Lexus introduced the second generation of its entry-level luxury crossover, the NX, last year, a concept that’s anything but a contradiction in terms. High levels of appointment in compact SUV packages are appealing to buyers, as selections such as the Buick Encore make plain. The Lexus NX rides on Toyota’s MC vehicle platform, sharing some structural components with the Toyota-badged RAV4 and the home-market Toyota Harrier crossover, upon which the NX is most directly based. Behind the unforgettable, you could say, big-bowtie Lexus grille treatment, the new-generation NX received a lowered center of gravity compared to its first-generation compatriot. For 2022, the NX offers an all-new engine, continued availability of a hybrid model and a strong upswing in digital capability.
The biggest news for 2022, certainly, is the new turbocharged NX engine, internally dubbed Dynamic Force and developed as a new generation of internal-combustion power under the Toyota New Global Architecture initiative for product design. Officially, the engine is the T24A-FTS, displacing 2.4 liters, with start-stop capability on both FWD and AWD models. The new-generation NX’s added structural stiffness allowed output to be boosted, pun intended, to a maximum of 275 horsepower, linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A plug-in hybrid with a 36 MPG average is offered, and all North American models will include Lexus Interface connectivity via a standard 9.8-inch touchscreen. Deliveries will start in the third quarter, with pricing to be announced.
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