The NX is equipped with four powertrains, starting with the NX 250’s normally aspirated 2.5-liter four, which it shares with the Toyota RAV4. It generates 203 horsepower thorough its eight-speed automatic to the front wheels, although all-wheel drive is optional. Performance is best described as adequate, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.6 seconds. Step up to the NX 350 and things immediately get more interesting, as 0-60 mph times drop by two seconds, thanks to the turbocharged 2.5-liter four, with 257 horsepower, the eight-speed and all-wheel drive. If this sounds tempting, you’re not alone. Lexus expects it to account for 40 percent of sales.
The rest of the lineup is made up of hybrids.
The NX 350H is a conventional hybrid with 239 horsepower, but with a 7.2-second 0-60 mph time, it’s slower than the NX 350. If you’re considering a hybrid NX, and don’t mind its lofty price, opt for the NX 450H plug-in hybrid, with a 37-mile pure electric range and a six-second 0-60 mph time.
The turbocharged four, the NX’s most popular powerplant, provides enough punch for the cut and thrust of daily driving. While its more than up to the task at hand, the hybrid powerplants prove superior in punch and fuel efficiency, with the top-of-the-line plug-in hybrid proving sprightly off-the-line thanks to its constant feed of electric power. That extra torque continually enhances the NX’s responsiveness, endowing it with the effortless feel one expects of a luxury vehicle. That said, its spendy starting price may make you think twice before popping for it.