FOR its first foray into the small SUV market, Lexus has come up with a bit of a gem with its latest hybrid offering.

The firm says the body is based on a diamond shape, offering a distinctive profile, high levels of equipment and some exclusive touches.

Then there's the practicality of an SUV, either two or four-wheel drive and a clean an economical enginen mated with a clever CVT-style transmission.

For a vehicle in the premium sector of the market, it's not badly priced either, starting at £29,495.

The exterior styling features  a clever combination of sharp angles and creases, combined with bold curves and high off the ground stance complemented by 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels.

The sleek profile slopes gently to the back of the vehicle while a neat touch is the door handle mechanism which has a concealed key barrel and integrated puddle lighting.

It is refined with the 2.5-litre engine and electric motor working in harmony to keep engine noise outside and even absent when driving on electric power only.

With its distinctive headlights where daytime LEDs mimic the L-shaped Lexus badge, it never failed to attract attention.

The model I tried had distinctive styling modifications, including the grille which is combined with a lower bumper moulding with a metallic coating signature, F Sport badging, power tailgate and dedicated 10-spoke alloys. Inside are heated electric leather front seats with lumbar support.

Overall the interior offers clever options with a wireless charging tray for mobile phones and other portable devices plus a detachable vanity mirror.

The dash is dominated by a 4.2 inch colour screen and has a classy analogue clock, speedometer, tachometer and hybrid system indicator which shows power output and regeneration.

There is also a a new touch pad control next to the driver which operates major vehicle and infotainment functions and a 360-degree monitor that gives the driver a complete all-round view from the car.

These are all in addition to the usual raft of standard equipment like electric windows, door mirrors, DAB radio and a USB connectivity and dual zone climate control.

On the road, wind and road noise are virtually absent, with little intrusion from the petrol engine, while the E-CVT automatic transmission, unlike many of this type, accelerates smoothly with no jerkiness.

It feels like a conventional automatic gearbox, particularly when using the gearchange paddles behind the steering wheel for a sportier drive. 

Lexus Drive Mode Select gives drivers the choice of Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes. A button next to the dial lets the driver select an additional EV all-electric mode.

In each mode the throttle action is adjusted according to whether economy or performance is prioritised.

Performance is decent, the car hits 60mph from a standing start in 9.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph.

Overall the combined unit produces 195bhp with low CO2 emissions of just 116g/km on the front wheel drive model and 121g/km and the all-wheel drive. Economy is decent too with a claimed 54.3mpg.

The F Sport is available with adaptive variable suspension, which automatically adjusts damping in all driving conditions to achieve the highest possible straight line ride comfort and high-speed stability, with suppression of body roll and better cornering agility.

All-wheel drive is provided by Lexus's E-Four system, which uses an additional electric motor to drive the rear axle when needed.

The car can run electric power only at low speeds, a boon in heavy traffic while the clever cruise control helps even more by increasing the car's speed by 1mph increments.

All SUVs are practical cars the NX is no exception, featuring excellent luggage and stowage space throughout.

The wide loadspace will accommodate golf bags stowed sideways and offers a total of 475 litres. The rear seats also fold to increase maximum space.

In addition there are various storage pockets, boxes and cubby holes throughout.

All versions come with eight airbags and innovative safety features on all models include a pre-crash system which detects a possible collision and activates the brakes to avoid an impact, or mitigate its severity and adaptive cruise control in addition to a raft of other measures to acheive a five-star NCAP crash safety rating.