Photo: Lawrence Hodge
Plug-in hybrids are a great compromise for people who still want the convenience of a petrol car but want to experience the benefits of electrification. Most PHEVs have enough electric range to cover commutes and around-town needs, while the gas engine alleviates any range anxiety. After years of making great hybrids, Lexus is finally getting into the plug-in hybrid game with the NX450h+. It combines the luxury and functionality of the second generation NX with usable electric power. But it comes at quite a cost.
Disclaimer: Lexus offered me the NX450h+ and I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Filling up the tank just once a week is great.
What is it?
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The NX is Lexus’ second-smallest crossover, sitting above the UX and below the RX. While it rides on a modular platform shared with everything from the Toyota Sienna minivan to the Lexus ES sedan, mechanically the NX is more closely related to the Toyota RAV4. This is an important point that I will come back to later. And if you’ve always wondered what the heck NX stands for, a Lexus representative once told me that it means “Nimble Crossover.” Okay.
Important Specifications
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
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Power comes from the same naturally aspirated 2.5-litre I4 engine that powers the base NX250 and NX350h Hybrid, but the difference lies in the electrical configuration. The 450h+ adds a pair of electric motors driving the rear wheels, giving this SUV all-wheel drive capability. Add an 18.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack powering these motors, and the result is the most powerful and efficient NX money can buy. It makes 304 total system horsepower with 364 lb-ft of torque. It also gets 84 mpge – the mile-per-gallon equivalent of petrol and electric driving – and can go 37 miles on electric power alone. Honestly though, it’s pretty easy to beat the EPA’s estimated EV range. I’ve frequently seen up to 42 miles of electric range per charge.
How it drives
Lexus likes to tout the NX450h+’s low center of gravity, and indeed this thing is surprisingly nimble. It’s also surprisingly quick, with plenty of acceleration power for highway merging. The advantage of the battery and electric motors is that in everyday life it’s like a turbo, always ready to give that extra boost. Power is smooth and quick, and the transition between petrol and electric power is one of the smoothest I’ve experienced. Unfortunately, when you rely on the 2.5-litre engine for performance, it sounds busy and unrefined.
Lexus Advanced Park Assist demo
The great thing about crossovers of this size is how easy they are to manoeuvre. Parking and getting through tight spots is pretty easy. Parking on the NX is made even better thanks to Lexus’ Advanced Park system, which is easier to use than most other automated parking systems I’ve used. I also have to give props to Lexus to put a physical button on the dash to turn on the Advanced Park technology. There is no need to queue at a specific point for the system to turn on by itself. You simply find the space you want, press start on the screen and let the car park park itself. The system can pull up, park or parallel park.
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
Riding in different drive modes is just as easy. A button on the center console allows the driver to choose between full-on EV mode, hybrid or charging mode, the latter using the petrol engine to charge the battery while driving. In EV mode, the NX450+ is predictably quiet. In hybrid mode, the powertrain operates like any other hybrid and is powered by default as often as possible, with the petrol engine turning on as needed.
Charging at home is easy. The NX has an optional 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger ($800) that you simply plug into a standard outlet. Charging in this way, it takes about 4 to 5 hours to fully charge the battery. It’s a breeze to do overnight. Unfortunately, public charging at a Tier 2 outlet is hit or miss, but that’s a product of the country’s troubled charging network, not Lexus.
Some notable pros and cons of the NX450h+
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The NX has many useful safety systems, but some of them are very sensitive. For example, pre-collision braking will sometimes activate when there is no danger ahead. On the other hand, I like things like Safe Exit Assist, which alerts you to passing cars when trying to pull out of a parallel parking space. I just wish all systems were more coherent in their integration.
The wireless charging pad does not work well. It often doesn’t detect when a device is placed on it, and when it does, the slippery surface means your phone is moving around a lot when you’re driving, which can cause it to stop charging.
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The interior door handles are also unnecessarily complicated. The NX uses a dual electronic/standard door handle. At the front end you’ll find a Braille-like interface that shows where to press to get out of the car. Next to it, the label shows how the handle works manually, in the event of a power failure or in an emergency. This is confusing and takes some getting used to, and seems to be the answer to a question no one asked.
Verdict
Photo: Lawrence Hodge
The NX450h+ is an impressive plug-in achievement from a company known for hybrid excellence. But it could be a tough sell for some. First off, the NX450h+ doesn’t come cheap. While a regular NX250 starts at a fairly reasonable $38,850, expect well-appointed RX money for the 450h Plus: $57,705. With almost all of the option boxes checked, including a $1,075 target fee, my orange NX450h Plus is $62,090.
Remember when I said the NX is mechanically related to the RAV4? The NX450h+ uses the same powertrain setup as the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which is over $15,000 cheaper. Yes, the Lexus is a little nicer inside, but that’s a big jump in price for effectively the same experience.
None of this is to say that the NX450h Plus is bad. It’s actually very good. But having to shell out almost $60,000 for a compact crossover just to be able to go 40 miles on electric power alone is a tough sell, especially when the exact same setup can be had for less money.
2022 Lexus NX NX 450h+ Luxury AWD Specs
engine type
Gas/Electric I-4
transmission/drive
CVT with OD