THE FUTURISTIC bodywork found on many concept cars has usually been diluted by the time the finished vehicle makes it into showrooms.

In the case of the Lexus NX300h, the bold lines and jagged creases have become a reality, meaning this angular SUV is a real head-turner.

The front end has a dynamic appearance, with the imposing spindle grille flanked by aggressively-sculpted headlights and air intakes.

And the same purposeful lines flow through the rest of the vehicle, making it stand out from its more understated and formulaic European rivals.

The Lexus NX has been facelifted for the second time since it was launched four years ago, happily, no effort has been made to tone down the concept car look.

The latest version benefits from more tech, added luxury and extra refinement.

Unlike many of the array of mini SUVs that have followed in the footsteps of the Nissan Qashqai, the NX300h is a self-charging hybrid.

The hybrid engine is standard in the UK and is officially capable of 54.3mpg on the combined cycle, with emissions of 121g/km.

At speeds below 30mph, the electric motor powers the car along silently. You have to experience it to appreciate the soothing effect of accelerating away with no accompanying engine sound.

The electric motor really comes into its own in stop-start traffic or in 20mph zones, but you have to be ultra-delicate with the accelerator to prevent the internal-combustion engine kicking in.

Once above 30mph, it’s over to the 2.5-litre four-cylinder 16-valve petrol motor.

This is the point at which the electric motor starts to get recharged – through the petrol engine and the regenerative brakes.

As the petrol and electric engines work in tandem, the shift between one and the other is very smooth and you only notice the transition due to the sound rather than any juddering.

If you need to get a move on, you can switch from the sedate eco or standard driving modes to the ‘sport’ function, at which point the vehicle becomes much more eager and can sprint from 0-62mph in under 10 seconds.

It means the vehicle is capable of impressive cross-country pace, which the handling round corners is trustworthy thanks to intuitive steering, although there is a bit of body roll to look out for.

However, it’s worth noting the being heavy with the accelerator only really results in lots of high revs and noise. It’s better to feather the power in and the attempt to conserve your speed to make the kind of refined progress that’s in keeping with the vehicle’s characteristics.

The interior is a real highlight, having a premium feel.

Indeed, the heated leather front seats are the sumptuous variety that you simply sink into and feel immediately at ease, especially as they are also electronically eight-way adjustable.

All the fittings and controls are top-quality, while the central console is an impressive piece of kit. The screen is far enough away not to be a touchscreen, so it’s controlled instead by a pad located near the armrest. In that respect, the instrument dials are unusually low and the infotainment screen, which has been enlarged to 10.3in, sits on top of the dash.

The NX300 comes with stacks of safety equipment, including the Lexus Safety System+ which includes a pre-collision system and lane keep assist. One of the most useful features is the ‘rear cross parking alert’ which, when you’re reversing out of a parking space, warns you if there’s a chance of a collision thanks to radars scanning left and right behind you for other car park traffic.

At around £40,000, this vehicle is by no means cheap but there’s no shortage of quality to justify that price tag.

THE LOWDOWN

Lexus NX300h

PRICE: £39,995

INSURANCE GROUP: 32E

ENGINE: 2.5 litre petrol, 4-cylinders in-line, 16-valve DOHC with VVT-i, twinned with electric motor

TOP SPEED: 112mph

0-62MPH: 9.2 seconds

ECONOMY: 54.3mpg combined and 121g/km emissions