The Second-Gen Lexus NX Goes On Sale In India On March 9

• Styling upgrades to include greater dimensions, a cleaner design, new lighting, and new inscriptions.

• Cabin to receive a larger 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, head-up display, new steering wheel, and digital instrument cluster.

• Likely to get the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite of driver assists like the model sold abroad.

• Will be powered by a more powerful 240PS 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain.

• Rivals include the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5.  

Better mark your dates, as Lexus’ second iteration of the NX SUV will be launched in India on March 9, 2022. Bookings for the SUV began in January and it will be offered in three variants here: Exquisite, Luxury, and F-Sport.

At a glance, the 2022 NX is going for more of an evolutionary approach in its generational update. While the trademark spindle front grille returns, it is flanked by sharper LED headlights and new integrated LED DRLs. The overall silhouette’s gotten cleaner with softer curves and neat character lines. At the rear, the LED taillights are now connected by a horizontal light bar with a ‘Lexus’ inscription replacing the logo.

The SUV’s measures 4,660m long, 1,865mm wide, 1,640mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,690mm. That’s a 20mm increase in length and width, 5mm increase in height and a 30mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor. 

The big changes lie inside, starting with a new dashboard layout, featuring a ginormous 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system that can be operated via voice commands. The centre console has been revised with the infamous infotainment controller touchpad from the first-gen model axed, with the touchscreen and climate controls tilted towards the driver.

There’s a raft of features onboard, including a 10-inch head-up display, a 7-inch multi-information driver’s display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 10-speaker sound system, and 64-colour ambient lighting. The panoramic sunroof, 8-way powered and heated front seats, and electronically opening tailgate have been retained from before. 

In the safety department, the new NX should get the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite of driver assistance features. They include the likes of auto emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, emergency steering assist, automatic high beams, and road sign recognition. Aside from that, bits like eight airbags and front and rear parking sensors will be retained.

Under the hood, it’ll be specced in the NX 350h specification. While its the same 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid engine with two electric motors (one on each axle), it produces 240PS and 250Nm, about 40PS and 40Nm more than the predecessor’s NX 300h. It is paired with a CVT gearbox, with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. That translates to a claimed 0-100kmph sprint time of 7.2 seconds compared to the outgoing model’s 9.2 seconds.

Expect the next-gen Lexus NX to be priced from Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It’ll take on the likes of the  BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5 luxury SUVs.