Lexus now has a something its line missed for a long time — an entry level crossover SUV. With the new NX on its way to showrooms this coming November, the automaker is reaching out to bring younger, aspiring buyers into its ranks.
The larger Lexus RX was the original first tier in the Lexus SUV class. While nowhere near the size of the $82,000 LX, that RX was still a sizable people carrier — a luxury urban transport with a starting MRSP of $40,000+. I have the RX an upbeat review, but there was undoubtedly room for a notch down — especially if Lexus wanted to invite a larger pool of potential buyers/drivers into their ranks.
According to Lexus execs and engineers, this new NX is intended for young, urban couples with dual incomes. In their middle aged years, when they have a couple kids, they might look for a full size, $60,000 SUV. But, for now, a smaller four-seater for an estimated starting sticker price of about $30,000 would do the trick. The NX is knocking on their door.
The Lexus NX will arrive with a 2.0 liter, inline four cylinder engine married to a six speed automatic transmission. A hybrid version will also arrive in November, but the best trim levels promises to be the F Sport. That upgraded class offers special badging, improved styling, turbo charging and tighter suspension.
The driving experience is as smooth and immediately accessible as any other car in the luxury line. Built for comfort and convenience, the NX is purely plug and play.
Another potential use for the new NX would be helping Lexus kick the door open a but wider in Europe. While the automaker has a strong presence win the U.S. and Canada, across the Atlantic it faces a sort of German curtain — a wall built by Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.
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While the Lexus line offers similar features and similar (if not cheaper, in some cases) prices as their German competition, Toyota’s sister company struggles to overcome the brand name recognition of the Germans bred through multiple generations. Basically, if a buyer in Europe or anywhere in the UK is in the market for a mid-range luxury car, they might very know about Lexus. But they can’t see why they shouldn’t just buy Euro because that’s what they know best and probably bought before.
If you’re going to break the European market, you need to build quality and efficiency. You also need to keep it compact as UK and European roads aren’t known for their welcoming expanse. With the NX, you now have a smaller crossover SUV in a Goldilocks size for European roads.
Meanwhile, for American buyers, the NX offers a nice SUV price point for younger buyers looking to graduate into a midrange luxury line.
