10 Things You Should Know About the 2022 Lexus NX

2022 Lexus NX 350h ・ Photo by Lexus

The 2022 Lexus NX if a five-person luxury SUV. It’s all-new this year with a complete redesign that includes interior and exterior updates along with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. There’s also a new infotainment system that is a huge improvement over what was previously available.

There is a total of 12 available NX trims so it’s not hard to find one that fits both your needs and your budget. Here are 10 things you need to know about the all-new 2022 Lexus NX.

Four Powertrain Options

The Lexus NX comes with an abundance of powertrain options. The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This is followed by a more responsive 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Both are paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Next up are the hybrid options. Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid have a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric motors paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The hybrid has 239 total system horsepower while the plug-in hybrid sees an increase to 302 total system horsepower.

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The First Plug-in Hybrid From Lexus

The 2022 Lexus NX marks the first time the brand has ever offered a plug-in hybrid. Available as the 450h+ trim, it has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 36 miles. It also achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 84 mpge.

This makes it a great choice for those with long commutes or for anyone who just wants to reduce their gas consumption. Charging time is a quick 4.5 hours with the 3.3 kW onboard charger. An optional 6.6 kW onboard charger takes that time down to just 2.5 hours.

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Only One Trim Offers Front-Wheel Drive

Many people choose to go with an SUV for its capability in bad weather. Having something with all-wheel drive and a little extra ground clearance could mean the difference between getting out of your driveway or getting stuck. While that’s a priority for some, for others it’s simply about having a vehicle with a roomy interior for people along with extra room for cargo.

The base NX now has the option for front-wheel drive for those who don’t live where it snows. As a bonus, it’s the most affordable trim in the lineup. This is good news; however, it’s the only trim with this option so you get all-wheel drive whether you need it or not on other trims.

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It Starts Under $40,000

As a luxury SUV, there are more affordable five-person options out there. But the 2022 Lexus NX has a surprisingly affordable starting price. The base NX 250 with front-wheel drive starts at $39,025. All-wheel drive sees that price increase to $40,625, which still makes it attainable for more modest budgets.

The rest of the lineup has standard all-wheel drive. The NX 350 with its turbocharged engine starts at $42,625 while the hybrid NX350h comes in at $42,125. Sitting at the top is the plug-in hybrid NX 450h+ with a starting price of $56,635. While top trims climb in price, the NX still has more modestly priced and equipped base trims for less extravagant budgets.

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Choices Galore With 12 Trims

There are a whopping 12 different trim levels of the 2022 Lexus NX. That's partly due to the fact that there are four different powertrain options across the lineup. This makes it easy to find one that fits your budget and meets your needs with varying levels of luxury depending on the trim.

In addition to two gas trims, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid trim, there’s also a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. This wide range of possible configurations gets even larger with the F Sport, which adds sporty styling to the NX along with upgrades that improve handling for better performance. The Lexus NX offers something for everyone.

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Every Trim Delivers a Luxury Interior

Although there’s a wide range of trims and pricing for the NX, each has a comfortable and luxurious interior. It also includes more room for passengers to get comfortable thanks to the increased dimensions of the new NX.

Standard features include dual-zone climate control, synthetic leather trims, 8-way power adjustable front seats, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob. There are also heated front seats and a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel. It looks and feels like a luxury car from the moment you open the door.

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The F Sport Delivers Added Performance

The 2022 Lexus NX offers the F Sport trim on both the 350 and 450h+. This is available on multiple Lexus vehicles for those who crave a bit more performance from their daily driver. It adds active variable suspension and front and rear performance dampers for improved handling, especially at higher speeds.

It also adds Graphite Aluminum accents, bolstered sport seats, a unique steering wheel, and aluminum pedals and scruff plates. Vibrant Black and Circuit Red NuLuxe leather interior trims on the seats, steering wheel, and center console further enhance the sporty vibe of this trim. Outside, 20-inch gloss black aluminum wheels and unique front and rear bumpers complete the package.

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An All-New Infotainment System

The NX debuts an all-new infotainment system for Lexus, and it’s a marked improvement over the outgoing system. It includes a standard 9.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 14-inch touchscreen is also available. This new system accommodates over-the-air updates with cloud-based navigation that detects when you’re near a low connectivity area and downloads maps in advance.

The system is also voice activated with support for natural language commands rather than recognizing only preset phrases. It’s surprisingly easy and intuitive to operate and features dual microphones to pick up the voices of both driver and passenger. The system even responds from the speakers nearest whoever spoke, creating a more personalized experience.

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Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 Is Standard

Every 2022 Lexus NX comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which includes a long list of safety features, some of which are new. These include dynamic radar cruise control with curve-speed management that automatically slows as needed in curves when cruise control is engaged. There’s also left turn oncoming vehicle detection and braking, which helps prevent left turns in front of an oncoming vehicle.

The risk avoidance emergency steer assist feature applies the brakes and adjusts steering to avoid a collision in your lane. There’s also right and left turn oncoming pedestrian detection and braking. This warns the driver and automatically brakes if you’re about to make a turn in front of a pedestrian or bicyclist.

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There’s More Room for Cargo

The new NX is longer, wider, and taller than the outgoing model. Not only does this increase passenger room, but it also helps increase cargo capacity. There’s nearly 14 percent more room for cargo. There’s up to 22.7 cubic feet for cargo behind the rear seats. Flip down those seats and cargo room increases to 46.9 cubic feet.

If you still need more room, trims with gas engines can tow up to an additional 2,000 pounds of cargo when properly equipped. Hybrids, however, are not rated for towing. If towing is something that’s a must-have for you, then stick with the gas powertrains.

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