THE must-have fashion star of the high street right now is the prestige compact SUV.

Witness the success of the Range Rover Evoque, and see how BMW with the X4 and Porsche with the Macan are aiming to get in on the act.

Well, there's more. Lexus, the posh arm of Toyota, has brought out a bold, racy-looking five door with similar dimensions to its rivals but with a more advanced specification.

The NX is available as a hybrid with a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with twin electric motors.

The big plus for company car buyers is that even the four-wheel-drive version clocks emissions of a mere 121g/km cutting tax by hundreds or even more than £1,000 a year.

Not everyone will love the look of the NX, which closely follows the lines of the concept car. But you can't ignore it.

With a brash amalgam of curves, creases and macho imagery its styling is fresh, different and attention-grabbing.

When it comes to practicality, perhaps, its designers have decided to prioritise appearance for there's not as much headroom as offered by rivals BMW X3 or Audi Q5, and the boot which can absorb 475 litres of cargo is also less roomy.

The tailgate in the NX300h F Sport driven here shuts and opens electrically but the action is a bit lethargic - especially noticeable in a howling gale...

There is ample legroom front and back and passengers sit high allowing good vision all round. The facia and cabin decor are things of beauty with gliding switchgear and a quality finish - there's a definite sense of occasion within the NX.

There's no shortage of storage space with large door bins, cup-holders and a cooled glove box. A centrally positioned six-inch touch screen above the console controls a number of elements and includes sat nav. It's a trifle sensitive so a steady and some care are required.

With a combined power output of 194bhp coupled to continuous variable transmission you'd expect reasonable get-up-and-go, and the NX F Sport manages a 9.2 second sprint to 62mph which is acceptable enough, but not as rapid as some diesel alternatives.

It also lacks the mid-range punch available in high torque oil burners. On the plus side, the Lexus is exceptionally refined and ultra quiet.

Driven carefully, most owners will get close to the 40mpg mark, but don't expect to approach the dizzy heights of the official combined 55.4mpg figure. My own average was 37.6mpg over 480 miles.

On smooth roads the Lexus floats along serenely with little mechanical noise and a comfortable ride. Throw in an undulating surface, offset camber or a few pits or potholes and that composure becomes somewhat ruffled, making the ride more fidgety. Perhaps, the stiffer F Sport suspension doesn't help here.

Standard equipment, as in most Lexus models, is generous. The spec includes rain sensing wipers, leather trim, sat nav, LED daytime running lights, dual climate control and DAB radio.

With its exciting styling, prestige branding and appealing running costs the NX stands out from the crowd and deserves to make an impact.