LEXUS NX 450h+ F Sport

CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2022 - BEST PLUG-IN HYBRID

WE LIKE

Useful electric range Generous amount of passenger space Decent-sized boot Well-executed interior Low company car tax rate

If your cat's stuck up a tree, there are plenty of superheroes who can save it: Superman, Wonder Woman-or, more realistically perhaps, Bob with the big ladder from next door. Likewise, there's no shortage of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to rescue drivers who are attracted to zero-emissions motoring but are not ready to go fully electric. However, the one we'd recommend calling on is the Lexus NX. It's a large SUV that can officially travel 42.2 miles purely on electric power further than its Audi Q5 50 TFSIe and BMW X3 xDrivezoe rivals. In real-world driving, 30-35 miles should be possible just on electricity-in other words, enough for most commutes.

If you're a company car driver, the NX's official electric range translates into a lowly 7% benefit-in-kind tax rate, compared with the 11-13% you'd pay on the Q5 or X3.

Refinement is another NX superpower. It's impressively smooth and quiet, even when the battery has been exhausted and the 2.5-liter petrol engine has taken over propulsion duties. It's only if you put your foot down hard that it becomes a little raucous. Plus, the brakes are reassuringly predictable, suffering none of the grabbiness that afflicts many hybrids and electric cars because of the way they recover energy as the car slows.

The ride could be more settled at higher speeds but is excellent around town, where it takes the sting out of even the biggest potholes. Meanwhile, the handling is suitably reassuring, with steering that feels natural and consistent, and the NX grips the road well without suffering from too much body lean.