The 2026 Lexus NX trims the entry price.
Lexus didn't reinvent the NX for 2026. It did three things that matter to a shopper: a front-drive hybrid drops the starting price to $45,570, the F SPORT Handling grade is finally available on every powertrain, and a new Premium grade brings the plug-in into 50s territory. Same crossover, broader access.
Video reviews from MikesCarInfo
These videos cover the previous model year. The 2026 changes are mostly to the lineup structure (new FWD hybrid, F SPORT on hybrid and PHEV, new Premium grade on the plug-in) rather than the vehicle itself, so what's on screen is essentially what you'll see in a 2026.
NX 350 — the 2.4L turbo
Four grades, all AWD, all running an eight-speed automatic behind a 275-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four. The shortest path through the lineup if you want acceleration over efficiency: 6.6 seconds to sixty, 24 mpg combined. Premium fuel recommended.
NX 350 AWD
The shortest line to 275 horsepower.
The base 350 isn't stripped. You get the 9.8-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, the full Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, heated front seats, and 18-inch wheels. The questions to ask: do you want leather over NuLuxe, the bigger 14-inch screen, and the panoramic camera? If yes, the Premium grade is the next stop. If no, the base is genuinely usable.
This is also the only path to gas-only quickness. The 350h hybrid trades a second to sixty for fifteen extra mpg. The 350 trades that fuel economy for instant turbo response and a real eight-speed automatic.
- 275 hp / 317 lb-ft 2.4L turbo, 8-speed auto
- 6.6 second 0-60 quickest gas-only NX
- 24 mpg combined EPA estimate (premium recommended)
- 9.8-inch touchscreen wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
- Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 full suite standard
- 18-inch alloy wheels gray metallic / machined
- NuLuxe seating heated front seats, manual lumbar
NX 350 AWD Premium
The volume seller, in gas form.
For $1,925 over the base 350, Premium adds power tilt-and-telescoping steering, the Lexus Memory System, the digital rearview mirror as an option, available 20-inch wheels, and the Panoramic View Monitor. This is the trim where the cabin starts feeling like a Lexus and not a well-trimmed Toyota. Most buyers should at least look here before defaulting to the base.
You can also add the Cold Area Package (heated steering wheel) and the Head-Up Display starts becoming available. The big jump from here is to Luxury, which swaps NuLuxe for actual leather and adds the 14-inch screen.
- Power tilt-and-telescope steering with memory
- 20-inch wheels available gray metallic / silver finish
- Power back door with kick sensor hands-free open
- Drive Connect 3-year trial cloud nav, intelligent assistant
- Digital Key available phone-as-key, up to 7 users
- Head-Up Display available linked to seat memory
- Wireless phone charger available standard pad
NX 350 AWD Luxury
The full Lexus experience, gas-only.
Luxury is where the NX commits to being a luxury crossover. Real leather seating, the 14-inch touchscreen, the Head-Up Display standard, Thematic Ambient Illumination with fourteen themes, ventilated front seats, heated second-row outboard seats, the Digital Rearview Mirror, and 20-inch wheels with a gray metallic finish. The black open-pore wood trim does most of the visual work here.
It also unlocks Macadamia and Rioja Red leather, the most distinctive interior colors in the lineup. If you've cross-shopped a BMW X3 30i or a Genesis GV70 2.5T and want the Lexus reliability story without giving up cabin materials, this is the one.
- Leather-trimmed seating heated and ventilated front
- 14-inch touchscreen standard on Luxury
- Head-Up Display standard linked to seat memory
- Thematic Ambient Illumination 14 nature-inspired themes
- Heated second-row outboard seats rear climate controls
- Digital Rearview Mirror standard, low-light advantage
- Black open-pore wood trim not glossy — textured
- 20-inch wheels, gray metallic finish Luxury-specific
NX 350 AWD F SPORT Handling
The one with the suspension to back it up.
F SPORT Handling isn't the appearance package — it's the trim with Adaptive Variable Suspension, front and rear performance dampers, a sharper steering tune, and a top speed bumped to 127 mph. The exterior gets black 20-inch wheels, color-keyed over fenders, black roof rails, and the bold F SPORT grille. Inside: bolstered sport seats in Circuit Red and Black perforated NuLuxe, aluminum pedals, a sport steering wheel, and Dark Graphite Aluminum trim.
It comes in $90 below the Luxury grade with a notably different mission. If you want comfort, get Luxury. If you want a more communicative chassis without sacrificing daily livability, this is the pick. Note that Circuit Red NuLuxe is the only available interior — no leather option on this grade.
