Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Lexus NX 300h

[Autos_Editor]

In a compact luxury crossover category with plenty of diesel options, Lexus sticks with hybrid technology to beat the fuel price fluctuations.
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[tpl]

With those quoted power and weight numbers a 2.0T Q5 should have no trouble keeping up at a lot less money...and you don't have to have a cvt either! 

[Noto]

I haven't driven a vehicle with this powertrain, but the "CVT" in the RX400h is anything but something one 'has' to live with.  I quite enjoy it.

My parents' RX is a 2006 - first model year of the hybrid.  It, too, was hella expensive, packaged only one way: loaded.  Next year or the year after, you'll be able to buy one of these a lil' cheaper (but $15,000 or so) depending on how much kit you want in yours.  I don't agree with the practice of first-year gouging, but what can I do about it other than complain?

7.5L/100km = 31.4 US MPG.  That's pretty insane for a ~2,000kg CUV in the city...but yeah, limited cargo space would be something to consider.  I've seen this in person and never thought the trunk looked all that small, but I've also never tried packing it.  It is wider than a Honda Fit, however, and in some instances, that matters more than height or depth.

[johngenx]

The planetary gearbox aka CVT in the Toyota hybrids are outstanding - preferably to any other CVT by far.

[DriverJeff]

The planetary gearbox aka CVT in the Toyota hybrids are outstanding - preferably to any other CVT by far.

Have you tried the ones Subaru is using these days?  I like those (and the ones in the Accord)  much better than any I've experienced attached to a Toyota Hybrid. 

[whaddaiknow]

Nice cute-ute. shame about the price. I simply fail to see the competitive advantage of this rig in the sea of competition in this snack bracket, and I don't consider great fuel economy a key advantage in the luxo world.

[Noto]

The planetary gearbox aka CVT in the Toyota hybrids are outstanding - preferably to any other CVT by far.

Have you tried the ones Subaru is using these days?  I like those (and the ones in the Accord)  much better than any I've experienced attached to a Toyota Hybrid.

+1.  The Subaru version felt like a dual clutch to me.

I am a huge fan of the one in the Subaru Legacy, but not the one in the Forester (older gen of the CVT).

[bombastic]

Price as tested $61,545... What are they thinking? For this price MDX all the way.......

[DriverJeff]

Price as tested $61,545... What are they thinking? For this price MDX all the way.......

The MDX is geared toward people who need more space than the NX can provide.  For some (like me) a more compact Ute would serve my needs just fine and if it happens to be luxurious and easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces, so much the better.

[johngenx]

One of my neighbours is moving from an RX to one of these.  Even their grandkids are driving now so they rarely have more than two in the car and the NX is still more than roomy enough - the RX is not needed at all.  They don't want any Germans and don't really care what the price is as long as they get the car they like.

When chatting about it, I was surprised to hear that they're interested in the exceptional fuel economy - maybe to try to offset some of the massive amounts of fossil fuels their giant $750K diesel pusher motor-home consumes?

I don't think it's going to displace the RX as the volume selling Lexus model - but it's still interesting and I think there might be a niche just big enough to make it work.

[Waterlooresident]

From the front, that thing must be one of the ugliest cars I have ever seen in my entire life.

$61,000   ?    Why not just charge $6,100,000 for it if you are going to go bat-hit crazy about it.

No thanks, I'll stick to the $15,000 Nissan Micra thank you.

[ArticSteve]

The planetary gearbox aka CVT in the Toyota hybrids are outstanding - preferably to any other CVT by far.

Have you tried the ones Subaru is using these days?  I like those (and the ones in the Accord)  much better than any I've experienced attached to a Toyota Hybrid.

You mean to say that you much preferred the drive of the 4 banger Accord CVT (which is quite good) and the CVT found in a "Subaru" to a Toyota "hybrid"?  What metric are you using?  Acceleration?  A Camry Hybrid will absolutely spank a Subaru 6 banger Legacy.

 Regardless, you are comparing apples to oranges, hybrid to non hybrid whose "transmission" hardware purposely is completely different.



 

[rrocket]

I don't think it's going to displace the RX as the volume selling Lexus model - but it's still interesting and I think there might be a niche just big enough to make it work.

Currently the NX is the #1 selling small luxury SUV.

[ArticSteve]

Toyota must be making some great money on these units.

[johngenx]

Toyota must be making some great money on these units.

Isn't that the point?  I love it when pundits cry about Toyota products that make the company tons of money.

[DriverJeff]

The planetary gearbox aka CVT in the Toyota hybrids are outstanding - preferably to any other CVT by far.

Have you tried the ones Subaru is using these days?  I like those (and the ones in the Accord)  much better than any I've experienced attached to a Toyota Hybrid.

You mean to say that you much preferred the drive of the 4 banger Accord CVT (which is quite good) and the CVT found in a "Subaru" to a Toyota "hybrid"?  What metric are you using?  Acceleration?  A Camry Hybrid will absolutely spank a Subaru 6 banger Legacy.

 Regardless, you are comparing apples to oranges, hybrid to non hybrid whose "transmission" hardware purposely is completely different.

I'm referring to the way the CVT is programmed to behave.  Subaru and Honda seem to try to make their CVTs behave more like a traditional automatic -- Subie especially by building in the 'stepped' sensation of changing gears.  The rubber-band feel of the CVTs attached to the Toyotas I've experienced is miserable. 

And, umm... "a Camry Hybrid will absolutely spank a Subaru 6 banger Legacy" for acceleration?  With rocket boosters attached? 

[Noto]

From the front, that thing must be one of the ugliest cars I have ever seen in my entire life.

$61,000   ?    Why not just charge $6,100,000 for it if you are going to go bat-hit crazy about it.

No thanks, I'll stick to the $15,000 Nissan Micra thank you.

Clearly someone here understands automotive pricing strategies.

...I don't think it's you, sir.

[Noto]

^^ that still is impressive for the Camry, but Subaru has more driveline losses given the AWD system...so I'm not THAT surprised.

[Fobroader]

The interior is ok, from the back it looks good....that front end....yikes, fell off the ugly tree and slammed its face on every branch on the way down.

[Serniter]

The interior is ok, from the back it looks good....that front end....yikes, fell off the ugly tree and slammed its face on every branch on the way down.

Haha, true.