Model research hub
Lexus NX
MotorTrend says Lexus drops the somewhat underpowered NX250 from the lineup this year and adds a second NX350h variant with front-wheel drive, while a 2027 Lexus NX arrives all-hybrid with a massive update, and that despite sharing key mechanicals, Lexus does a solid job of differentiating the NX Hybrid from its Toyota cousin, the RAV4 Hybrid, delivering the sweet spot of luxury and efficiency by pairing upscale comfort with impressive fuel savings. Kelley Blue Book puts the 2026 Lexus NX 350h's 5-year cost to own at $62,497, and the NX 350h Premium's at $66,126, ranking both in the top 11-25 percent for cost to own among all luxury compact SUV/crossovers.
NX250 dropped, a new hybrid variant added
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says Lexus drops the somewhat underpowered NX250 from the lineup this year and adds a second NX350h variant with front-wheel drive, while a 2027 Lexus NX arrives all-hybrid with a massive update.
Differentiated from its RAV4 cousin
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says despite sharing key mechanicals, Lexus does a solid job of differentiating the NX Hybrid from its Toyota cousin, the RAV4 Hybrid, delivering the sweet spot of luxury and efficiency by pairing upscale comfort with impressive fuel savings, taking a practical foundation and giving it a luxury twist.
Strong cost-to-own rankings
Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts the 2026 Lexus NX 350h's 5-year cost to own at $62,497, and the NX 350h Premium's at $66,126, ranking both in the top 11-25 percent for cost to own among all luxury compact SUV/crossovers.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Lexus NX250 still available for 2026?
No — MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says Lexus dropped the underpowered NX250 for 2026.
What Toyota model shares mechanicals with the Lexus NX Hybrid?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the RAV4 Hybrid.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Lexus NX is built around 2.4L turbo four-cylinder, 2.5L hybrid four-cylinder, or 2.5L plug-in hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 275 / 240 / 304 horsepower across its compact luxury SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2026 Lexus NX is published to tow is 2,000 lb (all grades).
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 NX.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Lexus NX
NX 350 is the base gas engine at 275 hp; NX 350h is the standard hybrid at 240 hp, now offered in FWD as well as AWD; NX 450h+ is the plug-in hybrid at 304 hp with up to 37 miles of EV range.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Lexus NX model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus NX | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Lexus NX | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Lexus NX.
The Lexus NX is a compact luxury crossover SUV sold by Lexus, a luxury division of Toyota. Introduced in late 2014, it is positioned between the subcompact UX and the mid-size RX in Lexus’ crossover SUV lineup. According to Lexus, the name "NX" stands for "Nimble Crossover".
Source: Lexus NX (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Lexus NX at a glance
- Production
- August 2014 – present
- Model years
- 2015–present
- Class
- Compact luxury crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Lexus NX generations
The Lexus NX has been redesigned in 2021, gaps of 7 years, an average of 7.0 years between generations. The current generation (second generation, AZ20) began in 2021.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | AZ10 | 2014–2021 | The first-generation NX was revealed at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on 20 April 2014. |
| Second generation | AZ20 | 2021–present | The AZ20 second-generation Lexus NX is a completely new model underpinned by a new platform, the GA-K shared with the mechanically identical Toyota Venza/Harrier and the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4. |
Recent recalls (6 campaigns across the latest model years)
- March 2026, Back Over Prevention:Software. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the… Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- October 2025, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- February 2025, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Webbing. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid, Lexus NX250, NX350, NX350 Hybrid, 2024-2025 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, and RX500 Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center seat belt webbing may be damaged. As such, these vehicles fail to… Consequence: A damaged seat belt may not adequately restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Year by year
The Lexus NX across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lexus NX | 24–40 | $2,000–$3,300 | 4 | |||
| 2025 Lexus NX | 24–39 | $2,000–$3,250 | 6 | 5 | ||
| 2024 Lexus NX | 24–39 | $2,000–$3,250 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2023 Lexus NX | 25–39 | $2,000–$3,100 | 6 | 3 | ||
| 2022 Lexus NX | 25–39 | $2,000–$3,100 | 6 | 2 | 16 | |
| 2021 Lexus NX | 24–31 | $2,000–$3,250 | 4 | 5 stars | ||
| 2020 Lexus NX | 24–31 | $2,000–$3,250 | 4 | 5 stars | ||
| 2019 Lexus NX | 24–31 | $2,000–$3,250 | 4 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2018 Lexus NX | 24–31 | $2,000–$3,250 | 4 | 5 stars | ||
| 2017 Lexus NX | 24–31 | $2,000–$3,250 | 4 | 5 stars | ||
| 2016 Lexus NX | 24–32 | $1,950–$3,250 | 5 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2015 Lexus NX | 24–32 | $1,950–$3,250 | 5 | 1 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Lexus NX, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 6 to 4 | 31.5 to 32.0 | Labels: NX 350h | Labels: NX 250, NX 250 AWD, NX 450h Plus AWD; Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV; Fuels: Premium and Electricity, Regular | |
| 2024 to 2025 | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | 32.0 to 31.5 | Labels: NX 350 AWD F Sport | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; F Sport | ||
| 2022 to 2023 | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; F Sport, 2.5L 4-cyl | Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; F-Sport | |||
| 2021 to 2022 | 4 to 6 | 27.5 to 32.0 | first listed: 37 | Labels: NX 250, NX 250 AWD, NX 350 AWD, NX 350h AWD, and 1 more; Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.4L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; F-Sport, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Hybrid; Transmissions: Automatic (S8); Fuels: Premium and Electricity | Labels: NX 300, NX 300 AWD, NX 300 AWD F Sport, NX 300h AWD; Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) |
