LEXUS has always been a byword for comfort and luxury. Alongside its parent company, Toyota, it is now becoming seriously cool, too.

Accounting for more than 30 per cent of European sales for Lexus, the NX 300h crossover mixes a contemporary design with smooth and unfussy driving dynamics.

It relies on a petrol-electric self-charging hybrid powertrain and a choice of front and all-wheel drive options to garner appeal and has now been made that much more enticing through a package of revisions and improvements, covering exterior and interior styling, safety, driving dynamics and equipment features.

Key to it success will be the more muscular design – think Toyota CHR on steroids – which includes a new-look grille, reshaped front bumper and LED headlamp units with sequential LED turn indicators, a lower rear bumper, new lamp clusters, new alloy wheel and a cabin that has been given a sportier and more luxurious feel.

There’s a reappraisal of some of the equipment features, too, including larger multimedia displays, improved safety features and a revised air conditioning control panel and new interior colour options.

If hybrid motoring is your bag, then the NX will combine a luxurious interior with ample luggage space and edgy design. There’s an alternative 2.0-litre petrol version, but no diesel option.

Competing with the Range Rover Evoque, the NX features a low roofline with flared front and rear wings.The upper part of the front bumper has been reshaped so that its line blends better with the styling of the bonnet and front doors, resulting in an overall sleeker shape with better aerodynamics. The sleek side profile is accentuated by a roofline which falls towards the back of the vehicle. The flared wheel arches, housing 18-inch alloy wheels, give the car a crouching stance.

If the devil is in the detail, then the low energy consumption LED lights play a central role in defining the NX’s design. Each headlamp cluster has up to six high-brightness LEDs. There are 23 LEDs in the daytime running lights and another 16 in each sequential turn indicator. The SE and Luxury models have single bi-LED units with automatic high beam function. F Sport and Premier grade versions have a new design that follows the ultra-compact triple LED arrangement first seen in the new Lexus LC flagship coupe.

The NX provides ample room, with the high roofline gives excellent head clearance, and rear knee-room is even greater than in some larger SUV models.

An increase in size for the central multimedia display from seven to 10.3 inches, a reduction in the number of buttons through the introduction of four toggle switches and a larger and clearer analogue clock in the centre of the dashboard show the attention to detail that has been paid to this revised model.

Creature comforts on offer include a welcoming light sequence when you approach the car, a wireless charging tray, 360-degree panoramic view monitor and 14-speaker surround sound system

Drive Mode Select lets the driver adjust vehicle behaviour to suit road conditions and driving style The NX has been designed to deliver an engaging and agile drive, and a high level of ride comfort. Detailed changes have been made to the suspension, primarily to achieve greater rigidity, helping deliver better vehicle stability and responsiveness.

The NX 300h is available with front or all-wheel drive and comes in a simplified grade structure: SE, Luxury, F Sport, F Sport Premier Pack and Premier.