Series II

Lexus facelifted its three-year-old NX in October 2017, which was distinguished by minor styling changes hiding a revised suspension and enhanced active safety and infotainment package.

The Japanese-built medium SUV also had its three-tier model range – Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury – further expanded with the addition of an F Sport front-wheel-drive model grade for the first time, having added to the availability of all-wheel drive. While the Luxury continued with both of those configurations, the Sports Luxury only maintained the latter.

In all three cases, the NX200t was renamed NX300 but the 175kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission combination was unaltered. The hybrid alternative continued to be named NX300h with a 147kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, electric motor and continuously-variable transmission (CVT).

The Luxury for the first time received pedestrian detection for its autonomous emergency braking (AEB), plus a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, auto up/down high-beam, adaptive cruise control and a 10.3-inch centre screen replacing a 7.0-inch unit. The F Sport and Sports Luxury added full LED headlights with sequential indicators and adaptive automatic high-beam, plus revised adaptive suspension with 650 damping levels versus the old model’s 30 levels. Every NX also now featured firmer rear bushings, while rear stabiliser bar stiffness increased by 22 per cent on NX300h and 19 per cent on NX300.