Lexus drops the last gas-only NX, adds a longer-range plug-in with NACS fast charging, and gives the cabin a new dash, a 14-inch screen and a built-in scent diffuser.
The compact luxury crossover segment is crowded with plug-ins and hybrids, and Lexus is responding by going all in. For 2027, the NX no longer comes with a gasoline-only engine. Buyers choose between the NX 350h hybrid and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, and both get updated hardware, a redesigned interior and a ride-focused chassis rework.
Key Takeaways
- The 2027 NX is hybrid-only: the 244-hp NX 350h and the 324-hp NX 450h+ plug-in, with EV range up to a manufacturer-estimated 45 miles.
- The cabin is redesigned around a standard 14.0-inch touchscreen and a new “Sensory Concierge” fragrance system.
- Lexus has not yet announced pricing. Expect a higher starting price because the base grade is gone.
The second-generation NX arrived five years ago and has been Lexus’s second-best seller behind the RX. It competes with the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Genesis GV70, Volvo XC60 and Lincoln Corsair. Those rivals have been busy. Volvo’s refreshed XC60 plug-in now claims 78 miles of electric range, and the Mercedes GLC 350e offers 54 miles. Lincoln has also moved the 2027 Corsair to hybrid-only power.
2027 Lexus NX: What’s Under the Hood
Both versions use a redesigned 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a stiffer block casting. Lexus says it cuts cabin engine noise by up to 20 percent. The gas engine makes 186 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque on its own. It’s paired with a more compact e-Axle that combines the transaxle, motor and silicon-carbide power electronics in one unit.
The NX 350h is rated at 244 hp, up 4 hp from 2026. The updated power strategy leans harder on the electric motors under acceleration, so the engine works less and makes less noise. Front-wheel drive is standard on Premium and Premium+. Lexus’s E-Four all-wheel drive, with a rear-axle motor, is standard on F Sport and Luxury. Lexus estimates up to 44 mpg city and 40 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive versions are estimated at 38 mpg combined.
The NX 450h+ gets a stronger front electric motor, up from 180 hp to 203 hp, plus a revised lithium-ion battery with roughly 8 percent more output and capacity. Total system output rises from 304 hp to 324 hp. Electric range climbs to an estimated 45 miles, up from 37 miles on the outgoing model. Fuel economy is estimated at 37 mpg combined, or 36 mpg for the F Sport.
NACS Fast Charging Arrives
Every 2027 NX 450h+ now has DC fast charging through a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port. Lexus says a 50-kW DC fast charger can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 35 minutes. A 240-volt Level 2 charger completes a full charge in roughly 2.5 hours.
One catch: the port has moved from the rear quarter panel to the left front fender. That could make curbside charging trickier, so apartment dwellers without a dedicated charger may be better served by the regular hybrid.
A Calmer Ride and Sharper Steering
Lexus reworked the structure with a new floor cross-member, added tunnel bracing and redesigned suspension towers. Non-adaptive trims get shock absorbers with ultra-low-speed valves to smooth out small bumps. All models get a faster variable-ratio steering rack, and a new cornering brake control applies light inner-wheel braking in sudden maneuvers to limit body roll. The steering wheel shrinks by 0.4 inches to 14.2 inches.
Inside: New Dash, Big Screen and a Scent Machine
The old cockpit-style dash is gone, replaced by a horizontal layout. Every NX now has a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.0-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto and a built-in dashcam (Drive Recorder) are standard. A row of physical climate buttons sits below the screen, and the old double-J shifter makes way for a simpler flipper-style selector.
The headline feature is Sensory Concierge, offered on Luxury and F Sport. It ties a dashboard fragrance diffuser to ambient lighting, music, climate settings and sunroof shade, with three moods: Inspire, Radiance and Revitalize. The scents are named Shinmei, Seiyo and Hanya. Fragrance cartridges can also be used on their own.
Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 is standard. It widens sensor coverage for pedestrian detection, emergency steer assist and intersection turn assist.
Exterior Updates and Colors
The shape is familiar, but the details are new. The front gets dual-line LED headlights, and black trim replaces chrome on the moldings. The rear gets Lexus’s first “Double L” lighting signature. There are nine exterior colors, including three new ones: Shaded Ivy, Iridium (replacing Atomic Silver) and Incognito, which is exclusive to the F Sport. Inside, two of the five interior colors are new: Abalos, said to be inspired by the dunes of Mars, and Radiant Red.
2027 Lexus NX: When and How Much?
Lexus says global sales begin by the end of 2026, with official EPA figures and pricing to come closer to the on-sale date. Car and Driver expects U.S. dealer availability in January. The lineup shrinks to four grades (Premium, Premium+, F Sport and Luxury), and with the base trim gone, the starting price will rise. Car and Driver estimates about $49,000 for the NX 350h and $55,000 for the NX 450h+. Those are estimates, not Lexus figures.
The Basics
- Type: compact luxury crossover
- Seats: 5
- Powertrains: 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid (NX 350h); 2.5-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid (NX 450h+)
- Transmission: continuously variable automatic
- Drive: FWD or AWD (350h); AWD (450h+)
- Horsepower: 244 (350h); 324 (450h+)
- Fuel economy (est.): up to 44/35/40 mpg city/highway/combined (350h FWD); 37 mpg combined (450h+)
- EV range: up to 45 miles (450h+, manufacturer estimate)
- Charging: NACS port; 10–80% DC fast charge in about 35 minutes
- Grades: Premium, Premium+, F Sport, Luxury
- On-sale date: around the end of 2026 to January 2027
- Price: not yet announced
- Production: Ontario, Canada (350h); Japan (450h+)
- Primary competitors: BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Genesis GV70, Volvo XC60, Lincoln Corsair.