| 2018 to 2019 | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl | |||
| 2017 to 2018 | Labels: NX 300, NX 300 AWD, NX 300 AWD F Sport | Labels: NX 200t, NX 200t AWD, NX 200t AWD F Sport | |||
| 2016 to 2017 | 5 to 4 | 28.0 to 27.5 | Labels: NX 300h |
Buying used
What the Lexus NX recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | seats (front assembly); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); seat belts (rear/other); 2 more | None |
| 2024 | 4 | seats (front assembly); steering (column); back over prevention (display function); 1 more | None |
| 2023 | 3 | steering (column); back over prevention (display function); back over prevention (software) | None |
| 2022 | 2 | back over prevention (display function); back over prevention (software) | None |
| 2019 | 1 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2016 | 1 | air bags (side/window) | None |
| 2015 | 1 | air bags (side/window) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown or other | 6 | 38% | 2022 (6) |
| electrical system | 4 | 25% | 2022 (4) |
| wheels | 2 | 13% | 2022 (2) |
| visibility/wiper | 2 | 13% | 2022 (2) |
| structure | 1 | 6% | 2022 (1) |
| service brakes | 1 | 6% | 2022 (1) |
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Lexus NX trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350h | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 189 | 179 | 4,080 | 2,000 | 39 | $46,070 |
| 350 | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 275 | 317 | 4,035 | 2,000 | 24 | $46,720 |
| 350h Premium | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 189 | 179 | 4,080 | 2,000 | 39 | $47,995 |
| 350 Premium | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 275 | 317 | 4,035 | 2,000 | 24 | $48,645 |
| 350h Luxury | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 189 | 179 | 4,080 | 2,000 | 39 | $52,135 |
| 350 F SPORT Handling | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 275 | 317 | 4,035 | 2,000 | 24 | $52,695 |
| 350 Luxury | AWD | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 275 | 317 | 4,035 | 2,000 | 24 | $52,785 |
| 350h F SPORT Handling | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 189 | 179 | 4,080 | 2,000 | 39 | $54,545 |
| 450h+ Premium | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 181 | 169 | 4,475 | 2,000 | – | $59,105 |
| 450h+ Luxury | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 181 | 169 | 4,475 | 2,000 | – | $63,035 |
| 450h+ F SPORT Handling | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 181 | 169 | 4,475 | 2,000 | – | $64,125 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Lexus NX model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 181–275 | 4,035–4,475 | 2,000 | 14.5 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 203–304 | 3,790–4,475 | 2,000 | 14.5 |
| 2024 | 11 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 203–302 | 3,660–4,475 | 2,000 | 14.5 |
| 2023 | 12 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 203–302 | 3,660–4,475 | 2,000 | 14.5 |
| 2022 | 12 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder / 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 203–302 | 3,660–4,475 | 2,000 | 14.5 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2020 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2019 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2018 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 194–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Hybrid) | 154–235 | 3,940–4,180 | 1,500–2,000 | 14.8–15.9 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Lexus NX.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0W-16 (4.5 qt) NX 450h+; 0W-20 (5.6 qt) NX 350; (4.5 qt) NX 350h | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2025 | 0W-20 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | 0W-16 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 4.6 qt | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Lexus NX: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2025 Lexus NX : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and seats.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 5 | not available | backup camera, seats, brakes, seat belts |
| 2024 | 4 | not available | backup camera, seats, steering |
| 2023 | 3 | not available | backup camera, steering |
| 2022 | 2 | 16 | backup camera |
| 2021 | not available | ||
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | 1 | not available | fuel system |
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | 1 | not available | airbags |
| 2015 | 1 | not available | airbags |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus NX model years 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lexus NX?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2025 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Lexus NX model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2025 Lexus NX has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, seats, brakes. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Lexus NX by model year?
2025: backup camera, seats, brakes, seat belts. 2024: backup camera, seats, steering. 2023: backup camera, steering. 2022: backup camera. 2019: fuel system. 2016: airbags.
Q04Why do some Lexus NX model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus NX model years 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering.
2025 Lexus NX owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering.
Compared with
Models this Lexus NX is most often compared with.
Nearest Lexus models
Other Lexus models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 NX come in?
The 2026 Lexus NX (compact luxury SUV) comes in 3 trims: NX 350, NX 350h, NX 450h+.
Q02What are the 2026 NX trims?
The 2026 Lexus NX trims are NX 350, NX 350h, NX 450h+, listed from the entry NX 350 up to the top NX 450h+.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 NX use?
The 2026 Lexus NX is built around 2.4L turbo four-cylinder, 2.5L hybrid four-cylinder, or 2.5L plug-in hybrid four-cylinder, rated at 275 / 240 / 304 horsepower across its compact luxury SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 NX have?
The 2026 Lexus NX is rated at 275 / 240 / 304 horsepower (2.4L turbo four-cylinder, 2.5L hybrid four-cylinder, or 2.5L plug-in hybrid four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 NX?
The 2026 Lexus NX is offered with FWD / AWD.