Lexus NX300H review: Fuss-free comfort

I won't pretend for a second that motoring journalists aren't a spoilt lot.

Even if cars don't do much for you, the idea of having a spanking-new motor on the driveway, paid for by someone else, has to be at least slightly appealing. But you may be surprised to learn that supercars aren't necessarily the last word in pleasure.

KFC (as the NX300h has come to be known) has delivered me safely and comfortably to various parts of the country, on several occasions in order to drive something considerably faster and more expensive; in one instance a car capable of over 200mph and costing more than £250,000.

You'd be forgiven for thinking then that climbing into the four-cylinder hybrid Lexus with its CVT gearbox and modest 112mph top speed would be a bigger comedown than January 1st 2000. But the reality is quite different.

It starts before you even climb aboard. With the small fob in your pocket, the keyless entry works seamlessly – a timesaver rather than pointless tech –and you just climb aboard and get comfortable without fuss.

Prod the starter button and the Lexus slips into electric mode straight away, which has proved a handy means of not waking up the neighbours when heading for the airport at 4am.

Starting at that time of day is never a pleasure, but the Lexus does a fine job of making life as easy as possible.

Lexus NX 300h Luxury, from £34,495

Engine: 2.5-litre petrol engine and electric motors, together producing

192bhp

Transmission: E-CVT automatic driving all four wheels.

Performance: Top speed 112mph, 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds

Economy: 54.3mpg combined

Emissions: 121g/km of CO2

The essential large takeaway coffee sits happily in the cupholders, the low noise levels prevent issues with my sensitive early-morning brain and the radar cruise control is a motorway essential; it shares the workload of M-way drudgery with you and definitely leaves you feeling less tired than journeys without it.

It even manages to deal with the horrors of three moaning children in the back. Being able to recline the rear seat backs in a 60/40 split has come in handy on such occasions, namely to encourage the little darlings to go to sleep on long journeys rather than asking how long it is until we get there.

The leather seats have also done a fine job of repulsing whatever nightmarish combination of foodstuffs they see fit to redistribute, and a quick run over with the vacuum cleaner puts it right. I'd never have a car with cloth seats again, at least not until they've all turned 18.

I'm also convinced the NX300h has loosened up a little, as it seems to be ever more willing and able to deliver indicated fuel consumption well into the 40mpg region.

I've yet to give it the full-on eco test run to the office and back, but as it's still two weeks until pay day, there's a good chance that will happen soon.

Sure, I'll never turn down a blat in a pricey supercar should the opportunity arise, but KFC's charms are increasingly welcome and prove the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of the real world.

Unless you live on a desert island, that's a pretty useful thing to have.

From £34,495