Preview: 2027 Lexus NX Gains Significant Updates, Will Only Be Offered as a Hybrid

Thanks to its high reliability, owner satisfaction, and road test scores, the Lexus NX Hybrid is currently our top-rated compact luxury SUV, and the plug-in hybrid model is our top-rated PHEV compact luxury SUV. Based on what we’ve learned so far, we don’t foresee a fall from grace for the updated NX. In fact, there are numerous promised improvements, although the proof will be in the road test and usability evaluations.

The change to a hybrid- or PHEV-only powertrain is in line with the hybridization and electrification that both Toyota and Lexus are rolling out across their lineups, and it’s welcome. Our data show that most modern hybrids drive better than their nonhybrid counterparts in our road tests, get much better fuel economy, score higher in our reliability surveys, and make up any cost premium in just a few years of ownership. A gas-only option is no longer available on the Lexus ES and NX, nor is it available for the Toyota Camry, Crown, Crown Signia, RAV4, Sienna, or 2027 Highlander.

You’ll need a sharp eye to spot the differences between the 2026 and 2027 Lexus NX models. Lexus swapped some chrome trim for shiny black finishes, updated the headlights to integrate daytime running lights and turn signals, and changed the taillights so they look like the letter L. Combine those with the illuminated “Lexus” badge on the back, and whoever is driving behind you will know exactly what kind of car you’re driving. Annoyingly, the PHEV version gets a powered charging door, which is an overcomplication that could go wrong, particularly in cold weather.

We’re currently testing the newly redesigned 2026 Lexus ES sedan, so the NX’s updated interior looks very familiar. There’s the same 14-inch touchscreen and digital gauge cluster, knurled volume knob in the center of the cabin, and flush-mounted climate control buttons. In fact, we only spotted one difference up front: The ES’s cup holders have a cover, while the NX’s do not.

While we haven’t tested the NX, we think the ES’s controls respond well. The touchscreen is much easier to use than prior Lexus systems. It has a home screen to get you out of a menu maze and features really large icons and graphics that are easy to see and use while driving. 

The climate control buttons are set far enough apart that you won’t press them by accident, but we wish they were distinguishable by touch. Even though they look like they’re part of a touchscreen, there’s a real button underneath each one that registers a click when you press it.

Unfortunately, the NX retains the “digital latch” electronic interior door handles that you press to open. Although they’re easy to get used to, carrying a new passenger for the first time requires a short tutorial. 

On the high-end Luxury and F Sport trims, Lexus offers a feature called “Sensory Concierge” that coordinates signature scents, interior lighting colors, and seat temperature to adjust to the driver’s mood. A Martian-surface red upholstery color, which Lexus calls Abalos, is optional, while F Sport buyers can get a brighter red hue.

A digital key is available and allows drivers to use a smartphone as a vehicle key.

Lexus hasn’t shared many specific details about the NX’s upgraded powertrains, but we expect they’ll be quieter and slightly more powerful versions of the ones already available in the new Toyota RAV4, which is also only available as a hybrid or PHEV.

Every NX now has an e-Axle assembly that combines the electric motor and transaxle with the power control unit that manages the flow of electricity across the vehicle. An updated, optional continuous all-wheel drive system uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels at all times, whereas older hybrid AWD systems only engaged the rear wheels at low speeds.

The NX350h is a conventional hybrid. It’s available with front-wheel drive or AWD, although the Luxury and F Sport trims only get AWD. Lexus says the battery management system and electronic control unit have been upgraded for more power and more seamless handoffs between the gas engine and electric motor.

The NX450h+ is only available with AWD. Lexus says its new lithium-ion battery increases power by 8 percent and capacity by 30 percent, for over 40 miles of electric-only driving. The current NX PHEV has 37 miles of electric range. DC fast charging is standard, which is a rarity on PHEVs.

Lexus says that improvements to engine casting, throttle mapping, variable steering, suspension tuning, brake control, suspension design, and body rigidity make for a tauter, better-handling car with more linear acceleration. We’ll see if these updates address some of the few complaints we had about the current NX.

The new NX gets the same updated Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 suite of active safety and driver assistance systems that first debuted on the ES. Some of these features include: 

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and motorcycle detection that can work in an intersection when turning left for an oncoming vehicle or turning right when a pedestrian is detected

• Emergency steering assistance that can help a driver swerve around an obstacle

• A built-in dashcam

• Traffic Jam Assist, a subscription-based service that keeps a set following distance with hands-free steering in low-speed highway traffic

• Lane Change Assist that can help steer into and recenter in an adjacent lane