Lexus Philippines has recently released the all-new NX compact crossover for 2022. It comes with plenty of improvements, the most significant of which involves its powertrain options and on-board tech. There are notable changes made to its exterior as well.
The all-new 2022 Lexus NX
Exterior
On the outside, the 2022 Lexus NX appears to bear a sharper front fascia with a more aggressive-looking spindle grille. The said grille, which comes in the brand’s signature design, is now more upright. This not only adds to the vehicle’s look, but the brand claims that it provides improved cooling as well.
It grew in size, that's for sure
Towards the rear, the updated model gets a pair of new L-shaped rear combination lamps decorated with the signature Lexus blade which spans the width of the crossover.
The vehicle itself has increased in size. To put this into perspective, the outgoing model is 4,640mm long, 1,845mm wide, and 1,630mm in height. The all-new NX meanwhile is now 4,660mm long, 1,865mm wide, and 1,660mm in height., with the F Sport and Premier trims coming even longer at 1,670mm. For ground clearance, the entry-level 2022 NX has 185mm, while the top-spec trims have 195mm.
The 2022 Lexus NX from the side
This results in a slight increase in interior space, as well as more presence on the road. It then rides on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels (Executive) or 20-inch alloy wheels (Premier and F Sport).
Interior
Like the outgoing version, the all-new Lexus NX can still seat five occupants. The vehicle’s ergonomics have been improved to ensure that the principle of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” is followed.
This is called the Tazuna cockpit design, and it offers a driver-oriented cockpit wherein the vehicle’s shift lever, air-conditioning controls, and touchscreen are all within easy reach as well as within the driver’s eye level.
It features a luxurious but also a driver-oriented interior
Of course, the NX provides plenty of interior features that cement its status as a premium crossover. It comes with leather seats, automatic climate control, auto-dimming and heated driver’s side view mirrors, a power tailgate, ventilated front seats with electronic power adjustment, a power tilt and telescopic steering column, as well as a panoramic sunroof.
On the NX350h Premium variant, it also provides a power-folding rear seat.
Tech and Safety
For entertainment, the 2022 NX gets a 9.8-inch touchscreen on the Executive trim, or a larger 14-inch touchscreen for the Premier and F Sport trims. On the Premier, the said head unit is linked to a 17-piece Mark Levinson surround sound system.
The driver is also provided with a seven-inch multi-instrument display. On the Premier and F Sport variants, there’s also the presence of a 10-inch heads-up display.
With that huge touchscreen, we doubt legibility would be an issue
Another major addition to the 2022 NX is that all trims now come standard with the Lexus Safety Sense. This collection of advanced driver assist technologies include dynamic radar cruise control, pre-collision system, adaptive and automatic high beams, lane trace assist, and lane departure warning.
The Premier and F Sport trims also come standard with a 360-degree view camera, while the Executive is kitted out with a rear parking camera.
Engine and performance
For the 2022 model year, the NX has several engine options.
The larger spindle grille on the new NX provides improved engine cooling
Under the hood of the top-spec NX 350 F Sport is a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine capable of making up to 276 horsepower and 430 Nm. It then uses an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power is sent to all wheels using an electronic full-time all-wheel-drive system.
Meanwhile, the mid-spec NX 350h Premier and NX 350h Executive utilize a 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine paired with two electric motors. The AWD system on this trim is slightly different, because instead of a mechanical AWD, it uses one of its motors to power the rear wheels.
The all-new 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport from the rear
At maximum, this hybrid powertrain can produce a combined output of 236 horsepower and 239 Nm of torque. It also uses a continuously variable transmission.
Pricing
Here are the prices for the all-new Lexus NX compact crossover as of January 2022:
| 2022 Lexus NX variants | Price |
| NX 350h Executive | Php 3,338,000 |
| NX 350h Premier | Php 4,488,000 |
| NX 350 F Sport | Php 4,548,000 |
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