Just over a year ago, we had the opportunity to be one of the first to sample the all-new Lexus NX200t. That vehicle was a pre-production car. This time around, we stepped into a production-ready  NX200t F Sport. The luxury crossover segment continues to grow and Lexus has branched for their own piece of the market. With so many vehicles already established in the segment, will Lexus be able to make the NX go mainstream so late in the game? The addition of the F Sport trim line and NX300h provides Lexus with a few extra variations of its new CUV.

Since we’ve already done a full review of the NX200t, this time around we’ve primarily focused on the features that come with the F Sport badge. With a quick walk-around, you’ll immediately notice a different style front grille and lower front fascia. It’s meant to provide a more aggressive design and enhanced design. We find this styling more appealing simply because it reduces the massive “overbite”of the standard NX model. The F Sport is equipped with unique 18-inch wheels, replacing the standard 17-inch standard wheels. Although it looks great in any color, The F Sport looks downright menacing in white. The black wing mirrors and wheel accents add to the contrast.

The interior is just as appealing with exclusive trim, bolstered sport seats, and race inspired G-force and turbo-boost gauges accessible through the 4.2-inch display. The sound found in the cabin is “sportier” too, thanks to the Active Sound Control (ACS) switch. With a simple dial on the dashboard, the driver can add more artificial engine noise in the interior. This feature can be found on the RC F among other Lexus models. The upgraded sport suspension is evident in the F Sport, but hardly interfered with the overall ride. The transmission, however, did not go unnoticed. At times it, felt unsure of what gear it should be in – especially under hard acceleration.

This is our second time with the NX, but we aren’t having second thoughts on our original opinion. The NX200t F Sport offers an edgy look in a segment where edgy looks are rapidly becoming the trademark. Lexus’ first turbocharged four-cylinder puts on a nice performance, even if the sound guy worked overtime. One of the only disappointments we found with the F Sport was a lack ventilated front seats. Regardless, the NX still has an air of class about it and its clear that Lexus has paid attention to the fine details in its usual manner. If you think the NX 200t has great looks, the F Sport is likely icing on the cake.

-Danielle Assenheimer

Related:
First Drive: 2015 Lexus NX200t