Lexus NX 300 Crafted 2019 Review

I love craft beer. I used to love doing arts and craft as a kid. And sometimes I enjoy the outcomes of a crafty plan, such as convincing my better half that watching the footy on a Friday night is a better idea than watching the IQ-reducing Married at First Sight TV show.

So, when I heard that the Lexus NX Crafted had dropped, my interest was piqued.

On top of the standard equipment, which includes high-quality leather covering almost every conceivable surface, a 10.3-inch widescreen infotainment system and the sort of soft carpet floor mats you expect on a Roller, the Crafted models get a head-up display and an 360-degree top-down parking camera system, usually only standard on the more expensive F Sport model.

A smart key is part of the Lexus NX Crafted package, allowing for keyless entry, exit and engine start, while the exterior features fancy-new machined 18-inch alloy wheels, black grille and wing mirrors and elaborate door sills that light up at night.

This is the first time the Lexus NX gets the special treatment and although it doesn't taste quite as fruity as a hand-brewed New England Indian Pale Ale, it's not a bad machine.

In fact, truth to be told, my better half is now insisting we trade in our 2017 Hyundai Tucson Elite for the NX Crafted.

Sadly the salary of a lowly staff journalist doesn't allow for such flippant vehicle trades… but as it stands the added features and styling cues bring a little more razzle dazzle to the NX 300. The 360-degree parking camera makes tight shopping mall car parking easier, while the proximity key means you can leave the fob in your bag, coming and going in the car as you please – handy when you're loading shopping bags.

It's an easy car to live with, make no mistake, but even without the extra features it highlights how solid the cars fundamentals are. Sure, the platform underneath is getting old and the infotainment system is diabolical, but the sense of luxury it conveys makes it very appealing to spend time in and dulls the impact of these quibbles.

Fitted with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, the Lexus NX 300 ain't as efficient as the hybrid version but it is faster and more engaging to drive.

I reckon the four-pot spinner could do with a few more herbs, the SUV's 1860kg mass taking some of the response off the engine's not-insignificant 175kW/350Nm. Giving it a squirt off the line results in prompt but not arresting acceleration, as evidenced in rivals like the 2.0-litre turbo BMW X3.

It honestly doesn’t feel much zippier than our 1.6-litre turbo-petrol Hyundai Tuscon. Lexus claims 7.1sec, but I'd argue it's closer to 8.0sec; and I think the six-speed auto is partly to blame for its lack of pace. It doesn't deliver the response nor ratios of its eight and nine-speed peers.

The manufacturer's lab-based fuel economy claim 7.9L/100km but after a week in the saddle the best I could manage was 11.7L/100km. I don't reckon that's too bad, given the traffic light tango more often than not ended with the Lexus out in front.

Handling dynamics are sound rather than outstanding and although the Lexus will be left behind by its three German rivals – Mercedes GLE, BMW X3, Audi Q5 – on a twisting drive through the mountains, where the NX 300 excels is in ride comfort.

It's cushy and comfortable, riding smoothly over rougher roads. If most of your drive time is going to be spent commuting and getting around town, this will fit the bill.

Where it lags against its rivals is in the driving doodad department. The adaptive cruise control fitted as standard is as good as any available but the automatic steering (steering assist in Lexus lingo) is merely OK. It's good in slow moving traffic and on straight roads but isn't as proactive as those offered by the Germans.

Where the Lexus NX 300 Crafted is a class leader is in the interior department, and particularly the high quality materials in use. The leather upholstery that covers the seats, gear shifter, wheel, dashboard and door inserts – basically every touch point – is soft and supple, which can't always be said of the Germans.

Even the plastics used in the doors and on parts of the dashboard aren't unpleasant or rough to touch. Indeed, comfort levels in the Lexus NX 300 are very good but the infotainment system is challenging.

Back in the day I enjoyed the novel way of navigating the 'remote touch' menu systems via joystick or touchpad, seeing a little pointer move around on a infotainment screen. But these days when you're in a rush (gotta bath the baby, always in a rush!) accurately selecting options is painful.

Another bugbear was when I was trying to call the missus explaining my tardiness after work, and the car refused to allow me to access the full phone list – only recently called numbers – "when vehicle operating". Arrg! Safety is important, but is an angry driver a safer driver? I doubt it.

The look and feel of the interior is pretty swish, with metallic accents blending nicely with the stitched leather to create a sophisticated but not overzealous ambience. For the most part, all the switchgear feels nicely damped and ergonomics are healthy.

But some of the control placements are a bit all over the shop. The central control area where the heating and cooling buttons live comprises a (rather unnecessary) two-tier design. It also has a CD player, which is the car-equivalent of crows-feet. It's showing its age.

You get two USB ports and one AUX up front, plus a 240V socket and, unusually, a removable mirror. My wife really loved this concealed feature, perfect for applying make-up on the way to the ballet. At first I didn't quite understand what the mirror was for.

The back seats are roomy and relatively comfortable and the boot is fairly spacious, its 500 litres of cargo able to swallow lots of junk, including a pushchair hastily thrown in with groceries piled on top. That expands more than 200 per cent to 1545 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

I enjoyed my time with the Lexus NX 300 Crafted and although the extra features are welcome, including a power moonroof, I wanted a little more to glitz to show this was a special edition. Maybe a pewter-covered gear shifter or rose gold finish to the lovely analogue clock?

How about an oblong steering wheel with fuzzy suede inserts for the part of the car drivers will handle more than any other?

It might not have the right badge, it might not be a class leader in terms of tech, infotainment, dynamics or power delivery, but the Lexus NX is comfier and more luxurious than its competitors and delivers a strong value equation. It will also certainly be more reliable than any of the German offerings too.

With a four-year warranty instead of three like the Germans, and a lower asking price with more standard features, I would have no problem recommending this car. And neither would my wife.

The Lexus NX 300 Crafted is not the same as an Imperial Chilli Chai Stout (that's a beer), but if you can negotiate a tidy price with the dealer, you won't be disappointed with the NX 300.

How much does the 2019 Lexus NX 300 Crafted cost?
Price: $63,806 (plus on-road costs and $1500 for metallic paint)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 175kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.7L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 184g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017)