Lexus has introduced its 2nd plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) as the flagship variant of the NX range. Considering the newcomer costs “only” R110k more than its hybrid sibling, does the NX 450h+ F Sport represent this segment’s ideal starter EV?
Lexus has had considerable skin in this electric game for quite some time now. It conceived the world’s first hybridised SUV with the RX450h in 2008 and lest we forget, the marque is the premium arm of the same manufacturer that blessed (we’re being polite) us with the underappreciated Toyota Prius.
Fast forward to today (about 9 years since the launch of the original AZ10-series NX) and I find myself, quite favourably, at the helm of the 2nd-gen NX – a mid-sized luxury SUV that straddles the line between suburban EV and petrol-swilling warm hatchback. I like it very much, but we’ll get to that just now.
Don’t think alt fuels, think all fuels
I’ve been droning on how EVs are great, fun-to-drive even – but no long-term solution for powering our passenger cars. Rather, I think we should adopt as many means as we can so as not to create another resource bottleneck. Fortunately, TMC has recognised the value in diversifying its product portfolios, hence fossil fuel options live on alongside EVs and the occasional dalliance in hydrogen and synthetics.
This brings us neatly to the plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the flagship NX 450h+ F Sport PHEV, yours for R1 336 200 (August 2024). Look, I did say premium, and you could call it sporty too in terms of aesthetics and athleticism. Combined outputs of 227 kW and 227 Nm are on offer here thanks to a 2.5-litre 4-pot petrol engine working hand in hand with a new electric motor and generator across the front axle.
The reward is a claimed 0-100 kph sprint time of just 6.3 seconds with an almost laughable (but in a good way, mind you) greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions of between 20 and 29 g/km. And an even more hilarious stated average fuel consumption of 1.3L/100 km. No, this isn’t a typical gas-guzzling SUV.
For that claimed efficiency, you can thank, in part, the new fully electric EV mode selectable via the HV Control System, enabling the Lexus NX with a pure electric range between 50 km and 70 km, making it quite useful as a “daily”. One sans range anxiety since the electric motor is always ready to take over.
In fact, it can be deployed in CHG (Battery Charge) mode to hold the charge in the 18.1 kWh Lithium-ion battery as is, thus eliminating the fear of a one-way trip. You can charge it at home too, in 8 hours via the 10A charging cable. At a public power point, you can accomplish the same in 2.4 hours via a 32A cable.
Once you’re all powered up, the aforementioned performance is available to you via your right foot and a leather-trimmed ‘wheel, as the team of motors do their electric slide via Lexus’ all-wheel drive system dubbed E-Four. So, you’ve got loads of grip to exploit in what is quite a dynamic package for an SUV.
The typical array of drive modes is still available (including Eco, Sport and Sport+) since this flagship variant is, in fact, part of the F Sport family. Consequently, it is also styled like one – instead of using a compass and protractor, the artist seems to have wielded a chisel and calligrapher’s brush in penning the aggressively raked lines. The result is immediately familiar: a Lexus looks like a Lexus, looks like a Lexus.
But then, little else does – from that gaping F Sport maw, striking brightwork and distinctive LED lighting elements that incorporate adaptive high beams fore, and an LED bar at the rear (to bookend its iconic profile). The exterior can be had in 10 colours including White Nova and Poseidon Blue – 2 of which are exclusive to the F Sport. I chose one in Sonic Titanium, perched on darkened 20-inch alloy wheels.
When I slip into the bolstered sport seats of the leather-clad cabin, I find it stylish and sharp, yet cossetting and welcome, loaded to the gills with tech and features. The interior has been finished off in 4 distinct colours, and you can appreciate them bathed in natural lighting via a tilt-and-slide sunroof.
There are heated seats (electrically adjustable at the front, with memory function for the driver), a head-up display, an Apple CarPlayAndroid Auto-compatible 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system with surround-view monitor, as well as a wealth of safety equipment and tech (incl Lexus Safety Sense).
Connectivity abounds thanks to a wireless phone charger and 5 USB ports, but audiophiles will have to make do with Lexus’ own premium audio sound system for now. The more high-end Mark Levinson items only arrive next year. Oh, and before I forget… Thanks to a clever deployment of parking sensors and help from the Brake Assist feature, the Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport PHEV can essentially park itself.
Beyond this, there are still reams and reams of perks and hop-ups to be enjoyed, but perhaps the nicest surprise for road-tripping South Africans is the fact that luggage space has not been adversely affected by the inclusion of hybrid batteries in this plug-in derivative, load capacity still sits pretty at 520 litres.
How much does the Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV cost in SA?
| Lexus NX 250 EX | R986 800 |
| Lexus NX 350h EX | R1 029 400 |
| Lexus NX 350h SE | R1 197 300 |
| Lexus NX 350 F Sport | R1 224 800 |
| Lexus NX 350h F Sport | R1 225 700 |
| Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport PHEV | R1 336 200 |
The prices above include a 7-year/105 000 km warranty and a 7-service/105 000 km maintenance plan. Hybrid derivatives furthermore benefit from an 8-year/195 000 km warranty on the battery pack.
See also: Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV (2024) Price & Specs
Summary
In a motoring world that’s highly curious about the kind of power that comes from a plug, Lexus offers an attractive prospect with a safety net in the shape of the existing petrol-brandishing network of service stations across the land. That it’s an accomplished Executive SUV is a wonderful bonus. For premium-car buyers, the Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport represents a range-anxiety-free gateway to EV ownership.
Find a new/used Lexus NX listed for sale on Cars.co.za
