I've had my NX350 for a couple of months now. I really like how it drives and handles, like that you don't lean much going into curves. This actually surprised me about the car. I wouldn't go too far to call it sporty, but maybe confidence inspiring. Just wondering what others thought.

 

Exactly. I like to “feel the road” and you get that with the NX, plenty of power as well, but like you said, not really sporty.

 

What about the F Sport does that give it a sportier drive?

 

Does the placebo effect count? LOL. I test drove the fsport and non-fsport when I placed my order. There didn't seem to be a lot of difference in ride quality, perhaps the fsport felt a tad firmer but I didn't slam it thru the corners to test that type of handling because my slamming cars thru corners phase is over now. I think the most notable feel difference is the seats. Like the seats and styling, buy f-sport. Don't like or don't care, regular NX. IMHO.

 

I believe the F Sport seats are firmer, more supportive but also narrower and some people may not like them especially if you are a wider person. Try both seats before you buy if possible. If anyone has experience with both I'd be curious to hear what you think. I had a 2016 that was an F Sport and the seats were really nice but they were a little too narrow for me. I got the new one I did not get the F Sport and I like the seats. But I have not been in a newer F Sport but I have read that they are narrower.

 

Coming from a 13 Cayenne I noticed that the NX(F-sport or Luxury) was not a nearly of sporty of a drive/ride. That being said I plan to swap the front a rear shocks/springs with RS-R setup and hopefully find a middle ground. The wife’s NX isn’t for slamming through the canyons on the way into tow and back but would like something a litlle more reflective of the road I’m driving on. I also plan to do the BBK that another member was kind enough to post the parts for.

 

You are correct.
The 2NX has minimal lean thanks to firm spring rates which are quite terse, with minimal compliancy.
The damping is a bit firm too with not too much float.
The base model with 18" rims on 60 series tires rides reasonably comfortably thanks to the 60 series profile.
You will find that GLC and X3 rides better than 2NX.

However, because NX is still FWD-based with the engine in front of the front axle:
1) It is still nose heavy with reluctant turn-in [slow changes in direction] unlike GLC and X3.
2) It tends to use more trailing and king pin angle in the steering for straight line stability, but this results in even heavier steering with more self-centering effect.
Here, the RWD-based GLC and X3 will have lighter power steering, with tighter turning circle for more U-turns and fewer 3-point turns, less self-centering of the steering wheel, no torque steer under power, and more power oversteer for more throttle steering with more work with the right foot rather than hard work with the two hands.

FWD-based platforms have the advantage of:
1) Saving money.
2) Easier for novices to drive FWD-based vehicles in snowy white winters.



NX:





Q5 & Porsche Macan:
The Audi A5 & Porsche Macan is similar to the diagram below, but their flywheel, torque converter and gearbox is cleverly mounted behind the front axle for "slightly" [fractionally] better weight distribution!







GLC & X3:

 

@Dunerking Like your ideas, I think. I'm not really sure what the RS-R setup or BBK are though. Reminded me of my Air Force days where everything is letters, no words. Can you offer an explanation?
Thanks in advance.

 

Sorry the BBK is Big Brake Kit…there is a thread on here with the factory part numbers so it keeps it that factory/OEM loook and convenience of getting replacement parts.
RS-R is the brand of aftermarket springs and /or coilover shocks. I’m a bit undecided if I’m willing to spend the extra money for the coilovers(all though they do allow for more adjustment) sense the NX only has 2500 miles on it.

 

@Dunerking Thanks for that. Maybe the Big Brake Kit I could do. The rest is out of my league in knowing even where to begin.

 

Alex on Autos Youtubes probably #1 reviewer gave the 23 NX 350h an A in handling, an A- in cabin noise an A- in ride and A+ in fuel economy.

 

I'm pretty happy with the way ours rides and handles. Have 1500KMs on it now, about 1000 miles. I'm thinking I like it better than our 2020 RX 350 FSport. It's a bit noisier at speed on the highway and when the throttle is wide open, but cornering, braking and passing are really good. Am a happy camper. Also am not a race driver, so that may be make difference to those who care more.. It's not a Porsche and not meant to be. Note I also am still on a set of Michelin winter tires (P235-50/20). Will be putting the stock wheels with run flats on in a couple weeks, so that may change.

