At the wheel of the Lexus NX 450h+ Overtrail: Hybridising the trails

The Lexus NX 450h+ Overtrail is a fan of rural outings. We tested this plug-in hybrid SUV on tarmac and tracks to find out if Japanese luxury and the great outdoors are a good mix.

The prophecy of the tyres: the chunky Dunlop Grandtrek AT5s with their deep tread on the Lexus NX 450h+ AWD Overtrail are an open invitation to take to the trails. As its name suggests, it’s a 4x4. However, the all-wheel-drive setup depends on the presence of an extra small electric motor producing 54hp (40kW) to power the rear axle. That encouraged me to take some shortcuts through the countryside, keen to try the Japanese SUV off the tarmac. “Vade retro satana!” The temptation proved just too much…

The First

The NX 450h+ was the first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) from Lexus. This powertrain appeared with the second generation launched in 2021. The SUV’s 18.1kWh battery allows for 70km of electric driving in mixed-cycle use. However, once you get on the motorway, expect no more than 50km. Especially as there’s no rapid charging, with no Combo CCS socket. You have to make do with a standard Type 2 socket limited to 6.6kW, which will mean about three hours to get a full charge.

Fortunately, there’s a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 185hp for trips beyond the daily commute. Lexus, a subsidiary of Toyota, is a hybrid technology expert—the battery is never really totally empty. There’s always a little hybrid boost left to enjoy the combined 309hp and 270Nm, as well as the near-silent progress at low speed thanks to the 182hp (134kW) front electric motor. The rear electric motor (54hp) can also help to correct your line or get you out of a tough spot off-road.

Learning Curve

This drive took place in a premium environment—thankfully not as sanitized as in the past—with impeccable finish in a car of striking design. The Overtrail version even gets plush seats and soft-touch materials. The steering wheel features buttons whose function required a bit of figuring out (without consulting the manual). The logic isn’t too complex, as long as you remember what the little arrows < ˄ ˅ > mean. The head-up display, though, turns into a projected encyclopaedia, flashing handy reminders before your eyes.

By contrast, the menus on the main screen are rather drab and lack visual appeal. At least the climate control is always on display. To manage energy flows, there’s a button near the e-CVT selector, and another to force all-electric driving. There’s yet another for drive modes. Turn it for Eco, Sport and Sport+, but press it to switch from Normal to Custom. So much fiddling! That said, abiding by Lexus’s principles, your dealer should take the time to explain everything before letting you loose on the roads.

Let’s Go

Now that the scene is set, let’s get behind the wheel of the NX. This 4.66m long car weighs two tonnes. With the battery running down quickly and no charger on hand, almost the entire test took place in hybrid mode with the petrol burning away. The 55-litre tank ran dry at a rate of 7l/100km. Thanks to regeneration, there was always a bit of juice left to run as a Prius would. You notice the weight, especially during hard acceleration. The four-cylinder makes (unpleasant) noises—a discordant note in an otherwise refined experience. In S and S+ modes, the battery drains faster to assist the petrol engine.

Despite those chunky 18-inch tyres, the SUV remains very competent on the motorway. A good 250km on tarmac did nothing to faze the Japanese rubber. When you don’t provoke the petrol engine with the accelerator, things are cosily comfortable on board. To avoid endless warnings, Lexus even provides a shortcut on the screen to silence the speed alert. As long as you’re not connected via wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Off-Road

Country lanes and cobblestones near the Strépy-Thieu boat lifts didn’t trouble the NX. But as it’s AWD and Overtrail, a more challenging diversion was in order. The weather at the time meant there was hardly any mud (and not a speck of snow, though the Dunlop Grandtreks aren’t winter tyres). There’s a button to activate all-wheel drive, and on-screen you can see what’s under the car thanks to the advanced panoramic vision.

The trip through the Brabant countryside passed smoothly. But even a ProAce City Verso (basically a Toyota Berlingo) could have managed that. Where the NX 450h+ AWD did shine, though, was in the body stability, despite the ruts. I harbour no illusions about its true 4x4 abilities. Its increased ground clearance—15mm higher—is no passport to feats in mud or wild axle articulation. But at the very least, you can reach a remote field, farm, chalet or picnic spot with ease.

The interesting thing is how composed it feels on tarmac. The chunky tyres are no handicap for long journeys. With its 549-litre boot full, you can head off and discover places well away from Brussels’ clamour. Perfect for the “adventurers” of Fort-Jaco (little Belgian in-joke), but also ideal for genuine rural dwellers wanting to maintain a certain standard on the road.

The Checkout

Getting out of the car by pressing a button instead of pulling a handle, it’s time to look at the prices. At time of writing, Lexus Belgium is offering a €3,000 discount. We’ll stick to official prices. The car in the photos costs €78,400 (including “just” €3,190 for the sunroof and paint). In Belgium, this trim includes the digital rear-view mirror (which easily switches to a normal mirror) as standard. Elsewhere, without Grandtrek tyres and in Business Line trim, the NX 450h+ AWD starts at €65,950.

In Switzerland, the Lexus NX 450h+ Overtrail starts from CHF 77,900 (CHF 78,500 with the same Moon Desert paint). The sunroof costs an extra CHF 2,150. There is also a winter kit for CHF 3,376 including 3PMSF tyres suitable for snow and the cold season. Winter tyres alone cost CHF 3,100. The Overtrail is not available in the French catalogue. The NX 450h+ AWD starts at €78,000 there, in more urban trims.

Lexus also offers the NX 450h+ Overtrail in the Netherlands. Prices there start at €73,495. With the right Moon Desert paint, sunroof and digital rear-view mirror, you’ll spend over €3,000 more to reach €76,637. In Germany, the 450h+ Overtrail starts at €73,290 without a sunroof. As in France, there’s no Overtrail in the range either in the UK (450h+ from £50,245) or Canada (450h+ from $59,990 CAD). Go figure!

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Lexus – Photos: © Olivier Duquesne)