Lexus NX review - Interior, design and technology

From a quick glance, buyers of the Lexus NX might find it hard to tell if they’re looking at a first- or second-generation 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.

What is the Lexus NX like inside?

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 (optional on Premium and Premium Plus and standard on F Sport and above models) looks great, with controls much closer to hand and easy to operate on the move.

What is the interior quality like? 

Cabin quality has always been a Lexus strong point; fit and finish is excellent with generous levels of standard equipment. All the materials used are appreciably better than those inside the Toyota RAV4, upon which the Lexus NX is based, helping to justify the premium pricing of the NX.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

A few seconds of using the optional 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 the entry-level Urban NX).

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. Also standard is a 10-speaker premium audio system, while Takumi and F Sport Takumi come with an upgraded 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.