In January, Ernie and I headed down the 101 to have a weekend in Carmel.
Carmel was the perfect destination to getaway and unplug. You can check out the full post on our stay at Hofsas House here.

Even though it was a rainy weekend in Carmel, the rain didn’t stop us from exploring in the 2015 Lexus NX200t. I actually thought this was the perfect week to review the NX200t because I could see how this car handled on wet roads.

On our way to Carmel, we took Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains to get to Highway 101. I know that doesn’t mean much if you are not from NorCal, but this is a very windy two-land road. Normally, I get a little nervous driving on this highway, but I felt really confident in the Lexus. The Lexus tires felt like they were glued to the road. Plus the LED headlights made the road seem like I was driving in the daytime. It made driving feel a whole lot safer!

When we got into Carmel it was late, so we spent all of Saturday exploring the town. The first stop on our agenda was the Carmel Dog Beach.

Obviously a little rain didn’t stop Mochi from having fun on the beach.

Mochi felt right at home in the NX200t. It was the right size for him to see out the windows, move around on the back bench, but still feel close to us.

The details on the inside of the Lexus made this SUV feel luxurious.

The navigation was something I haven’t used before – a remote touchpad. Which meant no reaching to touch the navigation screen. Since I am short, sometimes I have trouble reaching for navigation screens if they are out of the way. No problem in this Lexus. At first it was a little odd to be using a touch pad, but within the day I was a pro. It felt intuitive and it was easy to use.

The Lexus has some of the coolest technology features built in. The available Lexus Enform Remote mobile app can help you remotely start the engine, lock and unlock doors, check the status of doors and windows as well as your fuel level, and can help find your vehicle’s location in a parking lot. And, should you loan your Lexus to another driver, you can receive instant alerts if, for example, a preset speed or mile limit is exceeded. Lexus Enform Remote is complimentary for the first year of ownership.

This interior was Rioja Red NuLuxe with Metallic Sport trim. I never would have thought a red interior would be appealing until I saw this Lexus. It just made the SUV feel more sporty and hey, a little mean looking. Plus check out that grill? This SUV means business.

After the review week was up, it was pretty hard to give this Lexus back. The SUV was roomy enough for extra passengers ( plus Mochi) but small enough that I didn’t feel like I was driving a truck. This car is sure to be a contender when I am looking to purchase a new car this year.

Have you thought about this Lexus NX200t as your next car? I want to hear in the comments!

Disclaimer: This Lexus NX200t was loaned to me for review. All opinions are my own.