Lexus SUV review: 2015 Lexus NX 200t and NX 300h

The Lexus recipe for success: Hide the Toyota mass-market roots under the Lexus logo by filling a car with amenities and luxury trappings, a more supple ride, and a quiet, soothing cabin. Even a pro can't sniff out the Camry beneath an ES sedan. But with the new, compact NX, the soufflé falls. This Lexus SUV doesn't coddle you like the wildly successful Lexus RX—the midsized crossover vehicle that started the whole craze. Nor does it thrill you with BMW-like handling. It just feels like an upmarket Toyota RAV4.

With a snout borrowed from a largemouth bass and a body with more creases than a churro pastry, the NX is the most un-Lexus Lexus we've tested. From a brand that made its bones building vanilla-mobiles, this Lexus SUV is a swing in the other direction.

But the NX is not a convincing effort, and much of that has to do with its Toyota RAV4 underpinnings. Nothing against the RAV4, but luxury is not in its DNA.

The NX's looks promise derring-do performance, and its handling is indeed sharp. It's responsive compared with a typical Lexus, but handling and braking are a notch below competitors from BMW and Audi. And the NX doesn't deliver the quiet, calm, and serene ride you expect from a Lexus. Instead, it's as firm and controlled as an IRS audit. The performance doesn't match the looks—like when a peach-fuzz sibling borrows his big brother's leather jacket, the appearance isn't quite right.

Inside the cabin, the NX once again falls short of Lexus standards. You're not cosseted with parlor-room luxury. Many parts and panels look and feel cheap, costing the NX points for fit and finish. The bolstered seats are supportive, but lumbar-support adjustment is limited. The rear seats are adequate for two.

The very tight driving position in this Lexus SUV is made worse by claustrophobically small windows. They look cool from the outside, but visibility from the driver's seat is poor. A rear camera is standard; you'll also want the blind-spot monitoring system.

The 200t marks Toyota's foray into turbocharged four-cylinder engines; the German brands have used them for a while. The 235-hp four-cylinder delivered 24 mpg in our tests; it accelerated to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds.

The NX is also offered as a hybrid, with a total output of 194 hp from its 2.5-liter, four-cylinder plus electric drive. It got the best fuel economy of any SUV we've tested—an impressive 29 mpg overall. It can loaf in EV mode at low speeds.

The 300h hybrid is underwhelming when you need to accelerate; the engine annoyingly howls like 4-year-old denied a juice box. That stems from the nature of its continuously variable transmission, which holds engine revs high, contributing to the interior racket.

The NX is saddled with a new touchpad controller, included with the optional navigation system. But the user interface requires dexterous fingers to make selections­­—not easy or intuitive when driving. Access to phone contacts is blocked while on the move unless you use voice commands. Connectivity to music sources works well. For the vain, there is a removable makeup mirror.

The cargo area is quite limited, detracting from the "utility" of this SUV.

Even though pricing starts around $35,000, option packages quickly extend the bill past $40,000. Green-minded buyers will have to pony up more for the hybrid model; our loaded version of this Lexus SUV cost a dizzying $51,000. Still, a comparably equipped NX is $4,000 cheaper than a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5.

Consumers shopping for a small luxury SUV have many choices, but those expecting a proper Lexus from the NX may be disappointed.

Read our complete Lexus NX road test.