21 - 42
240 - 304
1 speed, CVT w/OD, 8 speed, Automatic w/OD
Gas/Electric I-4, Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
All Wheel Drive, Front Wheel Drive
The Lexus NX is a premium compact crossover SUV that is comfortable, competent, and fuel-efficient. A striking exterior style, coupled with thoughtful interior design, makes it every bit as luxurious as its highbrow buyers would expect.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The Lexus NX introduced its second generation in 2022, with the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model debuting that same year. For 2026, the NX lineup receives minor updates. New trim levels include F SPORT Handling for electrified models and a Premium grade for PHEV variants. Additionally, buyers can now configure NX 350h models with front-wheel drive (FWD), and all PHEV models are equipped with dual-voltage charging cables that support Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
Lexus offers three trims for the 2026 NX 450h+: Premium, Luxury, and F SPORT Handling. All feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD). Pricing for the 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ ranges from $60,400 to $65,420, including the destination charge.
For this review, Lexus provided a 2026 NX 450h+ test vehicle equipped with Luxury trim and the following significant options:
The test vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $67,384, including the $1,295 destination charge to ship the crossover SUV from the Miyawaka, Fukuoka, Japan, assembly plant to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Lexus manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Beverly Braga
While Toyota, its corporate sibling, favors function over fashion in its design language, Lexus leans toward an aggressive aesthetic. Large grilles tend to suggest strength, toughness, and perhaps even driving excitement. On the Lexus NX, the bold front fascia is merely skin-deep.
Don't get me wrong: the Lexus NX looks great—inside and out. My test car's Nori Green paint drew no shortage of compliments, especially on bleak, gray Michigan winter days. Yet for all its exterior flair and sinuous curves, the vehicle's true focus is comfort and luxury.
The Macadamia leather and black open-pore wood trim added a two-tone richness to the Lexus NX cabin. However, I noticed some staining, likely from blue jean wearers. Such is the downside of light-colored seats. Other options include light tan and dark red seating paired with either black wood or prism-pattern plastic trim. Black upholstery with dark graphite aluminum trim is exclusive to the F Sport Handling trim.
For a small SUV, the Lexus NX interior is spacious and thoughtful. The cushioned top of the center console bin can be opened from both the driver's and passenger's sides. Its storage space is not deep, but it still offers enough capacity to hide a small or medium-sized purse. There is even a sunglass holder built into the headliner, a rare feature in newer cars.
A large touchscreen dominates the cabin, accompanied by two buttons and three knobs. Do you want more analog controls to push? Those will be by the shifter. The good news is that frequently accessed features are front and center. The easy-to-reach knobs control temperature and volume. Other climate controls are positioned directly above, but they require screen taps to change.
Lexus did not forget back-seat passengers, either. They enjoy air vents, USB charging ports, a 12-volt outlet, a panoramic glass roof, and the same comfortable textured leather upholstery.
The cargo area is not as impressive, however. Behind the rear seats are 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which accommodated two 17-gallon bins and a carry-on suitcase positioned on its side. Basically, a warehouse store bundle of paper towels and toilet tissue would fill that space. The rear seats fold down (but not flat) to increase capacity to 46.9 cubic feet.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The Lexus Interface multimedia system features a high-definition touchscreen. A 9.8-inch display is standard across the 2026 NX lineup, but NX 450h+ models are automatically upgraded to the 14-inch display. This is paired with a 7-inch multi-information driver display (MID).
The 14-inch infotainment system includes:
Additional technology options for my test vehicle included a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a 10-inch head-up display (HUD), and a wireless smartphone charger. A digital key via the Lexus app is also available through Remote Connect, but note that all connected services require a subscription.
The Lexus NX infotainment display may be large, but it is positioned low on the dashboard. This placement minimizes a potential blind spot for drivers who sit low in their seats, whether due to stature or preferred driving position. The screen is also angled toward the driver for improved ergonomics and readability.
Speaking of readability, I liked the small splash of color on the temperature controls. The soft blue and pinkish hues are a nice touch and do not overwhelm against the mostly dark palette of the rest of the touchscreen.
The built-in Lexus icons are simple and clear, requiring no second-guessing. The settings organization is a little wonky, though. For example, the Driving Assist menu appears in both the Settings and Vehicle sections. The touchscreen's response time is practically instantaneous. Like using a smartphone, I experienced zero lag when switching between menus or between the Drive Connect and Apple CarPlay screens. One quibble I have is the lack of haptic feedback.
