Lexus are on the attack with a confident move upwards in an automotive arena where only the fittest and fastest survive. Get it wrong in this market and the wheels will come off spectacularly quickly because this is where mediocrity gets kicked into touch, usually by the Germans.
Not that that worries Lexus. They have already thrown down the gauntlet to the BMW M4 with the brilliant RC F and now they are upping the ante in the compact urban crossover market with the distinctive and, I have to say, alluring NX 200t.
Lexus aren’t new to this market as the NX 200t follows in the tyre tracks of the RX 300, but they are setting a completely new and exciting benchmark, particularly with the top of the range F Sport which we drove. What I really like about Lexus is the uniqueness of their designs which are cutting edge, aggressive, and instantly recognisable, unlike some of the monotonous, yawn inspiring, boxy designs you see amongst some of their rivals.
The NX 200t F Sport looks like it means business as soon as you set eyes on it, with the deep mesh spindle grille which is now a signature design for the marque’s top of the range cars, dominating the look from the front. The gorgeously sculpted L-themed LED headlights and flowing stylish curves give this vehicle a sophisticated, yet muscular look, complimented by its sleek, aerodynamic side profile with flared wheel arches which suggest sports car performance.
The F Sport also comes with bespoke black side mirrors to match the grille and subtle emblems on the front fenders.
The optional 18-inch F Sport
alloy wheels complete the aesthetic appeal of what is a head-turning piece of kit aimed at those looking for a small, smart SUV which packs a punch without costing the earth.
The interior has also been designed to portray a high-end sports car feel with an innovative, sharp design with focus on luxury, comfort and practicality.
There is plenty of heavy-stitched leather, with extremely supportive sports seats, quality metal surfaces, and some outstanding driver assist technology such as the new Lexus Remote Touch Interface which enables the driver to access various functions via a touch pad.
The instrument cluster is digital and changes colour between blue and red to reflect the mood of the driving mode selected; normal, eco, sport or sport plus. The F Sport’s multi-information display also features a G-Force meter, not that I paid much attention to it, but it is an interesting addition.
There is an iPad like infotainment screen on the centre of the dash and it also has a wireless charging tray to recharge your mobile, which is a useful touch.
Amongst the safety gadgets, many of which you find on most quality vehicles these days, is a Panoramic View Monitor, a first for Lexus which basically uses four cameras to provide a 360º view around the car.
Again, the appeal of this interior is that it is imaginative, and feels uniquely refreshing, really pushing the envelope on design.
When this car was launched in Dubai a few weeks back the emphasis was on how it has been designed, built and tested to surpass its rivals by combining luxury, sports car-like appeal and outstanding value for money. They have clearly succeeded from a design and luxury angle but it’s always risky to hype up a car as an athlete on wheels if it can’t deliver on performance.
The NX 200t is powered by the first ever Lexus turbo engine, a two-litre, four cylinder direct injection power plant which produces 235bhp and torque of 360nm which will get you from 0-100kmh in around seven seconds. The car also has adaptive variable suspension, stability control, traction control and newly developed shock absorbers to ensure maximum comfort and performance in all conditions with the power being delivered to the all-wheel drive system via a six-speed automatic gearbox.
So, does this car’s performance match its appearance? Absolutely. It lives up to the hype and does a brilliant job of combining the performance and agility of a sports car with the practicality and luxury of a modern compact SUV and when it comes to value for money, it doesn’t look much better than this.
