CX-5 or nx200t?

[yrwei52]

I've seen a few nxts and I'm starting to like how they look. A little low and nice wheels will do a lot on tat car, plus its already turbo. Ofc it about 5k more than a cx5.

Try to get a quote from a Lexus dealer for a similarly equipped NX 200t, it'll at least $10K more than a CX-5 GT! NX 200t is smaller in interior but a lot heavier (104.7 in. in wheelbase; 3,940 lbs FWD / 4,050 lbs AWD on curb weight) comparing to CX-5 (106.3 in. in wheelbase; 3,404 lbs FWD / 3,589 lbs AWD on curb weight). The added horsepower will get offset by its heavier weight.

 

[socalcx-5]

i completely forgot that it's a brand new model!

I would never, ever, under any circumstances buy a brand new model of any manufacturer, but that's just me. I typically even avoid the first year of a re-design.

 

[Unobtanium]

Hi all,

Going to purchase my very first car this month. Been lurking on this forum for a month now and mostly decided on getting the CX-5 GT with Tech. However, having some last minute second thoughts about getting the Lexus nx200t instead. Right now I would not be using the car for daily commute - just groceries and weekend trips. The reason I'm hesitating is that I intend to keep the car for a long time (10 years?), and I will be using it more in the years to come.

I understand that nx200t is a luxury car, so it will be quieter, more reliable, etc. The other big draw for me is a more powerful engine (2.0T) with better acceleration. And it is only about 10k more.

I wonder if you guys have considered luxury versus affordable compact SUV? What drives your decision?

Also, am I right that I should expect the CX-5 to have lower insurance cost, but higher maintenance cost and depreciation?

Thank you very much in advance.

To me, the beauty of a CUV is the price. The NX200T fails at $40K-ish. So many other vehicles I'd buy for $40K. For $25-28K, though, the CX-5 makes sense.

If you want to spend $40K, get a fullsize SUV. THere are no draw-backs as you obviously have kicked economy out the window anyway at this point.

 

[Unobtanium]

Try to get a quote from a Lexus dealer for a similarly equipped NX 200t, it'll at least $10K more than a CX-5 GT! NX 200t is smaller in interior but a lot heavier (104.7 in. in wheelbase; 3,940 lbs FWD / 4,050 lbs AWD on curb weight) comparing to CX-5 (106.3 in. in wheelbase; 3,404 lbs FWD / 3,589 lbs AWD on curb weight). The added horsepower will get offset by its heavier weight.

It is significantly faster than the CX-5, although for significantly less money, the Forester 2.0XT is a much better buy, and is significantly faster than the NX200T...
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/nx-200t/2015/road-test-specs.html

 

[Cis4]

To me, the beauty of a CUV is the price. The NX200T fails at $40K-ish. So many other vehicles I'd buy for $40K. For $25-28K, though, the CX-5 makes sense.

If you want to spend $40K, get a fullsize SUV. THere are no draw-backs as you obviously have kicked economy out the window anyway at this point.

There are a lot of CUV's for $40k+ish, BMW X3, Mercedes GLK, VW Tiguan R-Line, Ranger Rover Evoque, Lexus NX, the list goes on. Though most of them are luxury vehicles with base prices of $40k+ish, and if you start adding options and packages you can easily reach $50k. The one luxury CUV that is $30k-ish is the BMW X1, but that has no business being called a CUV, nor a luxury vehicle...

 

[DBLXX]

there are a lot of cuv's for $40k+ish, bmw x3, mercedes glk, vw tiguan r-line, ranger rover evoque, lexus nx, the list goes on. Though most of them are luxury vehicles with base prices of $40k+ish, and if you start adding options and packages you can easily reach $50k. The one luxury cuv that is $30k-ish is the bmw x1, but that has no business being called a cuv, nor a luxury vehicle...

spot on.

 

[52804x4]

i completely forgot that it's a brand new model!

I would never, ever, under any circumstances buy a brand new model of any manufacturer, but that's just me. I typically even avoid the first year of a re-design.

THIS!

I just learned my lesson the [very] hard way with my last vehicle!

