Futuristic Lexus NX 300h is quite a package

• More than 800 advance orders have been taken for the compact crossover
• Prices start from £29,495 for the entry level S version with front-wheel drive
• £42,995 for the fully loaded, all-wheel-drive Premier trim variant 
• Lexus NX will be the first model to feature ‘pre-crash’ safety system
• It features wireless charging for smart phones and a blind spot monitor

The new, futuristic-looking Lexus NX 300h hybrid sports utility vehicle hits Britain’s roads this month.

More than 800 advance orders have been taken for the mid-sized, compact, petrol-electric crossover, costing from £29,495 for the entry level S version with front-wheel drive and up to £42,995 for the fully loaded, all-wheel-drive Premier trim variant.

Five equipment grades are on offer. They’re creating a buzz and I’ve already had people ask whether they should opt to buy one before considering its archrival, the Range Rover Evoque, another radically styled vehicle.

The Lexus NX will be the first model to feature Lexus’s ‘pre-crash’ safety system and adaptive cruise control as standard.

Add wireless charging for smart phones, a panoramic view monitor, head-up display and blind spot monitor and it’s quite a package.

Standard features of the S include 17in alloy wheels, hill assist control and speed-sensitive automatic door locking. Comfort and gadget levels increase through the trim levels.

The flagship Premier includes 18in alloys, Lexus premium navigation, a 360-degree panoramic view, lane-keep assist and heated steering wheel. The NX 200t, with a new 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, follows next March.