[Editor’s Note: We have a First Drive coming soon too. The initial footage is not yet finished though, so GET EXCITED because you have more Lexus NX coming your way.] It also happens to be damned perfect for its target market. The RX is comfortable, offers up an appropriate level of luxury, looks fancy enough without standing out, and is priced in line with the rest of its segment. If you’re afraid to test the diesel waters, the Lexus RX Hybrid is a perfectly fine vehicle for you. Still, there are some who desire some engagement from their machines. Toyota President Akio Toyoda himself even said recently that he desires to see more a more sporting attitude and nature throughout the Toyota lineup. To that end, we’ve begun to see the initial results of his push. The Avalon no longer looka like the last car you’ll ever buy your grandmother, the Lexus IS and GS are truly entertaining machines both on the street and the track, and the Toyota/Scion GT-86/FR-S are rhythm car blasts from enthusiast heaven. It should stand then, that a compact crossover from Lexus should be enjoyable to drive as well. This is one of the hottest segments out there, so Lexus needs to offer something unique. Enter the 2015 Lexus NX… and even if you hate how it looks, prepare to love how it drives. One of the easy critiques of a Lexus vehicle is that it’s too soft. That’s fine though, since the average person who buys a Lexus wants to drive a leather-clad cloud. That critique is starting to fall apart, however, because there’s a healthy dose of “sport” being injected into the family. The IS has rubbed off on its bigger brother, the GS. Proud Papa LS has been paying attention too, since it now comes in an LSD-equipped F-Sport version that relishes the opportunity to keep your tire supplier in the black. The RX has yet to receive the sporting love though, despite a few fairly weak attempts to toughen it up. It might not need to get tougher though because the 2015 NX will serve that need surprisingly well. Although the chassis is based off the one underpinning the Toyota RAV4, 90 percent of the NX parts are new. A MacPherson strut front suspension pairs nicely with the Double Whishbone rear setup. The resulting ride is one that manages to throw cushy comfort and stiff sportiness into a handling cocktail glass, shake things up, and then pour out a balanced, communicative driving experience. That balance is aided by almost shockingly good brakes and a well-tuned power-steering system. Stomp on the pedal when preparing to chuck the NX into a corner and the pedal provides consistent and linear feel. Now, I’m not saying that you can go out and track the NX for lap after lap, but on your favorite winding road you can expect your stopping power to be right there where you left it before the last corner. We’re, of course, not dealing with a hot rod here. There are two engine options available with the NX. The first, and the one that I can see many Lexus customers opting for, is the NX 300h with its hybrid powertrain. A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine pairs with a trio of motor generators and a pack of batteries. The result is nearly 200 total-system horsepower and 0-60 times that clock in at just over nine seconds. In both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive guise, the hybrid will return over 30 miles per gallon both in the city and out on the highway. Things get far more interesting, however, when you leave the hybrid stuff alone and go straight to the NX200t. That “t” stands for Turbo, which makes sense since the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine under the hood makes use of forced induction. This pushes power output to 235 horsepower and a very healthy 258 pound-feet of torque, which is available from 1,650 RPM up through 4,000 RPM. Now we’re talking about a 0-60 jaunt that happens in right around seven seconds. That’s a strong number for a compact luxury crossover that tips the scales at just about 4,000 pounds (3,950 FWD/4,050 AWD). The 200t pairs the engine with a new six-speed automatic gearbox, while the 300h, predictably, makes do with a CVT. Additionally, that 300h can’t match the braking feel of the 200t since it needs to work with regenerative units. It’s always odd when hopping behind the wheel of a hybrid vehicle after spending time with its non-hybrid counterpart. Still, it makes the clamps on the 200t feel that much more impressive. Now, the most impressive vehicle in the NX family has a bit of extra badging, amongst other things. I speak, of course, about the NX F-Sport. To help it stand apart from the rest of the NX crew it’s fitted with a unique grille, fog lamps, cornering lamps, and one of two available sets of 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. On the inside, the F-Sport gets injection molded seats, F-Sport gauges that include a G-meter and a boost gauge, and something called Active Sound Control. This system enhances the engine, transmission, and exhaust volume by way of a switch near the steering wheel. It pipes in more noise through a unique speaker set aside just for this system. It does work but I wish they would just allow the vehicle to make more noise naturally, without a need for a dial. That’s probably the one miss when it comes to the cabin space of the NX. We’re dealing with a driver-focused almost cockpit-like front cabin area, which helps push the idea that this crossover can scoot along quite well. This is more apparent, of course, in the F-Sport cabin thanks to the extra red stitching, the F-Sport steering wheel, and those extra gauges. Additionally, the F-Sport seats are both comfortable and supportive. You sit in them, rather than on them, and that helps create a sense that you’re sitting lower than you actually are. I keep harping on the extra goodies that come with the NX F-Sport, but that’s because they’re worth it and make the car even better than the standard NX200t. Lexus engineers have taken the chassis, and then tuned it further to extract more from it. The suspension has been upgraded for performance, with everything from the springs to the bushings getting the necessary attention. A set of F-Sport exclusive performance dampers keeps the road action flat, while also managing to aid in better noise dampening that helps keep the cabin retain the Lexus level of quiet one should expect from the L-badged vehicles. As you might expect from a new vehicle, there are plenty of gadgets and tech bits to keep you entertained inside. The standard slew of safety features are all present, including all-speed dynamic radar cruise control and lane-departure assist. There’s also a remote touch system with adjustable haptic feedback that allows you to control a variety of systems in the car without taking your eyes off the road. Finally, an optional Qi (pronounced Chi) wireless charging tray is available, which sits in the center console and manages to easily charge a phone while simultaneously blowing my mind. I’m easy like that though, I guess. There are a handful of arguments to be made for the case against the Lexus NX. The designer attempted to give their high school geometry teacher an aneurism. Enthusiasts demand wagons, not more cars on stilts. The world was already quite content with the Lexus RX. Still, none of those hold up for me and I’m excited to see the NX come to be. Lexus is no longer content to simply be, but is instead looking to grow. The core fan base will still be there and an increase in more dynamic vehicles could bring new buyers into the fold. Luxury buyers who enjoy actually driving their vehicles are no longer limited to a handful of offerings from only German automakers (plus the Cadillac sedans and coupes, of course). Let’s be honest here though, the person who bought an RX never “settled”. They found the car appealing to them. Personally, it does nothing for me. The NX changes things, however, and is helping to expand the brand to a wider swatch of the car buying public. You can love or hate the styling, but you can’t deny that it’s refreshingly fun to drive. The 2015 Lexus NX is proof that Akio Toyoda is a man of his word. [Disclaimer: Lexus flew me to Vancouver and put me up at a hotel at the base of Whistler. I saw a bear… it was awesome.] [Images copyright 2014 Hooniverse/Jeff Glucker] [Interior photos courtesy of Lexus]