Lexus NX300h luxury crossover unveiled in India

Japanese luxury car maker Lexus, which is owned by Toyota, has unveiled a luxury crossover for the Indian market. The NX300h is the name of the hybrid crossover, and it will be imported directly from Japan as a completely built unit. The crossover’s hybrid powertrain will make 197 Bhp, and the vehicle will be all wheel driven.

Prices are expected to start from Rs. 60 lakhs. There will be two variants – Luxury and F-Sport with the F-Sport being the top-spec model. Bookings are open at Lexus India dealers, with a booking amount of Rs. 5 lakhs.
The hybrid system of the Lexus NX300h consists of a 2.5 liter petrol engine and a rear mounted electric motor.

The petrol engine and electric motor transmit torque to all four wheels of the crossover through a CVT automatic gearbox. The ARAI certified fuel efficiency is 18.32 Kmpl, which means that the running costs of the NX300h will be similar to that of its diesel powered competitors – Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC.

While the Lexus is as large as these vehicles, it will be priced much higher as it is imported as a CBU. Moreover, the tax cuts hybrids used to have pre-GST are no longer available. In terms of safety features, the NX300h gets a full complement of eight airbags, ABS+EBD, traction control and a vehicle stability control programme.

It features leather-clad interiors, electrically reclining rear seats, a 10.3-inch touch screen infotainment display with GPS navigation and a heads-up display. The top-end F-Sport model will also get paddle shifters. The NX300h will be one of the lowest priced Lexus cars sold in India. It will be a more practical model than the ES hybrid sedan due to its higher ground clearance. It may turn out to be the best selling model for Lexus in the coming months. Deliveries will start from March 2018. Prices are expected to be announced at the Auto Expo.