About town with Lexus

Hayley and cover photographer Graeme Murray get the perfect shot down at Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui.

ABOUT TOWN

UNO editor Hayley Barnett cruises through a super-smooth deadline week with the help of the new PHEV NX 450h+ Sport.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL + SALINA GALVAN F rom the moment I set eyes on the car Lexus had prepared for me I knew I was in for an automotive treat. I also knew returning it at the end of the week was going to be more difficult than it usually is. Lexus’ luxurious new PHEV NX 450h+ F Sport ticks all of the boxes I would want in a car.

Firstly, it’s gorgeous to look at whether you’re outside or in. The sleek styling screams sophistication while also letting you know it’s no performance slouch. The interior is roomy and spacious enough to fit our two oversized kids safety seats in the back with enough space for someone to squeeze in between them and there was ample boot space to handle everything I threw at it: Work stuff, groceries, beach gear.

As petrol prices skyrocket we’ve increasingly been looking at electric or hybrid vehicles and happily the Lexus delivered here too, boasting a zippy 2.5l hybrid engine and a variety of engine modes to engage, including an economy mode and sports mode.

Most importantly Lexus has baked many new comfort, performance and quality-of-life features into the PHEV NX 450h+ F Sport.

While I was constantly impressed during my time with the car there was one feature that I fell in love with. On paper, it's not the sexiest feature or one that will sound particularly exciting. In fact, it's one many cars have had for decades. Yours probably has it. Yes, I'm talking about cruise control.

Of course, this being Lexus' high-tech, flagship model means its iteration of this common feature is light years ahead of what I'm used to. Lexus calls it Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and what makes it so neat is that after you’ve set your speed – as easy as pushing a button – the car automatically keeps you a safe driving distance away from the car in front of you.

Even better, it magically – or more likely through the use of radar – reacts and adjusts your speed to their driving. So you can be cruising along the open road at 100kms and if the driver slows down for a corner so will you. Driving along Pāpāmoa Beach Road in traffic saw the Lexus slowing down each time the driver in front approached its many roundabouts.

Zipping around town and hard at work.

Plenty of space for the kids during school run.

Charging up while you shop is super economical.

School drop off has never been easier.

This feature transformed both out-of-town road trip driving and those short errands like nipping to the supermarket or down to the Plaza to pick up Friday night takeaways.

It's the safest cruise control I've ever used. And safety is a big part of the NX's appeal as evidenced by its top-of-the-class 5-star safety rating. The car has sensors and cameras everywhere to make driving easier and safer. It tells you if you're drifting over road lane markings, it beeps if you're backing out into oncoming traffic, it warns you if you're about to hit something when parking, there's an icon on the driver mirrors that lights up when a car is in your blind spot and its active cornering assist helps out if you misjudge a turn.

It also boasts a state-of-the-art 14-inch touchscreen that is the multimedia hub of the car. As well as Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Google Car compatibility and the air-con settings, you can also use the touchscreen to get into the meat and potatoes of the vehicle where you can adjust the performance settings to your heart's content. Many features can also be accessed via the steering wheel and using the HUD in the driver's front windshield. But that touchscreen really is glorious. When using the inbuilt navigation the maps are bright, vivid and easy to read. When parking the screen shows both the standard rear camera and a snazzy overhead view. The combo makes parallel parking a breeze.

Another nifty trick is the ability to swap the function of the rear mirror. At the push of a button, it goes from being a standard mirror to instead become a display for the car's rear camera. This offers a far superior and unencumbered view of what's happening behind you. But it does take a little getting used to.

Which, fortunately, I had the time to do. On the weekend we embarked on a day trip over to Whakatāne. We took the children strawberry picking and enjoyed a late lunch before popping over the hill to Ōhope Beach.

This is a pretty cruisy drive and the Lexus NX F Sport ensured we were travelling in style. At no point did it break a sweat and the cruise control ensured my heavy-footed fiancée didn't get stung with a speeding ticket on the way home. Something I can't say about another of our recent trips away.

Flashy sports models are usually punishing on the gas. A natural expense of their performance focus and the tendency of sport model drivers to enjoy zooming off from the lights. The NX F Sport didn't deliver too much pain at the pump thanks to its hybrid engine. Most of the week we weren't using petrol at all as we went about our daily tasks like the school run or heading over to the office.

Another small luxury I’ll miss is the driver settings. You can fully customise your preferred driving set up. You can adjust everything from the height and distance of the steering wheel, seat distance from the pedals and even the lumbar support in the seat. After someone else has been driving simply push a button and the car resets to your personal specifications. Brilliant.

An unexpected benefit came on Black Friday. I needed to grab a present for a birthday party and had to rush into Bayfair. It was utter chaos as Black Friday bargain hunters clogged up the car park where they futilely prayed for a park. No such problem for me. I drove straight to the charge park, conveniently located right in front of the entrance, and left the car to charge for free while I shopped. It's enough to put you off petrol for life.

While there’s a plethora of features, Lexus has worked hard to make engaging them all straightforward. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist. Of course, those that want to deep dive can adjust and tinker with performance settings to their heart’s content.

Like I said earlier, the Lexus PHEV NX F Sport ticked all the boxes I would want in a car. And giving it back was just as difficult as I imagined.

LEXUS.CO.NZ/EN/DEALERS/TAURANGA

DREAM MACHINE

Bruce Huffadine’s lifelong dream of owning a Lexus finally came to fruition in March, 2022.

The 81-year-old former marine engineer made a promise to himself many moons ago. “I always said when I retire I’m going to buy a Lexus,” he smiles.

Before he became a marine engineer, the Katikati resident was a motor mechanic. “We had other cars that I loved over the years, but I really admired the quality of Lexus vehicles and it was just that bit further up the ladder from what we had.”

Time went by and, although Bruce kept thinking about trading in his current car for a Lexus, life would get in the way.

“The car I had a few years ago was getting harder and harder to get down into,” explains Bruce.

When he and his partner, Jan, moved from the South Island up to the Bay, to be near their daughter in Mount Maunganui, Jane pointed out that Lexus had opened a showroom.

“So we went in and started talking to Mike about my dream of owning a Lexus. I said it had to be red because red goes faster!”

Besides the all-important colour, it had to be economical. Driving back and forth from Mount Maunganui to Katikati can hit the pocket. And so he settled on an IS 300 F Sport.

“It’s everything we hoped it would be,” gushes Bruce. “It’s the luxury and comfort that we love. What more could you ask for?”

"LEXUS PHEV NX F SPORT TICKED ALL THE BOXES I WOULD WANT IN A CAR. AND GIVING IT BACK WAS JUST AS DIFFICULT AS I IMAGINED."