Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Polished performer
powerful driving experience as the car grips the road at all times.
The intimidating front console houses the aircon, sound system and on-board computer, the latter two playing out on a 4.2 touch screen above the dashboard that also hosts the on-board GPS.
The only anomaly is the clock, an analogue round-faced clock bang in the middle of the whole lot, which is the last place you’d look to find the time as eyes would either be on the touch screen or traditional driver’s controls in front of you.
The computer, sound system and GPS are navigated through a touch screen ergonomically sited below the driver’s resting left hand. The bin between the two front seats also has USB ports for music.
A good interface makes Bluetooth connectivity between the vehicle and devices, such as a smartphone, seamless. There’s a duplication of some of the information from the centre con- sole (GPS, car’s vitals, music selection) on the driver’s instrument panel, in line of sight, similar to BMW, which has a Head-Up Display on the windscreen itself.
The usual top-end mod cons are standard: smart entry ( for the uninitiated that means keeping the keys in your pocket to open the doors and using a push button to start the engine) cruise control, automatic door lock, seat heater, auto sensors for windscreen wipers and headlights.
Added to this are the usual array of driving aids, from traction control to hill assist, ABS, electronic braking, vehicle stability, parking proximity, a rear-view parking camera and even a tyre-pressure monitor.
It’s also got “stop and start” technology, the slightly eerie feature that switches the car off automatically the moment you come to a stop at the traffic lights.
The good news is you can switch it off, although the manufacturer claims it is a fuel-saving mechanism. I prefer the peace of mind of having the engine running in dodgier parts of Joburg, although the “stop and start” never let me down.
The boot is not as generous as you might imagine, but that’s because the Lexus is billed as a compact SUV. In keeping with the format, the seats can be split 60/40, which means unless you’re travelling five up and loaded to the gunwales, there should be more than enough space for whatever journey you are embarking on.
So, would I get a Lexus NT? The manufacturer intends it as a competitor for the BMW X3 or Audi Q5.
Prices ranging from R539 900 for the entry-level NX200t E, with an extra R40k for the NX200t EX that was on test. The top-end NX 200t F-Sport costs R659 900 – and all are marginally cheaper than their competitors.
All I can say is that the NX is deservedly up there with those two marques. The NX looks impressive, has impressive specs, and its handling is seriously impressive. You be the judge.