The navigation feature (via Drive Connect) was active on my test vehicle. Using casual speech, I found the voice command to process directions fairly quickly. Even something as unfamiliar as "Ypsilanti" was no issue for the Lexus. The HUD also displays turn-by-turn directions, whether using Drive Connect or Google Maps via Apple CarPlay, as I did. It is notable because not all HUD systems can display information from third-party apps.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ comes standard with AWD and a CVT. Under the hood is a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors. Total output is rated at 304 horsepower. But do not let its aggressively sporty exterior fool you. Although the NX PHEV is the zippiest in the lineup, that translates to a Lexus-estimated zero-to-60-mph time of 6 seconds. Not so zippy, after all. The instant torque makes the experience feel quicker, though.
Fuel efficiency is where the PHEV is supposed to shine, and it does. The NX 450h+ returns an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-estimated 36 mpg in combined driving. That does not match the NX 350h FWD, which achieves 40 mpg combined, but the PHEV's high-capacity lithium-ion battery adds an electric-only range of 37 miles. That matters because switching between electric (EV) and hybrid (HV) driving is as easy as cycling through the drive modes (Normal, Eco, and Sport).
The NX 450h+ offers a choice of manual and automatic EV/HV drive settings. For better fuel economy, use manual mode. Automatic mode works like cruise control, where maintaining a set speed takes precedence. When switching modes, you can drive through town in EV and switch to HV once you enter the highway. In auto mode, the vehicle cannot predict your next move and will adjust EV/HV based on other factors, such as engine and throttle response.
That said, during 185 miles of mixed driving, I averaged 34.1 mpg. This is excellent, given that frigid temperatures drastically reduce fuel economy and performance. Additionally, I used only a quarter tank of fuel. With warmer weather and once I would be getting accustomed to using the EV/HV modes, I am confident I could exceed the EPA numbers.
As for the vehicle's actual driving performance, Sport mode is not sporty, but the suspension is firm yet compliant. Ride quality is comfortable; however, a surprising amount of road noise enters the cabin, to the point that my passenger felt compelled to comment. There are other complaints.
The steering-wheel-mounted controls are labeled only with arrows because they are multifunctional. The left pad handles entertainment and voice activation, while the right side manages advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and MID settings. Touch the controls to open the menu in the MID and HUD. It does take a bit of getting used to. I found myself repeatedly looking at the instrument panel when making adjustments rather than straight ahead at the HUD. I blame muscle memory, since my personal car does not have a HUD.
Secondly, and most glaringly, the speedometer does not match the speed shown in third-party apps. For example, Google Maps displays speed limits and your current speed. But the Lexus NX gauge matched the map only up to around 25 mph. After that, the difference was up to 7 mph, with the external app always showing the higher figure. In a 40-mph zone, I was traveling 42 mph on the Lexus gauge, but Google showed 49 mph. I have never experienced speed discrepancies in other vehicles, except with new Lexus and Toyota models. The non-syncing speed gave me constant anxiety.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The 2026 NX comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. As expected at this price point, Lexus' ADAS suite is generous.
Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 safety features include:
A rearview camera mirror is also standard on the NX 450h+ and is available as an add-on for other NX models and trims. Other optional NX safety features include:
Given how advanced these safety systems are, there will be a learning curve. As mentioned earlier, the non-haptic steering-wheel-mounted controls were a source of frustration, though not as much as the speed limit discrepancies.
Nevertheless, once I activated all available ADAS, the Lexus NX drove uneventfully. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 requires hands-on participation, but the automatic steering was not jerky. Also, the lane keeping and lane centering technologies maintained a smooth line through highway curves while keeping the cruise-control speed.
The NX 450h+ also comes standard with AWD, which saved me from sliding out of control when cornering. During a week of wintry mix conditions, I kept speeds low, but the vehicle's all-season tires provided almost no traction when I encountered a patch of ice. Thankfully, the AWD system redistributed the torque, allowing me to complete the turn. Although the turn was a little wide, at least I did not cross into the opposing traffic lanes.
As of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not released crash safety ratings for the 2026 Lexus NX. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested the NX and gave it Good ratings in all test categories.
According to the JD Power 2025 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Acura RDX ranks highest in the Compact Premium SUV segment. The Lexus NX and the BMW X4 are the next highest-ranked models.
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the BMW X4 ranks highest in the Compact Premium SUV segment. The Porsche Macan and the Jaguar F-Pace are the next highest-ranked models.
Other 2026 NX competitors include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Genesis GV70, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
According to verified owners, the NX earns an award as the highest-ranked model in its segment in the 2026 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards.
