2015 Lexus NX200t vs 2015 Toyota RAV 4

When driving in suburban US country it is always nice to have an appropriate SUV car to help you enjoy the scenery and the drive more. Currently there are two competitors in the market that offer these kinds of segment conditions. The 2015 Lexus NX 200t is a luxury car with various driving capabilities that enable it to perform well on any kind of road and provide a nice ride for their passenger. Its arch rival is the vehicle from Toyota and is the 2015 Toyota RAV 4 vehicle which offers a tad better performance and a much more aggressive fee to it. It is a story of complete opposites, a Jekyll and Hyde tale if you will, and one which is hard to determine in which offers better characteristics.

This is the first model year for the Lexus NX 200t vehicle and it has already gained a big rival in the form of a RAV 4 car. These are some pretty big shoes to fill and something can be hard for many vehicles, but it appears that the NX is one that might just pull it off in its first go. The Lexus tries to be tip top fit and screws all the nuts and bolts tightly to perfection in order to fight off the opposing giant. On the other hand the Toyota vehicle is a much less expensive version which offers similar comfort level designs. This is rivalry that cannot be matched and something where the details can make the only difference between them.

 

Exterior

The NX vehicle some with a breakthrough design, or at least that is how they are calling it in Lexus. This actually includes the majority of its lineup getting a signature grille that all the vehicles have been updated now with. The GS and LS sedans were nice to look at with an enormous grill like the one that has been included, but we are still not sure what to think about its incorporation to the NX car. The front fascia has been also changed and pushed forward which actually makes it as the front overhands have been made slightly bigger. Interesting if you notice that all manufactures are working on reducing the front overhands, the Lexus NX has done exactly the opposite in making it bigger and protruding the gapping holes in the front, which are even more distinguishable with the F Sports trim that the car received as well.

The NX was actually modeled on the profile of the RAV 4 car from Toyota, but the designers from Toyota decided that the car will need a look that will define it and make it an eye sore on the road. This is achieved with a smiling look and a big trunk at the back. Actually a very big trunk, we are talking massive proportions here. When comparing the vehicles you really have a choice between a toned down look and a flashy one so there are complete opposites. The NX look does not necessarily mean for it to be a bad one, but getting it a bit toned down will be a good thing. Maybe get it in a color that will hide some of the proportions, dark gray and metallic black are good choices for instance.

The RAV 4 is a complete opposite to this as it does not hold many flashy details like he NX and does not try so hard to be noticed. But is this necessarily a good thing. The car does not have too much junk in the trunk as the NX does nor does it have many flashy and unnecessary details like its rival. It is a good looking car indeed, but it may lack some masculinity to its design in fact. Although the car is sleek and has some fine and toned down looking features, some have gone as far as to call it a bit too feminine. The design might not win a strongman competition but it could do well at a beauty pageant. Nonetheless, the Toyota keeps its cool and truly makes the best out of its great exterior look.

 

Interior

On the other hand the Lexus NX vehicle seems as if it has gone off topic, meaning that the inside look is perhaps a completely wrong one. Sticking with the flashiness of the outside, they have continued for it to go on the inside as well. The outside can be accepted but the inside is not your typical Sunday driving vehicle, at least if you are thinking of getting it to the races. The sporty look is enhanced with the stitching and colors trims included in the car and two racing buckets that are meant to be the seats of the Lexus NX. The control cluster has been also meshed together which also gives a bit too of a sporty look. So maybe not too appropriate for a city drive. It is a good interior but not for the purpose it is meant to have.

The Toyota RAV 4 does a much better job with its inside. It provides a much appropriate and toned down environment and does so with the introduction of nice leathers trimmings inside the car. Comfort levels are high and the atmosphere is very pleasant to behold. The technological upgrades has been very nicely incorporated and it is very clear where which gadget or button is located. Opposed to the NX it is not a total mess inside and presents everything to you very neatly. It also holds different colors patterns and schemes as well. It does not strive too much to reach sportiness but actually gives you more utility to the car. There is more cubic feet of storage space comared to the NX 200t as it provides you with 73 cubic feet compared with only 54 in the Lexus.

 

Engine

What makes it the greatest difference between these two vehicles is actually what is found under the hood of each of them. The Lexus goes strong with a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine that can output a power of235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. To counter this the RAV 4 has been equipped with a aspirated 2.5 liter engine with specs that show 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Both of the engines have competitive numbers and performance specs for their line. But the Toyota’s look maybe give us more than we expect under the hood. The same is with the Lexus but in a quite opposite manner. The NX 200t comes with a front wheel drive and has reduced the torque steer to make the drive a comfortable one indeed. Although the EPA ratings of the RAV 4 equal to 22/29/25 EPA estimate the NX 200t comes with its own 22/28/25, so not a great difference in the fuel economy stats.

 

Price

The price is larger for the Lexus NX 200t as it costs around 34.000 USD, while the Toyota RAV 4 has a base MSRP of 23.000 USD. The Toyota is a much more affordable vehicle but the engine of the NX is stronger for that matter. You will have to carefully decide which value for money is greater here and what car will be more appropriate for you. It depends on all of the things that have been take in the review but a car that costs less and is a appropriate vehicle for a city drive is a good SUV in our books and we shall give the advantage to the RAV 4 this time.

Comments

comments