The Lexus NX is the subject of the test drive this week.FAST FACTS
* Model: Lexus NX 200t F Sport * Exterior color: Nebula Gray Pearl * Interior color: Black * Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged * Horsepower: 235 * Transmission: six-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 22 mpg city * Dealer: Lexus of Chattanooga * Price (as tested): $45,609
Lexus is clear about its target customers for the new NX compact luxury crossover: young urban drivers.
That’s all well and good, and the NX may indeed become the crossover of choice for the junior executive crowd, but a much likelier audience is older customers — a.k.a. empty-nesters — who are loyal to the Lexus brand but who no longer need the interior volume of the company’s larger SUVs.
David Hickman, sales manager at Lexus of Chattanooga on Lee Highway, says most of his pre-orders for the brand-new NX are from baby boomers who want to downsize.
The New York Times reported this week that small SUVs accounted for almost of a third of the 5 percent surge nationally in auto sales this year, and that the small cross-over segment now trails only compact and midsize cars and full-size trucks for market supremacy.
We recently drove one of the first NX’s to hit the ground in Chattanooga, a turbocharged, Nebula Gray Pearl model in fancy F Sport trim. Our first impression is that Lexus is ready to claim a big share of the compact luxury SUV segment, which is also home to the likes of the Lincoln MKC, the Acura RDX and the BMW X3.
Our well-equipped, all-wheel-drive tester has a sticker prices of $45,609. The base NX 200t starts at $34,480, while the hybrid model, the 300h, starts at $39,720.
STYLING AND COMFORT
The NX is certainly no shrinking violet when it comes to styling. In fact, it looks a like a weaponized Toyota RAV-4, the original compact SUV. Our F Sport tester comes with a massive black-mesh Spindle grille — an hour-glass design that has become the signature of the brand’s new, more-aggressive design language.
The exterior door panels feature an undulating belt-line and deep folds in the sheet metal that wedge into the rocker panels. Lexus calls the lines “faceted,” which suggests they are inspired by fine jewelry. The NX also has swept headlamps and LED running lights arrayed symmetrically in Nike swoosh-like patterns. A raked windshield that makes the compact SUV look fast while standing still.
Our test car has 19-inch, split-spoke, forged-alloy wheels shod with summer tires.
Inside, any family resemblance to the more pedestrian RAV-4 quickly fades away as NX’s luxury pedigree becomes obvious. The seats in our F Sport tester are covered in durable Nuluxe, which has all the tactile qualities of leather but shouldn’t cry out for Botox injections later in life like some worn organic finishes. The center stack is marked by a bold, polished aluminum frame that pulls all the dials and switch-gear together into one, unified whole.
Gary Webb, a Lexus of Chattanooga sales specialist, demonstrated the NX’s nifty touch-pad system that literally puts the crossover’s multimedia, climate and navigation functions at your fingertips. Located to the left of the shifter on the center stack, the touch pad features a cursor, just like your laptop computer. There’s even a padded palm rest so your wrist doesn’t get tired, a thoughtful design touch.
You can also operate the telematics by voice, asking the NX’s computer brain, for example, to find the nearest Greek restaurant. You can also ask for real-time weather and traffic reports. Checking the navigation package box adds $2,140 to the NX’s bottom line, but also comes with an upgraded 10-speaker stereo system.
Seating is comfortable for four adults. If you need an SUV to regularly carry five, the larger Lexus RX is your best bet. The rear seats of the NX are elevated to improve visibility for passengers. The storage area behind the back seat is big enough for your weekly grocery haul.
One of the neatest features of the NX is a charger tray that allows you to replenish your smartphone’s battery without unsightly chords. Simply toss your phone into the tray, located inside the center console, and an indicator light tells you when it’s fully charged.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The NX features the luxury brand’s first attempt at a turbocharged engine. Rest assured, the new 2.0-liter four-cylinder power plant with twin-scroll turbocharger technology, is infused with Lexus goodness.
On our test-drive on I-75, the NX threaded through holiday traffic with aplomb. Its six-speed automatic engine ticks through its gears with seamless precision. Lexus says the NX 200t’s 0-60 mph time is 7.2 seconds. The engine makes 235 horsepower and delivers 258 pound-feet of torque.
The NX comes equipped with a drive-mode selector, which lets you toggle between settings depending on road conditions, and frankly, your mood. Dial in “eco” to get maximum fuel economy, or “sport” to sharpen throttle response and shorten transmission shift points.
All-wheel drive is a worthwhile upgrade on all NX trim levels. It boosts resale value and also comes in handy during the winter months, when the Chattanooga-area’s mountainous terrain can turn small snow and ice events into significant hazards. Non-hybrid all-wheel-drive models like our tester should average 27 miles per gallon city and 22 mpg highway. The front-wheel drive hybrid 300h model, meanwhile, boasts 35 mpg highway and 31 mpg city.
BOTTOM LINE
The NX is the right vehicle at the right time for an automaker that doesn’t make many mistakes. Lexus’ core customers, affluent baby boomers, should flock to the compact luxury SUV as their carpooling and hauling needs diminish.
Don’t forget, it takes a degree of athleticism, or at least youthful exuberance, to maneuver a full-size SUV. With its creature comforts and compact dimensions, the NX is an easy-to-drive alternative for down-sizers. Meanwhile, it has enough sex appeal and engineering prowess to attract new buyers to the brand, as well.
And that’s a win-win formula.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.