 

Presently, I run a stable of five Lexiis: 3ES300, 2IS250, 3.5GS350, 4GS350 and 3.5IS200t.
I recently had a chance to loan the NX450h+, NX250 and ES250 F Sport.

Initially, I thought the NX450h+ had superb insulation and a soft ride.
It certainly did have a lot of power and smoothness.
The NX250 had a very clattery engine when cold, and when warm it only improved a little.
After many hours of familiarity, the NX turns out as a firmly sprung and firmly damped vehicle on baggy tires, but more than that, the much higher ride height on the short wheelbase resulted in an unsettled ride.
Sure, the handling and control is better than if the suspension was softer, but it is a tiring ride.

The NX450h+ may have more firewall insulation than the NX250; the NX250 had little insulation, and a very clattery 4-cylinder.
Furthermore, the NX250's engine must work hard, so I wouldn't expect this engine to be as durable long term.
I'm not sure if NX250 and NX450h+ had lateral dampers, but that's what I thought about the ride and handling.

When I first got into ES250 F Sport, I thought it was very softly suspended, smooth and quiet too.
However, after many hours, I then realized that ES250 F Sport was actually quite firmly suspended and firmly damped, on 19" wheels with low profile 40 series tires via Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 sports tires.
After many hours, the ES250 F Sport was a very firm riding and tiring vehicle.
Not as tiring as the NX's with a tall ride height on short wheelbase, but the lower ride height and much longer wheelbase of the ES250 F Sport helped, but overall ES250 F Sport is still a firm riding vehicle.
However, the ES250 F Sport certainly had a lower ride height with less wind noise, as well as much more firewall, and underfloor sound insulation than both NX's - such that the same 2.5L four cylinder felt much smoother, but when the windows were open, I could hear the 2.5 four cylinder engine clatter again.

The interior of the ES250 is a good generation behind the interior of the new NX's.
The new NX's had electrically opening doors, a new type of gear shift selector, and a proper dedicated larger LCD touch screen display.


When I jumped back into my stable of five older Lexiis, my five older Lexiis had a ride that was so much smoother than all three NX250, NX450h+, and ES250 F Sport!
The 4GS may be more firmly sprung, and is certainly wearing 45% low profile tires on 18" rims, but the ride is so much smoother - probably mainly because of the lower ride height and the longer wheelbase.
The 3.5GS is has a slightly lower seating position on the same wheelbase as 4GS, but the 3.5GS has very soft springing and damping, hence the best ride of the crop.
Even the missus' IS200t had softer springing than the all new NX's and ES250 F Sport.
The lower ride height and longer wheelbase of my stable of five Lexiis totally outrode the NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport.

However, I must note that my aging 3ES is modified with Camry suspension, because the Camry used softer springing, floatier shock absorbers and softer roll bars.
My original 3ES when I purchased brand new had firmer sports springing, sports damping, and sports roll bars - all on baggy 65 series tires.
These days, the 3ES on Camry suspension rides quite nicely, mainly because of the 65 series baggy tires.

The ES250 F Sport certainly has slightly firmer shock absorbers with less float than my stable of GS's, IS's an 3ES - hence one of the reasons why overall, the ES250 F Sport had a tiring ride.
The Pirelli Cinturato P7's touring nee sporting-luxury tires on my 4GS, 3.5GS and IS200t are quieter than the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 19" 40 seires outright sports tires used on the ES250 F Sport.

Four of the five in my stable of Lexiis are RWD, hence the steering has a tighter turning circle doing more U-turns and fewer 3-point turns unlike NX and ES.
The RWD has lighter steering with sharper and more instantaneous turn-in!
RWD steering has less steering trailing axis and less kingpin angle for less "self-centering" of the steering wheel.
RWD has no torque steer under throttle.
When pushed with the throttle, the RWD's deliver throttle oversteer, so that the throttle steers the vehicle into the corner, rather than busily dialling more turns with the steering wheel to fight FWD-based understeer of NX and ES.

The sound insulation on my missus' IS200t is about on par with NX, although the lower IS200t has little wind noise compared to the taller new NX's.
I thought the ES had superior quality of stitching than the new NX, but none of the interiors have the same quality of plastics, leather and stitching as my GS's.
Even the 2IS and 3.5IS has better plastics, leather and stitching compared to NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport.

That is my perception of ride and handling in NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport loaners.