- Adaptive Variable Suspension F SPORT-exclusive
- Front and rear performance dampers chassis stiffness
- 127 mph top speed vs 124 on other grades
- 20-inch black alloy wheels dark gray metallic finish
- Bolstered sport seats Circuit Red & Black perforated NuLuxe
- Sport steering wheel aluminum pedals, scuff plates
- Color-keyed over fenders body-color, not black plastic
- Dark Graphite Aluminum trim F SPORT-exclusive material
NX 350h — the 2.5L hybrid
For 2026, the 350h is available with front-wheel drive for the first time. The FWD models drop the rear electric motor and the AWD hardware, dropping the price by $1,550 across every grade and gaining a single combined mpg. Same 240 combined horsepower either way. AWD adds the second motor and a slightly quicker 7.2-second 0-60 versus 8.2 for FWD.
NX 350h Standard
The lineup's value pick — especially in FWD.
The 350h FWD is the new starting point for the entire NX lineup, $650 cheaper than the base gas 350 and rated 40 mpg combined. That's a sixteen-mpg advantage with a small zero-to-sixty penalty (8.2 seconds vs 6.6). For most NX shoppers — suburban commuters, school runs, road trips on the interstate — this is the right answer.
AWD adds $1,550 and a second electric motor that drives the rear wheels on demand. It cuts the 0-60 to 7.2 seconds and gives up one mpg combined. Worth it if you live anywhere with real winters; skip it if you don't.
- 240 hp combined 2.5L Atkinson + electric motors
- 40 mpg FWD / 39 mpg AWD combined EPA
- FWD 0-60 in 8.2 sec / AWD in 7.2 sec mfr est.
- e-AWD via rear motor no driveshaft on AWD
- 9.8-inch touchscreen wireless CarPlay / Android Auto
- Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 full suite standard
- 2,000 lb tow rating available not standard like gas 350
NX 350h Premium
The likely volume seller of the whole NX line.
Hybrid economy with the Premium grade's upgrades: power tilt-and-telescope wheel, the Lexus Memory System, available 20-inch wheels, Panoramic View Monitor, and the Head-Up Display. This is probably the smartest single purchase in the entire lineup — you get fuel economy, real luxury content, and a price under fifty grand even in AWD.
The only reason to step up to Luxury from here is the leather, the 14-inch screen, and the ventilated seats. None of those are necessities; all of them are nice.
- $1,550 to add AWD e-motor rear, 7.2 sec 0-60
- Drive Connect 3-year trial cloud nav, voice assistant
- Digital Key available phone-as-key, 7 shared users
- Power back door with kick sensor hands-free
- Power tilt-and-telescope steering with Memory System
- Available wireless phone charger in front console
- Available Panoramic View Monitor 4-camera 360
NX 350h Luxury
The luxury hybrid sweet spot.
If you want the full Lexus interior treatment paired with the hybrid powertrain, this is the trim. Real leather, the 14-inch screen, standard Head-Up Display, Thematic Ambient Illumination, ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, the Digital Rearview Mirror, and 20-inch wheels in gray metallic. Available Mark Levinson 17-speaker premium audio and a panorama glass roof.
For under $52K in FWD trim, this undercuts an Audi Q5 Plus by roughly five grand and a BMW X3 30i xDrive with comparable equipment by a similar margin. The Lexus catches them on warranty and reliability data; the Germans catch the Lexus on driving feel.
- Leather-trimmed seating heated and ventilated front
- 14-inch touchscreen with Cloud Navigation
- Head-Up Display standard seat-memory linked
- Heated steering wheel standard on Luxury hybrid
- Heated second-row outboard seats rear climate
- Thematic Ambient Illumination 14 themes
- Digital Rearview Mirror standard low-light advantage
- Black open-pore wood trim Macadamia leather available
NX 350h F SPORT Handling
New for 2026 — the sport-tuned hybrid.
New for 2026: F SPORT Handling on the hybrid powertrain. Same AVS, same performance dampers, same black 20-inch wheels and color-keyed fenders, same Circuit Red Bolstered NuLuxe sport seats — but with 240 combined hybrid horsepower and 39-40 mpg instead of the gas turbo's 24 mpg. The trade is a slower 0-60 (7.2 AWD / 8.2 FWD versus the gas 350 F SPORT at 6.6) for fifteen extra miles per gallon.
For someone who wants the F SPORT chassis tune and aggressive styling but isn't willing to live with mid-twenties fuel economy, this is the trim that didn't exist before this model year.
