Lexus NX 350 h review, first drive

The Lexus NX is now in its second generation, but has emerged as one of the best-selling Lexus’ of all time. This new car has not just grown in dimension but it's also got a significantly improved powertrain and a fresh new cabin. 

The second generation of the NX is still instantly recognizable through its form. The signature Lexus’ design language grabs your attention through that massive spindle grille at the front. Look closer though, and you will realise just how much has changed. The headlamps still follow the narrow angular design but have been reprofiled to a single unit on this new generation. The new boomerang DRLs are inset and add to the clean look at the front. The fog lamps too are housed in a sharp angular recess that almost looks like a lip on the front bumper.

Sharp design language is one thing, but it’s the exquisite shut lines on the metal of the new NX is what really makes the car look premium. The most eye-catching of them is the shoulder line that runs three-fourths the length of the car before splitting in two forming an arrow head of sorts on the rear door. Lexus also has two alloy designs on offer the Exquisite and Luxury trims get a grey tone wheel where the range topping F-Sport gets blacked out wheels. The angular theme continues onto the rear section as well, but there is the new tail-light that now runs across the body with an almost matte effect on the LED tail lamp. The badging now has the Lexus branding with spaced out letters along the rear instead of the brand logo. In all, the sharp angular symmetry of a Lexus will help it stand out in a market full of SUVs moving towards smoothed out edges.

If the outside is familiar, the cabin of the NX is a vast departure from the first generation. Where the old NX felt like it was defying convention with the outward facing dash and sharp contours. The new NX uses a flat deep set dash to emphasize on the space liberated by larger dimensions. It instantly feels more spacious despite being primarily black with accents in red. The dash is positioned low vis a vis the cabin and the sharp rake of windshield glass helps balance out how roomy the cabin feels. On the dash, the clutter of buttons has been replaced by a clean 14-inch touch screen that stands perpendicular to the glass. The size itself makes it the visual center of the cabin, instantly adding to the premium appeal without impinging on the sense of space. The screen itself is very intuitive with a clean UX almost replicating the function of a tablet. The UX too, for those who are wondering, is clean and easy to use. Android Auto and Apple Car play are available but only through a cable, wireless android auto though has been mysteriously skipped on the India package. A wireless charger also comes as standard and comes in a nifty drawer that can slide back flush into the dashboard when you’re on the go, revealing a small cubby on the dash.

What I like about the Lexus is the thought that has gone into the layout of the cabin. It's not a vast departure from what we’re used to in 2022, like the previous generation of the NX, but Lexus have carefully chosen to ignore convention and have come with a cabin that instantly feels easier to use. The controls for the HVAC and audio for example, are physical units independent of the screen and use premium buttons with quality feel and damping. So there's no scrambling to hold your hand still while you adjust the aircon in traffic, which is easier and a whole lot safer too.