2015 Lexus NX 200t review:

With a touchpad and a turbo, the NX 200t is like no Lexus before



September 11, 2014

The Good The Lexus NX 200t's new turbo four-cylinder makes use of Toyota's D-4S fuel injection for strong acceleration and reasonable efficiency. Enform apps and infotainment are as easy to use as ever, thanks to improved natural voice command and a new Remote Touch Pad controller. The compact crossover seems better suited for city dwelling than the larger Lexus RX.

The Bad The Remote Touch Pad has a learning curve and requires a bit more visual attention than the previous control scheme.

The Bottom Line The 2015 Lexus NX 200t's tech, amenities, and fuel efficiency stack fairly evenly with the competition, but its slight power advantage and unique styling push it above the class average.

The new 2015 Lexus NX 200t gets a lot of things right on paper that make it worth your attention. There's the styling, which is perhaps the most dramatic (and perhaps, most complete) interpretation of the Lexus' L-Finesse design language. Personally, I like the look, but your mileage may vary.
The NX is also packing the automaker's first-ever turbocharged engine, which is also the first such engine from Toyota Motor Company since the Supra's 2JZ-GTE was abandoned back in 2002. The cabin tech uses a trackpad like the one on your laptop and connects to the Internet via your mobile smartphone.
The NX, then, almost screams, "Hey, look at me! Lexus is cool now!" Fortunately, once it has your attention, the new NX 200t follows up with a class competitive performance.

Lexus' first turbo

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine uses a version of the automaker's D-4S system that has been optimized for use with the twin-scroll, intercooled turbocharger. The D-4S system combines port and direct injection systems to gain the benefits of both fuel injection technologies dependent on the engine speed and temperature. The stated output is 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque -- not an amazing amount of power for the 4,050-pound crossover, but enough to put its performance head and shoulders above the Toyota RAV4, with which it shares a platform, and on a par with the competition from Acura and the like.

It's been 12 years since we've seen a Toyota turbo, so I'm hoping to see this 2.0-liter find its way into other Toyota/Lexus models. Antuan Goodwin/CNET

That engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the only gearbox available for the 200t. Aside from the standard shift program, there's also a manual shift mode that allows the driver to fire off an up- or downshift by nudging the shift lever to and fro. Paddle shifters would make that manual shift mode more useful, but our example was not equipped with the F Sport package that would have added them.
From the trans-axle, power flows to the standard 17-inch front wheels where it meets the road. Our example features the automaker's optional all-wheel-drive system, but it is an on-demand setup that still defaults to a front-drive configuration under most conditions and only engages the rear wheels when additional traction is required, when slip is detected, or during cornering.

http://www.cnet.com/products/2015-lexus-nx-200t/