The new 2015 Lexus NX 200t gets a lot of things right on paper that make it worth your attention. There's the styling, which is perhaps the most dramatic (and perhaps, most complete) interpretation of the Lexus' L-Finesse design language. Personally, I like the look, but your mileage may vary.
The NX is also packing the automaker's first-ever turbocharged engine, which is also the first such engine from Toyota Motor Company since the Supra's 2JZ-GTE was abandoned back in 2002. The cabin tech uses a trackpad like the one on your laptop and connects to the Internet via your mobile smartphone.
The NX, then, almost screams, "Hey, look at me! Lexus is cool now!" Fortunately, once it has your attention, the new NX 200t follows up with a class competitive performance.
Lexus' first turbo
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine uses a version of the automaker's D-4S system that has been optimized for use with the twin-scroll, intercooled turbocharger. The D-4S system combines port and direct injection systems to gain the benefits of both fuel injection technologies dependent on the engine speed and temperature. The stated output is 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque -- not an amazing amount of power for the 4,050-pound crossover, but enough to put its performance head and shoulders above the Toyota RAV4, with which it shares a platform, and on a par with the competition from Acura and the like.
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That engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the only gearbox available for the 200t. Aside from the standard shift program, there's also a manual shift mode that allows the driver to fire off an up- or downshift by nudging the shift lever to and fro. Paddle shifters would make that manual shift mode more useful, but our example was not equipped with the F Sport package that would have added them.
From the trans-axle, power flows to the standard 17-inch front wheels where it meets the road. Our example features the automaker's optional all-wheel-drive system, but it is an on-demand setup that still defaults to a front-drive configuration under most conditions and only engages the rear wheels when additional traction is required, when slip is detected, or during cornering.
The all-wheel-drive system's on demand nature means that it doesn't have much of an adverse effect on fuel economy. At 21 mpg city, the AWD models is just 1 mpg lower than the front wheel-drive model. The 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined fuel economy estimates are the same regardless of configuration. I averaged exactly 24 mpg during my week of testing, which is spot on with that estimate. For reference, pretty much within 2 to 3 mpg of the Acura RDX AWD, Lincoln MKC 2.3L Ecoboost, Audi Q5 2.0TFSI, and BMW X3 xDrive28i.
Drivers looking for more of an emphasis on economy should perhaps wait for the Lexus NX 300h with its hybrid powertrain that should be good for up to a claimed 35 mpg in the city.
Drive modes and performance
At the front of the center console is a knob that allows the person in the hot seat to toggle between three different drive modes. Normal is the baseline -- switching to Sport sharpens up the throttle response for more immediate acceleration and adjusts the transmission program to allow higher revs and better access to the stated power at the expense of a few mpgs. On the other hand, the Eco mode makes the opposite changes to those systems, keeping the revs low and the throttle light.
Lexus has done a fairly good job with the NX 200t's handling despite the tall crossover chassis and the weight that comes with it. No one's going to mistake the NX for a sports sedan, but the performance reminds me of the old Acura RDX Turbo, yet without that car's sometimes skittishly rough ride over mid-corner bumps. It's not so much that the Lexus feels fun to drive (though I did enjoy tossing it around), rather it's more that the small SUV feels planted and confident when cornering or jaunting around an unexpected bit of debris on the highway.
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On the other hand, the turbocharged engine is all grins with good acceleration for a vehicle of this size. Lexus says that the NX 200t AWD will hit 60 mph from a standing start in 7 seconds flat, but more importantly for real-world driving is the engine's fairly even power delivery. I didn't notice much in the way of turbo lag, but I did notice a bit of kickdown hesitation from the gearbox when asked to accelerate for a pass. It's nothing that can't be fixed by choosing the Sport program (which really does change the responsiveness of the powertrain), or by preselecting a lower gear using the manual shift mode and then laying into the throttle.
Research and compare the 2015 Lexus NX 200t and get MSRP, invoice price, used car book values, expert reviews, photos, features, pros and cons, equipment, specs
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Lexus good first crack at the compact luxury segment. EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Ive been wanting to drive this since I saw it as a concept a couple Tokyo shows ago.
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2015 Lexus NX 200t: Review
In this review I'll go over the ALL-NEW 2015 Lexus NX200T! I'll go over the exterior, interior, mechanics, safety and I'll throw in some revs at the end