 

[DBLXX]

Which was?

 

[doopie]

Still shopping at the time and leaning towards the CX-5, I remember sitting in a 200t at the N.Y. Auto show, and that it was very snug in the driver's seat.

I like the slat grill over the (vacuum cleaner-cyber catfish looking)mesh grill.

 

[MikeM.]

It is significantly faster than the CX-5, although for significantly less money, the Forester 2.0XT is a much better buy, and is significantly faster than the NX200T...
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/nx-200t/2015/road-test-specs.html

Significantly faster? Maybe on paper but the Lexus is not a sporty SUV.

If you like turbo lag when you punch it and massive body roll and squealing tires every time you corner briskly, get the Lexus.
If you like pure sporting pleasure every time you drive, the CX-5 is the better choice.

The Lexus would be like driving a porky little pig. Squeals and all. Who wants to pay more for that?

Maybe I don't understand the concept of "luxury". Actually, I know I don't.

 

[52804x4]

Which was?

2012 MINI Countryman All4 S

Significantly faster? Maybe on paper but the Lexus is not a sporty SUV.

If you like turbo lag when you punch it and massive body roll and squealing tires every time you corner briskly, get the Lexus.
If you like pure sporting pleasure every time you drive, the CX-5 is the better choice.

The Lexus would be like driving a porky little pig. Squeals and all. Who wants to pay more for that?

Maybe I don't understand the concept of "luxury". Actually, I know I don't.

So then, you have driven one?

 

[piotrek91]

So then, you have driven one?

The friendly reviewers at Edmunds have driven both a CX-5 and the nx 200t:

Slalom: Overall not that impressed with the handling of this thing. But then, it is a Lexus SUV, so maybe I was expecting too much. The steering is pretty precise with nice, predictable turn-in, but there's considerable body roll/lean once you start getting into the meat of the turns. The stability system can't be fully turned off, but turning off traction control (versus full stability control on) seemed to make things worse, as it would get some front wheelspin and then that would freak the system out. While the NX 200t feels lighter and more agile than the NX 300h, it still doesn't feel all that sporty. Skid Pad: Major roll softness and therefore major tire squeal, particularly from the outside front tire that was just getting abused. Throttle adjustments did little to minimize understeer, or front tire push. There was so much body lean that with traction control turned off it wanted to spin the inside front tire. This is a pretty poor amount of lateral grip, at just 0.80 g.

vs 2013 CX-5:

Skid pad: Non-defeat ESC was virtually nonexistent on the skid pad, allowing the CX-5 to rotate slightly off-throttle. Excellent balance and tractability. Steering offers appropriate amount of build-up and feedback with increase in speed. Slalom: Again, non-defeat ESC is surprisingly lenient as long as the driver uses smooth input, yet the rapid transitions inherent in the slalom are enough to awaken the nanny with brief dabs of alternating brakes. The system quickly retreats and never becomes overly meddlesome, but I suspect there's a whole lot more speed and agility in the CX-5 with either grippier tires or an ESC that can be shut off completely. There was no measurable difference when I shut off the traction control.

This may not matter one bit to most buyers, but some prefer a CUV that's decently fun to drive.

IMO the major benefit of the NX200t (which looks identical to the CX-5 from the rear) is the likely much much lower road and wind noise.

 

[Unobtanium]

Significantly faster? Maybe on paper but the Lexus is not a sporty SUV.

If you like turbo lag when you punch it and massive body roll and squealing tires every time you corner briskly, get the Lexus.
If you like pure sporting pleasure every time you drive, the CX-5 is the better choice.

The Lexus would be like driving a porky little pig. Squeals and all. Who wants to pay more for that?

Maybe I don't understand the concept of "luxury". Actually, I know I don't.

No, you don't. It's a fat pig because it needs sound deadening and a bunch of isolation. It wallows because it needs a soft, pliable suspension. This makes it float silently down the road in a luxurious way. The old bluehair driving it only knows that sometimes they need to steal a lane, so 0-60 off a traffic light is what they care about. It delivers that decently.