Could the new 2022 Lexus NX be Australia's best-selling premium SUV? The high-priced rivals of the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC will shake up the gas, hybrid and PHEV segment.

The NX450h+ plug-in hybrid will be the flagship of the NX lineup.

The new 2022 Lexus NX could be the model that boosts sales of the Japanese premium brand in Australia.

The NX plays in the competitive and growing premium mid-size SUV segment, and it has some serious competition, predominantly from Europe.

When full pricing for the all-new second-generation NX was announced in December, it showed Lexus was serious about taking more space in the premium SUV segment.

Some of the top-sellers in this segment - the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60 - have higher brand awareness as they have been on the market longer than the NX. And some people may prefer the European badge over the Japanese badge.

But the new generation NX has everything to climb to the top of the premium SUV sales chart when it goes on sale in February.

The new NX has one of the most extensive lineups of its competitors, offering nine options. It is available with two four-cylinder petrol engines: a naturally aspirated 152 liter engine with 243 kW/2.5 Nm and a 205 liter turbocharged engine with 430 kW/2.4 Nm.

Lexus also offers a 179kW hybrid powertrain and, for the first time for the brand, a 227kW plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with an all-electric range of 75km.

These are four engine options. There will be fewer powertrain options tonight than the Q5 or X3, but it's the only model with petrol, stock hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.

The prices are also very competitive when compared to the competition. It ranges from $60,800 pre-road for the NX250 Luxury with front-wheel drive (FWD) and goes up to $89,900 for the NX450h+ F Sport with all-wheel drive (AWD) - the only PHEV option. The most affordable hybrid costs $65,600.

This starting price is below all competitor models, even the newcomer Genesis GV70 (starting at $66,400).

The plugin also costs less than other PHEVs such as the BMW X3 xDrive30e ($104,900), Mercedes-Benz GLC300e ($95,700e) and Volvo XC60 ($8).

The new model is equipped with the latest set of driver assistance features, as well as the latest Lexus multimedia setup with touchscreens ranging from 9.8 to 14.0 inches.

Lexus sold 3091 NXs last year, down 12.1% from 2020. It was sold by BMW X3 (4242), Volvo XC60 (3688), Audi Q5 (3604), Mercedes-Benz GLC (3435). and GLB (3345).

Lexus outsold Porsche Macan (2328), Range Rover Evoque (1143), BMW X4 (981), Land Rover Discovery Sport (843) and many others.

But by the time the NX goes on sale, most of these models will have been on sale for several years, and Lexus will be shining like the newest kid on the market.

With hybrid sales rising in Australia - up 20% to 70,466 units last year - Lexus is poised to pounce. The NX is based on the same version of the Toyota/Lexus TNGA architecture as the super-popular RAV4 and shares many similarities with it.

Last year, 72% of RAV4 sales were electrified, which could lead to even more sales of NX hybrid models.

Whatever happens, the premium SUV sales race is about to heat up.