- Adaptive Variable Suspension F SPORT-exclusive
- 240 hp + 39/40 mpg sport chassis, hybrid economy
- Circuit Red sport seats bolstered NuLuxe, perforated
- 20-inch black alloy wheels dark gray metallic
- Bold F SPORT grille integrated bumpers
- Color-keyed over fenders body-color
- Sport steering wheel aluminum pedals, scuff plates
- Dark Graphite Aluminum trim F SPORT-exclusive
NX 450h+ — the plug-in
The PHEV has 304 combined horsepower, 37 miles of EPA-estimated electric-only range, an 84 MPGe combined rating, and a 2,000-pound tow rating. New for 2026: a Premium grade joins the lineup, lowering the PHEV entry price from $63,135 to $59,205. The Standard grade isn't offered on the plug-in — Premium is now the floor. Every 450h+ also now ships with dual-voltage charging cables for Level 1 and Level 2 charging without an aftermarket purchase.
NX 450h+ AWD Premium
New for 2026 — the affordable plug-in.
This is the new entry point to plug-in NX ownership, $3,930 below the previous Luxury floor. For most plug-in shoppers whose primary goal is to commute on electricity and only fire up the engine for road trips, this is the trim that makes the math work. You give up leather, the 14-inch screen, the standard Head-Up Display, and the Mark Levinson option, but you keep the full 304 horsepower powertrain, the 37-mile EV range, and AWD.
The Premium PHEV bundles in the heated steering wheel (Cold Area Package standard), leather steering wheel, and Thematic Ambient Illumination as a no-cost upgrade over what the equivalent gas Premium gets. It also gets the 14-inch screen as standard since the PHEV gets the bigger display included at the Premium level — an exception to the rest of the line.
- 304 hp combined 2.5L PHEV + dual e-motors
- 37 miles EPA EV range 18.1 kWh lithium-ion
- 84 MPGe combined / 34 mpg gas EPA estimates
- 6.0 second 0-60 quickest NX overall
- Dual-voltage charging cables included L1 + L2, new for 2026
- 7 kW onboard charger ~2.5 hr full Level 2
- 2,000 lb tow rating available small trailer or jet ski
- Heated steering wheel standard Cold Area Pkg included
NX 450h+ AWD Luxury
The premium PHEV crossover sweet spot.
The previous PHEV floor is now the middle of the lineup. You get everything the Premium PHEV brings plus genuine leather, the Panoramic View Monitor standard, the Head-Up Display standard, the Digital Rearview Mirror, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and Lexus Memory. Mark Levinson 17-speaker premium audio becomes available. Panorama glass roof becomes available.
Cross-shopped against the Volvo XC60 Recharge Plus, the Audi Q5 PHEV S Line, and the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV, this trim lands in the middle of the pack on price and at the top on EV range and warranty. The Volvo makes more horsepower; the Lincoln has more cargo space; the Lexus has a ten-year hybrid component warranty.
- Real leather seating heated and ventilated front
- Panoramic View Monitor standard 4 cameras
- Head-Up Display standard seat-memory linked
- Digital Rearview Mirror standard
- Thematic Ambient Illumination 14 themes
- Heated second-row outboard seats
- Mark Levinson 17-speaker available $1,020 option
- Panorama glass roof available $500 option
NX 450h+ AWD F SPORT Handling
New for 2026 — the quickest, sportiest NX.
The most expensive NX you can buy. F SPORT Handling chassis tuning — AVS, performance dampers — on top of the 304-hp plug-in powertrain. Six-second 0-60 with 37 miles of EV range and 84 MPGe. The interior is Circuit Red and Black Bolstered NuLuxe (no leather option here, like other F SPORT grades), Dark Graphite Aluminum trim, sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals.
If you want the most capable NX overall — quickest, most efficient, sportiest chassis — this is the answer. The trade is the lack of leather, lack of Macadamia or Rioja Red interior options, and the highest sticker price in the lineup. Five-figure price difference from the entry hybrid; smaller delta than a comparable Q5 PHEV S Line.
- Adaptive Variable Suspension F SPORT-exclusive
- 304 hp + 6.0 sec 0-60 quickest NX in the lineup
- 37-mi EV range + 84 MPGe most efficient too
- Circuit Red sport seats bolstered, perforated NuLuxe
- 20-inch black alloy wheels dark gray metallic
- Bold F SPORT grille integrated bumpers
- Color-keyed over fenders body-color
- Dark Graphite Aluminum trim F SPORT-exclusive
Complete specifications
Numbers pulled directly from the August 2025 specifications sheet. The 350h column shows AWD figures with FWD noted where they differ.
