2016 Lexus NX 200t F Sport 
Class: Premium Compact Crossover
Miles Driven: 1019
Fuel Used: 39.7 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 25.7 mpg
Driving mix: 35% city, 65% highway
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | A- |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 22/27/24 (city, highway, combined)
Base price: $38,365 (not including $940 destination charge)
Options on test car: Qi wireless media charger ($220), auto-dimming rear-view mirror ($125), LED headlamps ($1160), navigation system with premium audio ($1875), safety package $660, Premium F Sport Package ($2045), heated steering wheel ($150)
Price as tested: $46,440
Quick Hits
The great: Ample passing and merging power
The Good: Upscale cabin
The not so good: Limited second-row headroom, pricey options
More NX price and availability information
John Biel
Two years. Two Lexus NX 200t F Sports. Too similar?
The NX 200ts that Consumer Guide® tested for 2015 and 2016 both were F Sport models, the middle of the premium compact SUV’s three-tiered model range. There’s precious little that’s been done to the NX for its second year on the market, but the test vehicles weren’t exactly two peas in a pod.
CG’s most recent NX F Sport tester was a two-wheel-drive model (the front wheels, that is) while the 2015 example was an all-wheel-drive truck. Opting for the front-drive job will save $1400 in sticker price and 110 pounds of vehicle weight. That latter number may have a little bit of an impact on fuel mileage.
Test Drive: 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport
Test Drive: 2017 Infiniti QX30 Sport
In practically all other respects, the driving and riding experiences between one 200t F Sport and the other were virtually matches. The engine’s Lexus-built turbocharger, with air-to-liquid intercooler, is subject to some turbo lag but is pretty lively when fully spooled up. (The turbo engine spins out 258 lb-ft of torque between 1600 and 4000 rpm.) Selectable modes—“Normal,” “Sport,” or “Econ”—tweak throttle response and power-steering assist. The nimble NX responds attentively to steering inputs but torque steer can creep in during hard acceleration. The F Sport enhances the standard suspension of front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones and trailing arms with stiffer bushings and additional stabilizer bars front and rear, both with an oil-filled piston at the center to absorb shocks and quell noise and vibration. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels hold 225/60R18 all-season tires. Bad road imperfections will make themselves felt in the F Sport but overall ride and quiet aren’t bad.
The interior had a decidedly upscale feel, with generous application of soft-touch materials on doors and dash. F Sports dress their seats in imitation-leather upholstery, and textured-metal highlights adorn the dash and doors. F Sport seats have a grippy, firmly bolstered design of their own that might not suit all builds as well it does others. Front headroom and straight-ahead legroom are quite good, though there’s not a lot of space for legs and knees between the console and door panels. Thick, sloping roof pillars diminish over-the-shoulder visibility, and rear headrests limit the straight-back view. Rear-seat legroom is sufficient for grown-ups. Three children will fit across the rear seat—and maybe three adults in a pinch. Headroom can be a close fit for adults, but manually adjustable seat backs can open up a little more space.
Both of CG’s F Sport test vehicles came with the Navigation Package option, which brings with it Lexus’ console-touchpad Remote Touch Interface. Users can “pinch,” double tap, or push to access information or change views on the seven-inch display screen in the dash. It is hardly the most aggravating such system that this driver has tried, but working it still demands more attention than he’d like while driving. Climate and some radio settings can be set via buttons on the center stack, though they display on the screen. The instrument cluster includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) display of vehicle information. F Sports have distinct graphics, and the information display includes a turbo boost gauge and a g-force meter, but direct sunlight washes out the display. “Active Sound Control” allows the driver to dial up the exhaust-sound volume in the cabin for a sportier ambience.
Interior storage includes an ample glove box, plus a modest covered console cubby in which USB and power ports are found. The cubby is home to an optional wireless charger for compatible mobile phones and devices. It looks like a tray, and it blocks access to the console box when in use, but it does flip up to provide access to the storage space. Door pockets in front include space for a bottle, but rear pockets are just big enough for a bottle. There are pouches on the backs of the front seats, and a rear pull-down center armrest with twin cup holders. A roomy rear cargo area loads at bumper height (though that height is, uh, kind of high) and has several tie-down hooks and a tray for incidentals under the floor pad. For bigger loads, rear seats fold in a 60/40 split, and when down, rest nearly flat. The rear cargo cover folds and stows out of the way atop the spare tire.
The 2016 front-wheel-drive NX 200t F Sport starts at $38,365. That includes model-specific bits like a perforated-leather steering-wheel wrap, paddle shifters, fog lights, LED daytime running lights, and F Sport door-sill scuff plates. However, CG’s tester was elevated to $46,440 with delivery and a thorough complement of options. The navigation package now includes Lexus Enform Remote, which can remotely start the engine or lock and unlock doors via smartphone. There you go: something new after all.
