All-new Lexus NX 350h Wins Warm Praise from UK Media

The NX 350h, the self-charging full hybrid electric version of Lexus’s all-new mid-size premium SUV, has been warmly welcomed by UK media in first-drive reports published in the past few days. The reviews present the same positivity shown to the plug-in hybrid version, the NX 450h+, launched in late 2021.

For What Car? Neil Winn gives the NX 350h a four-star rating (the NX range gaining five stars overall) and declares: “If you’re a private buyer looking for a plush, relatively frugal, competitively priced large SUV, the Lexus is a compelling package.”

In his four-star review for Auto Express, Richard Ingram describes the Lexus as “smooth and refined, beautifully built” and emphasises how even without the longer all-electric driving range of a plug-in hybrid, could still “genuinely slash” motorists’ fuel bills. He anticipates its quality will reaffirm the NX’s place as Lexus’s best-selling model in the UK.

Autocar’s Matt Saunders accords the NX 350h another four stars, praising new technical features such as the touch-tracer controls on the steering wheel that link to the head-up display so the driver can remain focused on the road ahead – “a resounding lesson to the wider industry.” Driving quality is described as “refined, comfortable and quite effortless” while the F Sport model delivers dynamic performance with “high lateral grip, taut body control and striking precise handling” with “surprisingly tactile steering”.

For Top Gear magazine, the NX 350h “ticks all the boxes.” It considers the new model to be a “smooth evolution” and a “comfortable car, matching up well with the low-emission powertrain.” Special mention is made of the safety function that that prevents the electronically operated doors from being opened into the path of traffic approaching from the rear.

Rob Gill, the Sun’s Motors Editor, considers the hybrid system to be Lexus’s “main draw,” telling readers that “this hunky four-wheel drive will do 40mpg any day of the week, town or country.”

Design is a key plus for Colin Goodwin, who writes in the Daily Mirror that the NX has “crisper” lines and is a “striking machine,” drawing attention to the one-piece light bar across the rear of the car. “Quality is hugely impressive,” he adds, while his test drive fuel economy of 46mpg matched the model’s official figures. A comfortable ride, quiet powertrain and grip from the all-wheel drive system are also highlighted.

Mike Lowe’s verdict for Pocket-lint emphasises the importance of the NX’s new technology – in particular the Lexus Link Pro multimedia system – hailed as “generally a triumph.”

ENDS