The redesigned 2022 Lexus NX ushers Toyota’s luxury brand into a new era defined by more than a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The compact luxury crossover presents the brand’s most significant and overdue update: a new touchscreen interface.
The 2022 Lexus NX celebrated its world premiere late Friday with four new powertrains, a fresh look inside and out, and the latest technology, crowned by an available 14.0-inch touchscreen developed in-house at Toyota Motors North America.
“Our previous multimedia systems were developed in Japan,” said Steve Basra, group vice president of TMNA Connected Technologies, at a press conference the week before the launch. “The customer experience in Japan is not necessarily the same customer experience that we should have in the US”
2022 Lexus NX
The Lexus Interface multimedia system will “fit into the lives of Generation Y customers,” Basra said, and expand the appeal of Lexus to a new generation of customers. The wide display addresses one of the major shortcomings of Lexus and Toyota vehicles, according to JD Power’s Initial Quality Surveys. It replaces a frustrating console touchpad.
Debuting on the 2022 Lexus NX, the Lexus Interface comes standard with a 9.8-inch touchscreen or the larger, landscape-format 14.0-inch screen tilted towards the driver. A volume control and HVAC buttons are retained, but the tuning is directed to the screen, steering wheel controls, or natural language commands. It comes with cloud-based mapping and over-the-air updates, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The user can set profiles with personalized seat, climate and media settings that are transferred from one Lexus vehicle to another.
While Lexus Interface will permeate subsequent Lexus and Toyota vehicles, its debut in the 2022 NX reflects the extensive updates set to reinvigorate the brand.
The second generation NX has a new look that is lined with a taller, wider spindle grille near the top. The daytime running lights move from bottom to top over the standard LED headlights, and the lower airtakes take on larger proportions. At the rear, a full-width taillight crosses the Lexus name embossed on the tailgate instead of the L-shaped logo.
2022 Lexus NX 450h
2022 Lexus NX 450h
2022 Lexus NX 350
2022 Lexus NX 350
Four new drive trains move the five-seater 2022 NX. The base 2022 NX 250 uses a basic 2.5-liter in-line 4 that develops 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The upgraded NX 350 has a 2.4-liter turbo-4 that makes 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft, and Lexus claims it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. Both four-cylinder engines are equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.
Although Lexus expects the NX 350 to make up at least a quarter of sales, it’s not the most powerful powertrain. That comes from the Lexus NX 450h + plug-in hybrid, which combines a 2.5-liter in-line 4 with a battery-powered motor on the rear axle for all-wheel drive. Mechanically similar to that Toyota RAV4 Prime, the NX gets 450h + 60mph in 6.0 seconds, or it can go 60 miles on battery only. Lexus didn’t release performance metrics, but said it would reveal closer specs for its launch later that year. On a level 2 charging system with 240 volts, it can be charged in approx. 2.5 hours with an available 6.6 kW on-board charger (a 3.3 kW charger as standard).
A more traditional hybrid powers the NX 350h, which gets an estimated highway of 36 mpg, or 6 mpg more than that 2021 Lexus NX 350h. It has a 2.5 liter inline 4 hybrid system with two engines that deliver a total of 239 hp with standard AWD. His eCVT simulates shifting through 10 gears, and Lexus gives his time from 0-60 mph to 7.2 seconds.
According to Lexus, more torsional stiffness limits lateral movement and improves aerodynamics compared to the previous model.
2022 Lexus NX
For better handling, buyers can opt for an F Sport handling package for the NX 350 and NX 450h + models. It comes with adaptive dampers, sport seats, 20-inch alloy wheels in black, and other cosmetic upgrades.
Lexus has not published cargo and passenger dimensions, full functionality and pricing. Ride on a new global platform shared with everything from the 2021 Lexus ES to the 2021 Toyota Highlander, the 2022 NX offers more head, leg and cargo space than its predecessor, according to Lexus.
Every 2022 NX is equipped with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, blind spot monitoring and automatic high beam. A rear-view camera mirror and a head-up display are available.
Heated front seats are also part of the standard equipment, as are synthetic leather upholstery and keyless entry for all four doors. Smart door handles called Digital Latch prevent passengers from opening the doors when the blind spot monitors detect a passing car, a cyclist or a runner at more than 8 km / h.
The Lexus NX 2022 will be launched in late 2021.
