. But I've only just noticed the figures for the NX. Two things strike me: (i) the figures are much worse than the old NEDC figures; and (ii) the RX now performs as well as the NX, having suffered less from the transition, with, counterintuitively, a lower CO2 emissions figure (134g/km vs 135 for the NX). On (i) the NX WLTP fuel consumption range (35.7 to 37.7 mpg) is now actually worse than many owners will be achieving in mixed driving, and well below the 38 - 46 range between fills I've seen. On (ii), the data suggest that we could have had an NX450h with little if any increase in consumption and emissions, with much better performance and refinement...

Good review, and as you may have seen from various threads in the NX forum, the NX is indeed improved further in terms of ride and road noise by CrossClimates. Also interesting to note how expensive the UX is relative to the NX, which offers a lot more car for not much more cash. Hope you enjoy your NX ownership.

Strangely the reversing camera isn't mentioned in the brochure, but if you look on the used car section of the Lexus website there are a few SEs which clearly have one, so it must have been standard. Maybe an SE owner on here can confirm, but my impression is that relatively few SEs were sold, as the Luxury grade offered significantly more kit for not much more cash. There are a couple of threads on here about the 2017 facelift which may be worth a look. There was some minor restyling which divided opinion (I didn't like it); some changes to the climate controls, a bigger infotainment screen, and some retuning of the suspension to improve the ride. Having driven one, the suspension changes were the most significant of these, but the difference was not huge (swapping the original tyres on my car for much better Michelins had about the same effect). You may have seen that last year Lexus changed the grade system, replacing the previous S/SE/Luxury/Fsport/Premier grades with three: NX/Fsport/Takumi. Hope you end up with the NX you want - I've had mine for over 3 years and have been delighted with it.