How the NX 350h Luxury stacks up
Compared at hybrid Luxury trim equivalents where each rival offers one. Pricing reflects current 2025-2026 model year MSRPs as published by each manufacturer.
| Spec | Lexus NX 350h Luxury | BMW X3 30e xDrive | Acura RDX Advance | Audi Q5 Plus quattro | Genesis GV70 3.5T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (incl. dest) | $51,635 (FWD) / $53,185 (AWD) | ~$58,400 (PHEV, 2025) | ~$54,150 (AWD) | ~$55,895 (mild hybrid AWD) | ~$56,200 (3.5T AWD) |
| Powertrain | 2.5L hybrid, 240 hp | 2.0T PHEV, 288 hp combined | 2.0T, 272 hp | 2.0T mild hybrid, 268 hp | 3.5L twin-turbo V6, 375 hp |
| EPA combined | 39-40 mpg | 23 mpg gas / 60 MPGe | 23 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg |
| 0-60 mph | 7.2 sec (AWD) | 5.8 sec | 6.4 sec | 5.7 sec | 5.1 sec |
| Drivetrain | FWD or e-AWD | xDrive AWD | SH-AWD | quattro AWD | AWD |
| Cargo (behind 2nd row) | 22.7 cu ft | 27.4 cu ft | 29.5 cu ft | 25.1 cu ft | 28.7 cu ft |
| Tow rating | 2,000 lb avail. | 3,500 lb avail. | 1,500 lb | 4,400 lb | 3,500 lb avail. |
| Touchscreen size | 14-inch standard | 14.9-inch curved | 10.2-inch (no touch) | 10.1-inch | 14.5-inch curved |
| Hybrid warranty | 10-yr / 150,000 mi | 8-yr / 100,000 mi | n/a (not hybrid) | n/a (mild hybrid) | n/a (not hybrid) |
| Assembly | Miyawaka, Japan | Spartanburg, SC | East Liberty, OH | San Jose Chiapa, Mexico | Ulsan, South Korea |
The NX 350h wins on price, fuel economy, and warranty. It loses on cargo volume, towing, and outright acceleration. If raw performance and cargo are the priorities, the Genesis GV70 3.5T or the Audi Q5 with the quattro option are stronger answers. If the priority is real-world efficiency with a Lexus-grade interior, the NX wins by a meaningful margin.
What the NX does well — and what it doesn't
After driving the 450h+ Luxury and reviewing the full lineup data, here's the unvarnished read.
- Hybrid efficiency is class-leading. 40 mpg combined in 350h FWD is fifteen mpg ahead of the Acura RDX, the Audi Q5, and the Genesis GV70.
- The PHEV math actually works. 37 miles of EV range covers a typical American daily commute, and the 84 MPGe combined rating is real.
- Ten-year hybrid component warranty on the battery and hybrid hardware. No German rival matches it.
- Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is standard on every grade. No trim-locking of basic ADAS like some rivals.
- Cabin materials at Luxury and above hold up against the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 on texture, stitching, and trim quality.
- F SPORT Handling now available on hybrid and PHEV. Was a gas-only option through 2025.
- Dual-voltage charging cables now standard on PHEV. No aftermarket EVSE purchase needed.
- Resale value tracks well. Used 2022-2024 NX hybrids hold value better than most luxury compact rivals.
- Cargo space lags the class. 22.7 cu ft behind the second row trails most rivals by 4-7 cubic feet.
- The hybrid powertrain feels strained at full throttle. A 7.2-second 0-60 is fine; the way the CVT gets there isn't the most refined.
- Lexus Interface is improved, but the climate controls are still partially touchscreen-dependent. Not as quick to use as physical knobs.
- F SPORT Handling is NuLuxe-only. If you want real leather, you cannot have the sport chassis.
- Towing is well below the German competition. Audi Q5 and BMW X3 both tow more than 2,000 lb.
- The 9.8-inch base touchscreen on Standard and Premium looks small next to the 14-inch on Luxury — an obvious upsell.
- No NX 350h Standard FWD in some markets. Dealer allocation of the new front-drive hybrid is going to be the bottleneck.
- Premium fuel recommended on the gas 350. The hybrid runs on 87; the 2.4 turbo wants 91+.
Which NX should you buy?
Five archetypes, five recommendations. Pick the one that sounds most like you.
The Pragmatic Commuter
You drive thirty miles a day mostly on smooth roads. You live somewhere with mild winters. You want 40 mpg, a luxury badge, and an under-$48K price tag. The FWD hybrid in Premium grade gets you the Memory System, the available Head-Up Display, and the standard luxury content without the AWD penalty.
The Plug-In Pragmatist
You have a Level 2 charger or you're willing to install one. Your daily commute is under 35 miles. You want to drive gas-free Monday through Friday and still take the car to grandma's for Thanksgiving without range anxiety. The new Premium PHEV grade is the cheapest path into this story.
