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Lexus NX Luggage Test: How much cargo space?

According to the specs, the new Lexus NX has 22.7 cubic-feet of cargo space behind its raised back seat. That is considerably less than the mechanically related Toyota RAV4 (37.5 cubic-feet) and Toyota Venza (28.8 cubic-feet). It's also less than several of its compact luxury SUV competitors. However, the shape of its cargo area, a clever cargo cover and the added versatility of under-floor storage make it one of the best cargo areas in the segment in terms of usability.  It's also important to note that there are four versions available, all with their own powertrain: the NX 250 (shown here) has a naturally aspirated four-cylinder shared with the RAV4; the NX 350h with the same hybrid powertrain as the Venza and RAV4 Hybrid; the unique turbocharged NX 350; and the NX 450h plug-in hybrid that's very similar to the RAV4 Prime. Despite these different powertrains, and the need to store the hybrids' batteries somewhere, I am told by Lexus that their cargo areas are equal. That includes the sizable under-floor storage area you'll see shortly.  Here's the cargo area. As you can see, it has a large cargo cover that's fairly distinctive. Rather than a long, large cartridge with a cover that rolls out, or a solid rigid panel, this one features a mesh fabric supported by a metal frame that folds in half. This design would make it easier to store than either of the other designs (be it inside or outside the vehicle), but Lexus goes a step further on this front. The under-floor storage area was thoughtfully designed specifically to accommodate this cargo cover. This is a rare feature in a compact SUV. It means you shouldn't have to worry about getting stuck with the cargo cover when you need every square-centimeter of space available.  There's also plenty of storage space without that cover. In fact, the main bin is big enough to swallow the Luggage Test fancy bag. Also storing the cargo cover would've been iffy, but this is nevertheless impressive. The Acura RDX is the only other compact luxury SUV to offer such a space and it makes a difference.  Now, onto the other bags. As in every luggage test I do, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife's fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).

Consumer Reports: Toyota expected to announce fix for emergency trunk releases

According to Consumer Reports, Toyota is set to release a fix for trunk release pulls on certain Lexus vehicles that could snap off in an emergency. As you may recall, CR found the federally-mandated emergency releases could break if pulled toward the user. As it turned out, the trunk surround behaved like a fulcrum, putting more force against the center of the release than toward the trunk mechanism itself. While the organization found the problem to exist on 2013 Lexus ES and GS, Toyota was able to replicate the flaw on the IS as well.
Toyota will alert 700,000 owners of 2007-2013 Lexus ES models, 2006-2012 IS vehicles and 2013 GS cars and replace the old ABS plastic release with a sturdier polypropylene part free of charge once the components are available to dealers. The service campaign is expected to begin in January.

What we're driving this winter and why you need snow tires | Autoblog Podcast #496

On this episode, Mike Austin and David Gluckman talk about what they've been driving lately and answer some Spend My Money requests from listeners looking for advice on everything from sports cars to seven-seat SUVs. Plus we talk winter tires with an expert from Michelin's testing team. The rundown is below. Remember, if you have a car-related question you'd like us to answer or you want buying advice of your very own, send a message or a voice memo to podcast at autoblog dot com. (If you record audio of a question with your phone and get it to us, you could hear your very own voice on the podcast. Neat, right?) And please send trivia questions! You'll get the honor of stumping your fellow listeners, and we'll thank you too. Autoblog Podcast #496 Topics and stories we mention 2017 Subaru BRZ 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander GT 2018 Lexus LC 500 Used cars! Rundown Intro - 00:00 What we're driving - 04:26 Michelin winter tire interview - 25:14 Spend My Money - 44:33 Total Duration: 1:18:57 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Feedback Email – Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show on iTunes Podcasts Lexus Mitsubishi Subaru SUV snow tires