Lexus NX review - Interior, design and technology

From a quick glance, buyers might find it hard to tell if they’re looking at a first- or second-generation NX model. There are some sharper lines and tweaks to the front and rear light clusters, but the basic familiar design remains. Underneath is a different matter, as the NX now sits on Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, which means the premium SUV has been able to make use of efficient plug-in hybrid technology.

Cabin quality has always been a Lexus strong point; fit and finish is excellent with generous levels of standard equipment, but the interior of the previous model felt overly fussy with a high button count on the dash and centre console. The Japanese manufacturer has responded to critics with a superbly reinvented interior and infotainment system. The 14-inch touchscreen display (standard on F Sport and Takumi models) looks great, with controls much closer to hand and easy to operate on the move.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

A few seconds of using the Link Pro system had us wondering if any other brand has ever delivered such a vast improvement from one car’s infotainment system to the next. Gone is the old car’s small display and frustrating touchpad, replaced by a huge 14-inch screen (9.8-inch on entry-level NX versions).

23

Some might find the screen is almost oppressively large and bright, but the night mode manages to take the edge off when it’s dark outside. The system looks great, responds well and loads incredibly quickly. Once you’ve typed in a postcode, the route boots up within seconds. The climate controls feature physical dials for the temperature, with the rest adjusted through the screen, and it works well.

Finding any downsides is genuinely difficult. One minor flaw that we did discover is that with the lack of a home button, it’s difficult to quickly switch between the proprietary system and smartphone mirroring. But if you're not a fan of Lexus's infotainment system, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay both come as standard on every NX.