If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t like to stand out from the crowd, who enjoys the anonymity of the ordinary, then stop reading now. This car is not for you. The Lexus NX is a look-at-me car. Not in a brash, in-your-face way, though, more in a bet-you-haven’t-seen-something-as-bold-and-as-striking-as-this way.

Probably about as close to concept-car styling as you’re likely to see, the NX clearly shares at least some of its DNA with the stunning LF-NX that made its début at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 with sharp creases, curves and muscular SUV styling. The gaping grille, which I think can look a little awkward on Lexus (or is that Lexi Mr Partridge?) saloons sits far more comfortably on the face of the chunkier NX.

It’s a theme that’s carried over to the centre console which houses the multimedia and sat nav display, the climate control panel and the audio controls. The multimedia system is operated using a clickable touchpad on the centre tunnel. Lexus have also thoughtfully included a wristpad although I can’t imagine what position you’d have to adopt in order to benefit from its presence.

Red and black leather seats, leather-covered dashboard and silver surrounds and inserts create a classy ambience in the cabin, and everything is put together beautifully. The electrically adjustable – and heated – seats are very comfortable and there’s ample headroom but although those in the back don’t fare quite so well because of the sloping roofline they still enjoy a decent amount of legroom and, because the floor is flat, whoever draws the short straw and gets stuck in middle won’t have to straddle.

I like the touchpad, but adding functions such as two-finger scrolling, or pinch to zoom - second nature to a generation raised on touchscreen mobile phones - would create a much more natural interaction between the user and the interface.

And while navigating around the multimedia system is simple enough, the sat nav is less intuitive. I’m always keen (too stubborn?) to try out things without reading operating manuals first and, while I was able to program the sat nav – eventually – it took a fair bit of figuring out. Entering a destination could be much easier if, say, you could trace letters on the touchpad in a way similar to Audi’s MMI system.

I’ve no complaints about the level of equipment, however, with dual zone climate control, DAB radio, USB and Bluetooth audio connections, adaptive cruise control and a motorised tailgate. The F Sport model I was loaned for the week was also equipped with a wireless charging plate for mobile phones hidden away in the centre tunnel’s storage bin. My six-inch phablet wouldn’t charge consistently but that’s due to the size of the phone, rather than any shortcomings with the system.

I particularly liked the pair of silver-rimmed dials that, while resembling traditional analogue displays, are in fact digital. In eco and normal modes the left gauge defaults to a power meter but in Sport/Sport+ a rev counter is displayed instead. It looks very classy. Between the dials is a multi-function display that can be switched between a flow meter, trip information, sat nav and even a g-force indicator.

It’s highly unlikely that it will be displaying eye-catching figures, however, as even with the F Sport badge my NX was carrying, this car is at its best driven with a gentle right foot. That’s in no small part due to the engine’s propensity to rev long and hard under heavy acceleration. If you’ve ever watched a car pass by with an engine screaming out for a higher gear and wondering what kind of idiot must be driving it, well, be prepared for a few of those puzzled looks behind the wheel of the NX.

Driven modestly, however, the NX can be incredibly rewarding. Around town the hybrid is eerily quiet and smooth, pulling away in effortless silence while the petrol engine kicks in seamlessly as and when required to assist progress. It’s positively serene, and impossibly economical, interrupted only by the occasional vibration of the stop-start system.

The NX is beautifully refined on motorways too. Occupants are perfectly insulated from wind and road noise so, while getting up to speed might be an awkward start to the journey unless you’re judicious with your throttle inputs, the rest of it should be a pleasant and relaxing experience.

Bringing the NX to a halt smoothly isn’t the simple process it should be. Even if you bring that gentle right foot with you it’s almost impossible to avoid a sudden lurch as the callipers grab hold of the discs. There’s no disputing there effectiveness but they lack progressiveness.

The ride is firm and there were times when I could feel vibrations from the road surface transmitted through the back of my seat but on the flip side the stiff springs do offer effective resistance to body roll and, coupled with the perfectly weighted and communicative steering, give the NX a surefooted poise when tackling twisty B roads.

The hybrid system itself consists of one petrol-powered combustion engine and two electric motors – one driving the front axle and one the rear – but, unlike plug-in hybrids, the engine is charged (pardon the pun) with maintaining the battery level. It is an incredibly reliable system but, in keeping with the rest of the car, it’s unlike anything else on the road.

The boot will hold up to 475-litres with the rear seats in place, or 1,520-litres with the split-fold rear seats lowered. That falls a little way short of the Audi Q5’s class-leading 540-litres but, on the plus side, the boot opening is wide and the load area totally flat and, of course, access is made all the easier thanks to powered tailgate.

In many ways the NX asks as many questions as it answers. The build quality is impeccable, the interior classy with some beautiful touches and attention to detail. Whether you consider the ride to be compromised depends on what you expect from the NX, the settings err towards a more sporty driving style but that means you feel more of the road surface’s imperfections through the chassis. The occasionally wildly-revving engine, however, could be enough to dissuade you from pursuing any sporting ambitions you might have, as could the inevitable fall-off in fuel economy. Equipment levels are generous and front and rear seat passengers are well catered for but there are more generous load-carriers. Then there’s the styling… which, incidentally, I love.

No car is without its flaws, and the NX has its share, but the more time I spent with the hybrid SUV the more forgiving I became. The greatest songs are the ones that get better with every play, that grow on you over time and leave an indelible mark on your soul, and that’s exactly what the NX has done.

Lexus NX 300h

Price (OTR): £36,995

Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyclinder

Electric motor (front): Permanent magnet, synchronous motor

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Power (front electric motor and hybrid engine): 195bhp

Maximum speed: 112mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 9.2sec

Urban: 53.3mpg

Extra urban: 55.4mpg

Combined: 54.3mpg

Emissions (CO2): 115g/km

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