Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Having previously driven the Lexus NX 300, I was excited to get a chance behind the wheel and see what the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport had to offer. The Lexus NX is a compact luxury crossover SUV sold by Lexus, which is the luxury division of Toyota. The name NX stands for Nimble Crossover and is lives up to the name. It debuted in late 2014 at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition as an entry-level crossover just below the mid-size RX crossover. Production of the NX takes place at the Miyata plant in Miyawaka, Fukuoka. The second-generation NX was revealed in June of 2021, and in came the 2.4-liter T24A-FTS turbocharged four-cylinder engine 350. The model that we received came in a redline hue that was stunning.
I love the exterior look of the NX. The Lexus badged spindle grill sets the tone for the attention Lexus vehicles typically grab. We had the F Sport package so added to the crossover were unique bumpers, a black mesh grille, a larger exhaust opening and machined-finished special 20-inch F Sport wheels. Bi-LED headlights were included with daytime running lights and LED tail lamps.
The interior was just as immaculate. The F Sport features NuLuxe trimmed seats, that Lexus touts weighs half as much as leather, and produces 65 percent fewer CO2 emissions during its manufacture. I loved the sport bucket seats. The seats had extremely comfortable back support. The F Sport comes with a metallic gear shifter, perforated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters and aluminum pedals. The Premium F Sport Package also adds an outer-sliding moonroof, heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel.
The 14-inch infotainment display was much to my liking. The350 comes with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and a free 3 month platinum trial of Sirius XM that is loud and clear coming through the 17 speaker Mark Levinson sound system. The sound was pretty close to studio quality.
The cabin of the NX 350 was roomy with plenty of cargo space as well. The second-row seats split and fold in a 60/40 configuration. The rear seats offer recline adjustability and can be optioned with a power-folding feature. With the rear seats folded, the NX makes a road trip, shopping trip or grocery store run a breeze.
The F Sport trim of the NX 350 comes with a 275-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 258 pound-feet of torque. We had the all-wheel drive model with the eight-speed automatic transmission. The NX accelerated nice off the line and handled well in the corners. It is not intimidating but aggressive enough to turn your head. The NX has an Eco and Normal Drive mode but I found myself in Sport+ mode most of the time. It was decent on gas delivering 22 mpg in the city, 28 mpg in the highway and 25 mpg combined.
The Lexus Safety System + 3.0 Lane Tracing Assist , brings adaptive cruise control, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, 8 airbags, lane departure alert with lane-keeping assist and adaptive high-beam headlamps and a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic assist . The Lexus Safety System comes with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beam (IHB), and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist.
2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport comes with a great warranty package. You have 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance, 6-year/70,000 mile powertrain coverage. 24-hour roadside assistance and 6-year corrosion perforation protection coverage, regardless of mileage. That is pretty reliable coverage in my book.
The Lexus NX 350 sits in a highly competitive class alongside the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3 (X3 M40i) and the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class (Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Coupe). The NX stands out amongst this class due to the reliability of the Lexus badge, its residual value, and premium features. The model that we tested comes in at $55,325.00. I really enjoyed how the Lexus commercials paired the NX 350 next to a motorcycle so I decide to the same with the review model and one of my motorcycles. Enjoy our photo gallery.
