Drivesouth - Best Motor Buys: February 16, 2023

NEW CAR REVIEW
Price: Lexus NX 350h Ltd, $101,900
Dimensions: Length, 4660mm;
width, 1865mm; height, 1670mm
Configuration: Four-cylinder,
four-wheel-drive, 2487cc, 136kW,
227Nm, continuously variable
automatic
Performance: 0-100km/h, 7.7sec
By Ross Kiddie
Lexus NX 350h Ltd
I had a good chat with the sales
manager at the Lexus of Christchurch
dealership.
I was picking up an NX 350h sport
utility vehicle and we entered into a
conversation about the direction Lexus
(and Toyota) were heading in terms
of the type of vehicles buyers will be
presented with as future years roll by.
We both agreed that hybrids and
electrification would be the dominating
market.
That’s not saying that fossil-fuelled
powered cars will diminish, they won’t
and there will be plenty on offer from
almost all manufacturers, but there will
be many engines that will pass by the
way, those that are thirsty and some that
deliver high performance.
In part, that will be due to the financial
demands at purchase as successive
governments’ tax petrol and diesel cars
that can’t make further carbon emission
reductions. Buyers won’t want to keep
forking out an extra amount to subsidise
those who are buying into low emission
models.
It will be interesting to see how it all
plays out, and I’ll be keeping watch and
reporting on trends as I become aware.
One such model that doesn’t fall
wayward of the Clean Car Rebate scheme
is the Lexus NX 350h Limited – it’s a
petrol/electric hybrid that from $101,900
sits in the neutral fee/rebate category.
Regular readers will recall my October
evaluation of the NX 450h+, it’s a plugin
hybrid that shares much the same
hybrid system as its stablemates – bar
the fact that it has the ability to charge
domestically or from a designated charge
port.
Both it and the 350h share the Hybrid
Synergy Drive system that has gone
through a raft of Toyota and Lexus
product in the past, although Lexus is
quick to point out that it’s been the
product of constant refinement and
advances in technology. Today, it is
a seamless system and one that will
provide you with substantial fuel savings
and the performance befitting of any
modern mid-size SUV.
Interestingly, the NX is a nomenclature
for nimble crossover, although I see
it as a traditional SUV but, of course,
wearing the Lexus badge it is a luxury
model befitting all the kudos that Lexus
represents in our market. It may come
as some surprise then to know that the
NX series is based primarily on Toyota’s
RAV4 platform, it shares much the same
driveline and, in stature, shares much the
same dimensions.
That gives some insight as to why the
NX is an important and popular model
for Lexus, it is the traditional SUV – not
too big and not too small. It is ideal for
the modern family and cocoons all those
on board with traditional Lexus values of
comfort and luxury.
It also gets a high level of specification,
in Limited form it gets just about all the
ingredients Lexus can pack in, especially
for safety, it easily qualifies for a fivestar
Australasian New Car Assessment
Program rating.
Of course, if you don’t want or need all
of the bells and whistles, there’s an entrylevel
model into the range, a front-wheeldrive
variant that sits at $92,700, while
for interest’s sake, the plug-in variant lists
at $107,900.
For me, I’d be picking up the entry-level
version, it would keep me entertained on
the road for many years and I’d still be
reaping the rewards of its fuel efficiency
and driving dynamics.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.5-litre,
four-cylinder engine, it is harnessed to
an electric motor that is powered by
a lithium-ion battery bank, the latter
charged by regenerative energy and
the petrol engine. Like the RAV4, the
NX 350h in evaluation car form has a
separate motor sitting over the rear axles,
drive therefore is presented to each
of the four wheels. Combined power
Fuel usage: 5.5l/100km
outputs for the NX list at 179kW and
227Nm.
With 188mm of ground clearance the
NX 4WD has reasonable off-the-seal
potential, sure it’s not a bush basher but
it will take you over uneven ground into
camping spots and, of course, the ski
field access road.
The drive system also offers a high
degree of grip on sealed surfaces, the
NX feels deliberate on the road, there
is strong communication as to how the
tyres are behaving on all terrain. I took
the evaluation car on a circuit between
Canterbury’s two main river gorges. It
dispenses the kilometres quietly and
capably and just feels so right to be in.
It has substantial performance and it
handles with much dignity.
More importantly are the fuel usage
statistics. Buyers choose hybrids partly
to get the benefits of fewer fill-ups. The
NX 350h is rated with a 5.5-litre per
100km combined cycle average. That’s
easily achievable, during my time with
the model it was constantly showing
7l/100km, sipping fuel at 4l/100km
instantaneously at 100km/h.
On the subject of figures, the NX is
also quite sprightly, a nod to its nimble
crossover title, it will sprint to 100km/h
from a standstill in 7.7sec, along with
a 4.7sec time to make 120km/h from
80km/h.
My wife and I have long since ended
our search for a new sport utility vehicle.
Toyota’s RAV4 was on high on our
short-list, but was pipped at the post.
We talked a lot about what we would
buy if the Lotto balls had lined up during
our quest, we both liked the RAV and
decided that if we suddenly became rich
the NX 350h would be the car for us.
It still holds much appeal, but the way
our Lotto tickets have been looking lately
it doesn’t look like I’ll be heading back
to chat with the sales team at Lexus any
time soon.
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