Lexus NX 2017 pricing and spec confirmed

Lexus Australia has introduced its facelifted NX this week, with the updated mid-size SUV line-up receiving pricing adjustments, increased equipment levels, revised styling and improvements to its suspension set-up.

The new NX range consists of three specification grades – Luxury, F Sport or Sports Luxury – and two engine choices – 300 turbo-petrol or 300h hybrid – with either a front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) on offer, except for the Sports Luxury grade which is AWD only.

Price changes across the 10-variant line-up vary from a $200 drop to a $1250 jump, while the F Sport grade has been bolstered by the addition of a FWD option to complement the existing AWD drivetrain. The 300h hybrid and AWD set-up add $2500 and $4500 respectively to each base grade price.

Previously found in the Sports Luxury grade, a suite of safety and driver assistance technologies, dubbed 'Lexus Safety System+', has been rolled out to the Luxury and F Sport grades, with auto emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane keep assist included.

Meanwhile, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and trailer sway control are standard range-wide for the first time, having not been offered in any grade before.

Entry-level Luxury grade (from $54,800 before on-road costs, up $1250) equipment levels extend to satellite navigation, a reversing camera, a power tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a 10-speaker sound system, digital radio, tyre pressure monitoring and 'Enform' connected mobility, as well as new bi-LED headlights, high beam assist and a larger 10.3-inch multimedia system.

The mid-tier F Sport grade (from $60,800) adds an 'F Sport' styling package, 360-degree cameras, wireless smartphone charging, paddle shifters, performance dampers and 10-way adjustable heated/cooled front seats with driver memory function, as well as adaptive LED headlights.

Stepping up to the flagship Sports Luxury grade (from $73,800, up $819) further expands the feature set to a leather-accented interior, full-colour head-up display, a 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, a moonroof and woodgrain-look ornamentation, as well as heated rear seats and redesigned 18-inch rims.

The Sports Luxury grade adds a full-colour head-up display.

The moonroof can be added to the Luxury and F Sport grades for $2500, while an enhancement pack – including the moonroof, 14-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, head-up display and a smart key card – adds $6000 to their list prices. Premium paint costs an extra $1000.

Visual changes are headlined by a horizontal bar insert for the spindle front grille on Luxury and Sports Luxury grades, while the F Sport grade has a mesh insert with a vertical interwoven pattern.

The NX range benefits from retuned suspension that ensures sharper handling and a smoother ride, while the F Sport and Sports Luxury grades have gained an adaptive variable set-up that offers enhanced control and stability, according to the Japanese carmaker.

As a result, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been reduced.

Furthermore, 'Drive Mode Select' in these higher grades now has a 'Custom' mode that allows drivers to alter powertrain, chassis and air-conditioning settings.

There are no changes to the two aforementioned four-cylinder petrol engines, with the 300's 2.0-litre turbocharged unit producing 175kW/350Nm, while the 300h's 2.5-litre naturally aspirated hybrid powertrain develops total system outputs of 147kW/270Nm.

Fuel economy for 300 variants is 7.7 (FWD) to 7.9 (AWD) litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle test, while the 300h consumes 5.6 (FWD) to 5.7 (AWD) litres per 100km.

Local NX sales have held steady this year, with 2561 examples sold to the end of September. Comparatively, Lexus sold 2560 units of its best-selling model during the same period in 2016.

Should other carmakers follow Lexus' lead and not make safety an option? Tell us what you think in the comments below.