2015 Lexus NX300h | new car sales price

Lexus NX SUV arrives in NX300h hybrid form in October, priced from $55,000.

Lexus has revealed Australian pricing and details for hybrid versions of the new NX mid-size SUV, ahead of its local arrival in October. 

A premium 2.0-litre petrol turbo NX 200t variant is set to follow early next year, but the new sub-RX luxury SUV will touch down in petrol-electric hybrid NX300h guise, with a choice of two or all-wheel drive, and Luxury, F Sport or Sports Luxury trim levels. 

Starting from $55,000 with the two-wheel drive NX300h Luxury, the entry version will come standard with eight-way power adjustable heated front seats, Lexus’ new touch-sensitive Lexus Remote Touch multimedia controller, 10-speaker audio with digital radio, satnav, reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors, powered tailgate, LED low-beam headlamps, proximity keys, auto wipers and 18-inch alloys.

The all-wheel drive NX300h Luxury adds $4500 for a $59,500 list price, and an optional panoramic glass moonroof adds $2500 to each.  

The sports-flavoured all-wheel drive NX300h F Sport kicks off at $66,000, and adds unique F-Sport styling and 18-inch wheels, leather trim, adaptive sports suspension, wireless phone charging, 360 degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, full-LED headlights, heated and cooled front seats with memory settings.   

The panoramic moon roof is also available with the F Sport, and comes packaged with 14-speaker Mark Levinson Audio for $4000. 

These options are also available in a $7500 F sport option pack, which also includes a colour heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision safety system, lane departure warning, auto high beams and smart card key.  

The range-topping (for now) $75,000 NX300h Sports luxury is also all-wheel drive, and includes all of the lesser models’ optional features plus a segment-first powered 60/40 split fold rear seat. 

Lexus claims that the NX’s array of features offer up to 14 percent better value than its Australian market rivals, which include the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Range Rover Evoque.   

"The whole concept of NX is to surprise and delight customers by offering an innovative SUV for modern lifestyles without skimping on the everyday conveniences - think of it as the ultimate urban accessory,” Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley said.

DRIVETRAINS

All variants will come with a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine that produces 114kW and 210Nm that is coupled to a 105kW/270Nm eletric hybrid system. Combined, the power unit produces 147kW with the power stored in a 245-volt nickel metal hydride battery.

For two-wheel drive variants, the petrol-electric drivetrain will feature a single electric motor and have combined fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km. On the all-wheel drive variants there will be two electric motors - an additional 50kW motor placed at the rear -  with a minor jump in combined fuel consumption to 5.7L/100km.

Both 2WD and AWD hybrid drivetrains come paired to a CVT automatic transmission with sequential paddle shifters.

The NX300h’s drivetrain also offers four different drive modes - EV, Eco, Normal and Sport. EV mode allows the car to run solely on electric power in low-speed environments such as reversing or in car parks; Eco optimises the drivetrain towards fuel efficient running; Normal is a balance between performance and efficiency; and Sport adjusts the power-steering, transmission and engine to provide more aggressive acceleration and enhanced response.

An additional setting, Sport + is available in the F Sport and Sports Luxury variants. This drive mode setting draws on the adaptive suspension available in these models to provide an even more dynamic driving experience.