CAR REVIEW – 2015 Lexus NX200T F Sport SUV #LexusHarvest

I was provided with a week long test drive of the Lexus NX200T F Sport featured in this post. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own.

I’ve heard about the Lexus brand for a number of years. But, I’d never had the opportunity to drive or even ride in one, until recently. Not long ago I had the opportunity to drive the new 2015 Lexus NX200T F Sport. The Lexus NX200T F Sport is a 5 passenger all-wheel drive compact sport utility vehicle. It’s sleek and sporty appearance grabbed my attention the moment I first saw it. The compact suv is very sleek and boasts a sporty, modern design. The exterior features the distinctive looking spindle grill, as well as front and rear lights whose curves and angles draw your eye from one place to another on the vehicle. The 18″ F Sport wheels give it a sturdy, sporty look.





I found the interior to be very comfortable and surprisingly luxurious. The interior design was streamlined and modern and made up from quality materials. The heated front seats had just the right combination of height and firmness courtesy of 10-way power and lumbar support. And anyone that’s ever struggled to find their exact perfect position for a seat would appreciate the seat’s memory function. Relax for a few minutes in your sear and you’ll appreciate the view through the moonroof, which has power tilt and slide.

As soon as you slide into the driver’s seat you notice the large gauges in the instrument cluster.

The NX200T F Sport will delight those that enjoy technology. The experience begins with the smart access entry system, which unlocks the door without having to press a button as long as you have the key on you or in your bag. The 4.2″ color multi-informational display is where footage from the built-in backup camera is displayed.It’s also the hub for communication and entertainment. My phone connected to the vehicle via bluetooth with minimal effort. As someone who really loves music I always notice sound quality. The Lexus did not disappoint. The Lexus audio system provides access to HD radio, USB iPod and MP3 players and SiriusXM satellite radio. A small clock is right in the center, always visible.

The navigation system in the NX200t F Sport was really neat. Once you input your destination you can choose how you want maps displayed. And, the system will even tell you how close the nearest gas station is!

A touchpad (think laptop trackpad) resides in the center console. You use it to control the cursor to move through choices and commands on the screen above. While it’s a neat feature, there was quite a learning curve for me. You can change between music, phone, navigation and climate using the touchpad, or regular buttons and knobs in some cases if you prefer. Speaking of music, if you enjoy it you will appreciate the 10 speaker premium sound system. The center console features a Qi wireless cell phone charging tray, if your phone or phone case is capable.


As the NX200T F Sport is technically a compact suv, the seating in the back seat is only as wide as the vehicle. The leg room did accommodate my 6foot tall 19 year old son. But width-wise the vehicle is best suited for two adults or two larger children. If your children are on the young side you will likely be able to make three work for you. The back seat has an arm rest in the center that has two concealed cup holders. Something else related to comfort. I know Lexus and Toyota are related, and that the Lexus NX200 and the Toyota Rav are close in size. I drove a Rav back in 2014 and the back seat got horribly warm because it had no vents. I worried this would have also been the case with the Lexus and was happy to find that it wasn’t. I was very pleased to find that the back seat had its own heating and air vents.


Storage was ample in the vehicle. Access to it is simple with the power back door. I had sufficient room with the seats up to accommodate my bags from weekly grocery shopping.



The space in the back also easily held all of the fruit we picked up when we went to the orchard. The back seat folds down with the press of a button, increasing the amount of cargo space you have access to.

This week has been very busy, with lots of errands and other plans on the schedule. Lots of things that translate to a lot of driving. I manged to get a substantial amount of driving time in numerous driving environments, including around town, highway, and in the country. With all that driving you can’t help but notice gas mileage. The NX200T’s compact profile is part of the reason it gets nice gas mileage, getting 24 mpg combined city.highway, as well as 27 mpg highway and 22 mp city. The estimated annual fuel cost is $2,400.

The vehicle has a pleasantly quiet ride, with no major distractions from outside noises caused by the environment or the road. The NX200T allows the driver to select their driving experience, offering a choice of Normal, Sport or Eco. If you are a fan of manual shift, you’ll likely appreciate the control that the Manual option on the gear selector will give you. You are also able to turn off traction control if you choose. The vehicle handles exceptionally well. I found the 2.0l turbo 4cylinder 235hp turbo engine to be very peppy and energetic. It really moves for a 4 cylinder! It always responded quickly to whatever decision I made, both in accelerating as well as maneuvering. The 6-speed automatic transmission transitioned from one speed to another smoothly.
The NX200T has a number of safety features. Most notable are intuitive parking assist, location-specific tire pressure monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and auto-dimming outer mirrors with blind spot monitoring, as well as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist. The vehicle has 8 airbags – 3 for the driver (front, knee and side), 3 for the front passenger (front, cushion and side), and 2 side curtains. The suv comes with Lexus Enform Safety Connect, which provides automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, emergency assist, and enhanced roadside assistance. It also has a vehicle theft-deterrent system.
The Lexus NX 200t F Sport as I drove it has an MSRP of $44,328. There are other trim packages available starting at about $35,000. I truly enjoyed my time in the vehicle. While being very sporty and fun to drive, it still manages to have a luxury feel and style. It makes a solid choice for a vehicle for singles, couples and some families.
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