Fresh arrival: 2027 Lexus NX revealed with updated styling and enhanced hybrid power
The second-generation Lexus NX is only a few years old, but the brand is already giving its compact SUV a mid-cycle refresh. The new crossover features updated styling inside and out alongside gaining Lexus’ sixth-generation hybrid system.
In the NX 450h+, the plug-in hybrid variant, battery capacity increases from 18.1 to 23.0 kilowatt hours. The larger battery increases the all-electric range to 62 miles, up from 37 miles, with the system making a combined 303 horsepower in Europe. The updated NX 350h gains a lithium-ion battery that borrows its design from the one in the new ES 350h. It’s lighter than the one it replaces, with Lexus revising the cooling system to increase the combined output. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder and electronic continuously variable transmission produce 196 hp. The NX 350h can sprint to 60 miles per hour in while Lexus claims the NX 450h+ will hit 62 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds. In the US, the 2026 NX 450h+ produces 304 hp, while the 350h produces 240 hp. Lexus also offers a non-hybrid NX with a 275-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder.
The new Lexus NX features an evolution of its Vital x Tech design theme. It has a redesigned front fascia with a frameless spindle grille and revised headlights. At the rear, designers tweaked the taillight layout with a repeated L-motif. The F Sport trim returns, standing out with newly designed 20-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and rear-bumper aero.
Inside, the Lexus gets its most radical change yet—a new dashboard, center console, and instrument panel taking inspiration from the new ES sedan and TZ SUV. A large 14.0-inch infotainment display dominates the new layout, sitting in line with the 12.3-inch driver display and above a revised instrument panel. The NX now features capacitive HVAC and camera controls above the air vents and a new center console. Engineers also lowered the seating position, moving it closer to the vehicle's center of gravity. Furthermore, the steering wheel diameter was reduced by 0.39 inches with refined grip and increased telescopic range.
To improve refinement, the engine block has a new, more rigid shape to control noise and vibration. Sound-absorbing material in the rear bumper, rear doors, and center pillars reduces engine and road noise by around 20 percent. Floor rigidity increased by around 25 percent, while a reworked front suspension tower integrated with the front pillar structure delivers a 30 percent boost in rigidity.
The updated Lexus NX will go on sale in Europe in early spring 2027.
