The 2015 Lexus NX – Not So “Sleepless in Seattle”

Review of the coming 2015 Lexus NX.

Who can forget the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” which takes place in what appears to be a very slow moving cosmopolitan city (Seattle) where house boats look like the romantic norm and sunny days are rare and precious?  Well, that is not what I witnessed when I test drove the new 2015 Lexus NX in both the NX 200t and the NX 300h (hybrid) variations. I never saw a houseboat and the weather was fantastic and a sunny 80 degrees. So as I say… “not so Sleepless in Seattle.”

The city of Seattle is filled with construction rigs, cones and workmen in orange vests watching the traffic wiz by.  I was told that all the excitement was due to the Amazon Corporation moving to Seattle and  that they are responsible for their young employees turning the downtown area into a Mecca for foodies and gen X’s who walk everywhere and cozy up to the coffee shops which are prevalent every few blocks.

When you think of Lexus you might think classy, luxurious craftsmanship, dependable and, apart from a new grille, not that different from previous model years.  Well hold on to your space needle folks, the 2015 Lexus NX has a new look and a bold feel. If you think the spindle grille is the main attention getter, then you’ll love the front ends of the new NX trio. The grille, surrounded by bold lines and athletic stance, looks like it’s growling and eating up the pavement.

The interior follows the exterior race car look which features race-inspired, cockpit-style seating.  Some Crossovers sit high and straight while the NX seats surround the driver in a lower position.  Even at 5’2”, and having adjusted the seat, it made me feel like I needed to drive like I meant it. Whether I was going to the grocery store, picking up the kids or getting some lumber from Home Depot, I would have a determined look on my grille…I mean face.  If that isn’t enough, the instrument cluster is intricately designed and equipped with all the appropriate “aggressive” switches and gauges.

Lexus has implemented a remote touch interface to their system, replacing the joystick from previous years which had created frustration for some of its users.  For me , it took a little getting used to since I am a bit heavy handed and missed a few lines (almost punching in Secaucus instead of Seattle in the GPS).

The Lexus NX technology (technology is not my forte) delivers the standard Lexus Premium Audio system and its eight-channel amplifier.  It appears that the device integration was more important to the tech folks on the trip than me.  They informed me that the Bluetooth audio was seamless. I was fascinated by the Qi wireless charging tray but not sure I had the phone and equipment needed to use it. The cabin reflected a design for the younger entry level market that it appears Lexus hopes to attract.

Both the NX 200T and the 300h were agile around town which was useful since the construction had a big effect on our test driving. We got great gas mileage in the hybrid with the typical Seattle stop and go driving and while the 200t was good in town, it also performed well on the highway and along the coast.

For a Crossover which is quite compact in exterior size the interior was spacious. I sat in the back a short while as a passenger and found the seats to recline and provide ample legroom for full-size adults.  The storage will hold golf bags and strollers.  I got such a kick out of being able to remove the tonneau cover and place it beautifully under the rug on top of the donut spare tire.  As with other vehicles in the past, it will not be tossed in the garage to never to be seen or used again.

I can see this NX catching on with its sharp lines and L-Finesse beauty for the urban warriors and the ladies who earn the bucks in the family.  It is empowering and it’s a Lexus.

 

Our award for best use of space:

• Sunglass holder not molded in to a rearview mirror but deep slot in console
• Compartment for i phone that can slip perfectly above the CD Player
• A mirror when you flip over a space saver
• Cupholders that hold your water bottles tight enough to screw open the top with one hand

I didn’t get to drive the F-Sport but I sat in it and I think it is sexy both inside and out.

Visit or call Superstition Springs Lexus for more information on the upcoming NX models.  (480) 264-0493

Test auto provided by Lexus Corporate – Torrance, California

These models will be in dealerships by December and although pricing has not yet been determined Lexus predicts these new 2015 Lexus NX models will attract about half of their new customers by appealing to first time Lexus buyers.  Just take a look at the exterior of this vehicle, you can’t say it’s wimpy, old school or blah and it’s surely not your mother’s Lexus.