Due to go on sale in Australia before the end of 2021, the 2022 Lexus NX has been revealed overnight with a new platform, new drivetrains, a new look and a much-improved interior. Competing with cars such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60, the NX is Lexus’ best-selling car globally and as a result, is definitely the most important car that the brand currently sells.
The new generation car will offer a wide range of available powerplants, including a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a hybrid option from the Toyota RAV4 and even a brand-first plug-in hybrid with 225kW of power. The 2022 Lexus NX is due to go on sale in Australia before the end of 2021.
Lexus Australia Chief Executive Scott Thompson said the all-new NX represented a leap forward for the luxury lifestyle brand and a luxury medium SUV that is the most popular Lexus in Australia.
“The all-new Lexus NX is an extensive leap forward for design, performance and technology, with its athletic exterior matched by a dynamic new cockpit concept, advanced powertrains, plus engaging steering and handling,” Mr Thompson said.
“When these attributes combine with trademark-Lexus quality and luxury, ride comfort and refinement, we are confident the all-new NX will create a new luxury medium SUV benchmark when it arrives in November.”
Now riding on the same TNGA-K platform as the latest generation Toyota RAV4, the 2022 Lexus NX is now longer, wider and taller than the car it replaces. Despite gaining in size, it’s also lost weight – up to 91kg, depending on the model. Measuring 4,660mm long, 1,865mm wide, 1,640mm tall and with a 2,690mm long wheelbase, the new NX is 20mm longer and wider, 5mm taller and with a 30mm-longer wheelbase than the previous car.
Stylistically, the 2022 Lexus NX has changed in an evolutionary way – the side profile even looks quite similar to the old model. But there are many detail changes, such as the new light bar at the rear that joins the tailights, rear ‘L E X U S’ badging, even more angular headlights and the latest generation of the company’s ‘spindle’ grille.
Inside the 2022 Lexus NX is a big improvement on the last generation car with a much more upmarket design through the use of more premium materials and more available technology, such as the huge 14.0-inch touchscreen that has finally gotten rid of the previous touchpad interface. The system now features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a voice recognition system that can be activated simply by saying “hey Lexus”. The cabin also features touch-sensitive interior door handles that won’t open the door if moving traffic is detected.
In addition to the trick door handles, the 2022 Lexus NX features the latest ‘Lexus Safety System+ 3.0’, which includes automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, oncoming vehicle and intersection assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, front- and rear-cross traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane trace assist, lane departure alert, road sign assist, auto high beam and a 360-degree parking camera.
Available drivetrains for the 2022 Lexus NX include the NX250, which uses the same 152kW 2.5-litre petrol engine and eight-speed auto as the Toyota Camry and RAV4. Above the NX250 sits the NX350, which uses a 205kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The hybrid option is the NX350h, which uses the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain as the aforementioned Camry and RAV4. Finally, arriving later on is the NX450h+, which combines the same 2.5L petrol engine to a larger battery pack for 225kW in total and more than 60km of electric-only driving range.
The 2022 Lexus NX is due to land in Australia before the end of 2021, with pricing and full specs to be announced before then. The current model is priced from $57,500 plus on-road costs, and over one million have been made since the car’s release in 2014.
Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto for the latest news and reviews.
Leave a Reply