The Lexus NX lineup came to the United States back in 2015, and even though it was a late entrant to the ever-growing compact luxury SUV segment, the NX turned out to be one of the most successful models from Lexus. The very different design language coupled with the quality and reliability that is expected from a Lexus SUV made it a favorite amongst American buyers. With a major redesign in 2022, the Lexus NX 350 F Sport is here for a base MSRP of $47,725 and carries forward the ethos while implementing many changes.
The 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport is the mid-spec trim of the NX lineup and comes with the turbocharged inline-4 motor, helping the car to do impressive speeds with much less effort, especially when compared to the lower trims. The ride quality is smooth, and the interior and infotainment have seen no cost-cutting. All the much-needed safety and driver-assistance features are standard too, making it a preferred choice for family buyers. Competing with the BMW X3 and Acura RDX, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport.
10 Impressive Powertrain
Even though it is based on the Toyota RAV4 platform, the NX 350 F Sport doesn't share the same powertrain as the Toyota. This Lexus comes with a new 2.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged inline-4 motor, producing 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The transmission duties are handled by an 8-speed automatic transmission, and it comes with a standard AWD drivetrain.
This SUV could do the 0-60 mph run in 6.4 seconds and has a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs, both of which are impressive when compared to the NX 350 with the previous 2.0-liter turbocharged motor. The new NX 350 F Sport feels sprightly during both city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission offers smooth and fast shifts. The AWD drivetrain puts the power down effectively, too.
9 Luxurious Interior
This luxury SUV can be had in 2 standard interior colors and a plethora of optional shades if you opt for the packages. Nevertheless, the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport still retains the quality and elegance which we have always appreciated with the earlier models of the NX. The NuLuxe leather upholstery is soft to touch and feels premium.
The aluminum pedals and the heavy dose of leather, matte finish wood, and aluminum inserts on the doors add to the ambiance. Even the dashboard comes with these premium materials. The plastics that are used for the construction of the lower parts of the dashboard and door cards are very soft and the headlining doesn't flex like some of the cheaper models.
8 Loaded With Safety Features
Being a Lexus, this luxury compact crossover SUV comes packed with all the bells and whistles in terms of safety. In comparison, the rivals like the Volvo XC60 and the BMW X3 miss out on many of these features, as they are part of the optional packages. The NX 350 F Sport is also built to a very high standard, which people will understand from the solid thud when closing the doors.
The standard driver-assistance features include automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision system, and collision mitigation system. All the regular safety features are also onboard. All of these helped this Lexus to get the top safety pick + title from the IIHS.
7 Decent Fuel Efficiency
Coming with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission does make the NX 350 F Sport a reasonably frugal machine, especially when considering the exceptional performance and torque numbers it showcases. This crossover SUV could do 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
The combined gas mileage of 25 MPG is superior to some of the rivals in the segment. With a 14.5-gallon fuel tank capacity, the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport could achieve 319 miles in the city and 406 miles on the highway on a full tank of fuel. However, rivals like the BMW X3 and the Acura RDX offer better tank range due to their bigger fuel tanks.
6 Refinement Could Have Been Better
The new turbocharged motor that resides under the hood of the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport does make it better in terms of refinement when compared to the older 2.0-liter motor. However, it is still not as good as the refinement level offered by the RDX or the X3.
The engine sounds buzzy as you climb up the rev range, and the augmented sound emitted from the speaker also contributes quite a lot of noise to the cabin. The wind noise and tire noise are slightly on the higher side as well. Nevertheless, it is not going to be a deal-breaker for many.
5 Striking Exterior Design
The 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport comes with an even more aggressive design than before, and this helps to stand out from the rivals well. The F Sport package makes the NX 350 stunning due to the blacked-out spindle grille and air vents on the front end, instead of chrome elements for the other trims. The LED DRLs and the lip spoiler add to the sportiness too.
There are 11 color options to choose from, and the brighter shades gel well with the F Sport package. When it comes to the profile, the reasonably long wheelbase and length, blacked-out pillars, mirrors, and wheels, and the beautiful 20" wheels add to the elegance. There is a neat F Sport monogram as well. The rear end gets an all-new single slab LED taillight, silver accents, and a large Lexus badging.
4 Infotainment Is Intuitive
The 14" touchscreen infotainment system is fixed onto the dashboard and is one of the easiest infotainments to use. The interface is excellent and is much more polished than what came with the outgoing model. The icons are fairly large, and the touch sensitivity is impressive. The display quality has seen no compromises either.
Everything is laid out very well and the learning curve is minimal for this infotainment. All the connectivity and entertainment features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, AUX inputs, and voice recognition are standard. The optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system offers a clear and punchy audio experience.
3 Excellent Braking Performance
Braking of the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport is handled by the 4-wheel disc brake setup with 12.9" front rotors and 12.5" rear rotors. Other braking features on offer are ABS with EBD, ventilated rotors, brake assist, hill descent control, hill hold control, and electric parking brake. The NX 350 F Sport could do 70-0 mph braking in just 175 feet as well.
We found the brakes of the 2022 Lexus NX 350 F Sport to be very sharp and accurate. The initial bite is excellent, and the low front-end dive makes the overall braking process smooth. The braking progression as you press the pedal harder is more than adequate to stop this SUV on a dime, too. However, the ABS does kick in proactively.
2 Comfortable Ride Quality
The independent front and rear suspension coupled with the slightly soft suspension tuning helps the car to ride very comfortably. There are multiple driving modes, and the suspension damping does change its character when you toggle the different modes. Put it in comfort mode and this SUV glides over most of the road irregularities while driving slowly with ease.
Put it in sport mode and the suspension does harden up more, and this helps while traveling on the highways. The unexpected potholes when met at the highway speeds don't crash in and jostle the passengers around. There is no major vertical movement, and the great seat bolstering adds to the comfort factor.
1 Spacious Cabin
The 12-way adjustable front seats with excellent side bolstering and under-thigh support make the front row of the NX 350 f Sport a comfortable place to be in. There is an ample amount of headroom and legroom, and the perfect ergonomics and well-padded armrest make the traveling experience even better. The ingress and egress are easy, too.
The rear seat offers a decent amount of legroom and headroom, however, it is not the best in the segment. The almost flat floor and the good shoulder room make it reasonably comfortable for three passengers. One of the biggest gripes we had with the earlier model year was the restricted trunk capacity on offer. However, with this 2022 iteration, Lexus has managed to solve it as it comes with about 23 cu ft of trunk capacity. There is deep underfloor storage and a 60/40 split rear seat as well.