The Snowbelt Family
You live in Cleveland, Buffalo, or Boston. You want all-wheel drive that actually works, real leather, the bigger screen, ventilated seats, and you'll pay for it. The hybrid Luxury gives you everything except the F SPORT chassis tune, and you didn't want that anyway. Skip Mark Levinson unless you actually listen critically.
The Reluctant Driver Enthusiast
You used to drive a Mazda3 or a GTI. The kids changed that. You still want a vehicle that responds to inputs the way you remember. The F SPORT Handling chassis on the hybrid is the only path in the NX that delivers a tuned suspension with grown-up fuel economy. You'll live without leather.
The Quiet Luxury Plug-In Buyer
You don't want to advertise that you drive an EV. You don't want a Tesla. You want a car that looks like a normal Lexus, charges overnight, runs on electrons most of the time, and has the same warranty story Lexus has built over thirty-five years. The Luxury 450h+ is the answer; add Mark Levinson if you actually use the audio system.
The Gas-Only Holdout
You don't trust hybrid systems for the long run, you don't want to plug in, and you want a small luxury crossover that has some personality. The gas 350 F SPORT is the only NX that delivers turbo torque, an actual eight-speed automatic, the AVS chassis, and the visual aggression. You pay for it at the pump.
FAQ
What's genuinely new on the 2026 NX?
Three things. NX 350h is now available with front-wheel drive, dropping the lineup starting price to $45,570. F SPORT Handling is now available on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, not just gas. And the NX 450h+ adds a Premium grade that lowers the plug-in entry point to $59,205. Dual-voltage charging cables also now ship standard on every PHEV.
Is the 2026 NX affected by the recent backup camera recall?
No. The March 2026 NHTSA recall covers 2022-2025 NX non-hybrid models only. The 2026 model year is not on the recall list, and hybrid and PHEV variants of prior years were not included either. Verify your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls if you're cross-shopping a used unit.
Should I get the 350h in FWD or AWD?
FWD if you live somewhere with mild winters and want to save $1,550 plus gain one mpg combined. AWD if you live in the snowbelt or want the slightly quicker 7.2-second 0-60 versus 8.2 in FWD. The AWD system uses a rear electric motor — there's no driveshaft — so the packaging penalty is minimal.
How long does the NX 450h+ take to charge?
Approximately 2.5 hours from empty to full on a Level 2 (240V) charger using the standard 7 kW onboard charger. Level 1 charging from a standard household outlet will take overnight to roughly twelve hours. The new dual-voltage cable kit means you don't need to buy a separate Level 2 EVSE if your panel supports a 240V outlet.
Can the NX tow a small trailer?
The gas 350 has a 2,000-pound rating standard. The 350h and 450h+ offer a 2,000-pound rating as an available option. That covers small utility trailers, jet skis, and the lightest pop-up campers. If you need to tow more than a ton, look at the Audi Q5 (4,400 lb) or the BMW X3 (3,500 lb).
What features require a subscription after the trial expires?
Cloud Navigation and the "Hey Lexus" intelligent assistant both require an active Drive Connect subscription (3-year trial included). Digital Key requires Remote Connect (3-year trial included). Remote start, lock/unlock from your phone, and remote climate also need Remote Connect. Safety Connect (SOS, automatic crash notification) has a 5-year trial. Service Connect has a 10-year trial.
Where is the NX built?
Every NX sold in North America is assembled at the Miyawaka plant in Fukuoka, Japan. The plug-in hybrid's battery cells are also sourced and integrated in Japan. No US assembly option for any grade.
Is F SPORT Handling a real performance trim or just a look?
It's real. The grade includes Adaptive Variable Suspension, front and rear performance dampers, and a chassis tune you can feel. The top speed on F SPORT is also raised to 127 mph (versus 124 on other grades). It's not a sports car, but it's meaningfully sharper than the base suspension — not just an appearance package.
What octane does the gas NX 350 need?
Premium recommended — 91 octane or higher. Performance and economy will decrease on regular. The 350h hybrid and 450h+ PHEV use the same recommendation. If you're fuel-cost sensitive, the hybrid's fuel economy advantage dwarfs the per-gallon premium price increase.
What's the difference between the 9.8-inch and 14-inch screens?
The 9.8-inch is standard on the Standard and Premium grades; the 14-inch is standard on Luxury and F SPORT Handling, and on every 450h+ PHEV including Premium. Both run the same Lexus Interface software with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The 14-inch shows more map detail and makes the climate row easier to hit, but the 9.8-inch is far from a downgrade screen.
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