Luxurious Lexus a versatile SUV with a hybrid bonus

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- You're looking for an SUV that stands out, with luxury and a feisty engine. Not too big, mind you.  With some good fuel mileage And not so pricey as to prompt that second mortgage campaign.

What fits that bill is the recently tested 2024 Lexus NX 350h Luxury sport-ute, a compact five-seater that plays the role of Swiss Army Knife in this segment.  It's versatile.  And there's a lot to like.

The tester had the classic SUV look and stance, with the now-expected massive grille.  Within the skin, the "Luxury" label was evident.

Notable features included a power moonroof, a power rear door with kick-open sensor, rain-sensing wipers, intuitive parking, heated/ventilated seats, head-up display and thematic ambient lighting.

The list of multimedia/technology features was equally long and impressive. I particularly liked the steering-assist system that was subtle and helpful. State-of-the-art connected technologies were extensive and diverse ... enough so that you might need to consult your favorite teenager to master all of them.

The Lexus Hybrid Drive system pairs a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with two high-torque electric drive motor-generators to propel the sport-ute with vigor. The all-wheel-drive system operates seamlessly, and I found the NX rock-solid in cornering maneuvers.  The advertised zero-to-60-mph time is 7.2 seconds.

The hybrid powertrain produces a combined 240 horsepower, and it's essentially guilt-free with the hybrid technology equating to 41 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

For a loaded Lexus, I thought the $56,430 bottom line on the sticker was a relative bargain, especially with about $7,000 in options part of the deal.

Overall, this NX is another strong Lexus offering for the 2024 model year.