The Lexus NX debuted in 2014 as Toyota’s luxury brand expanded in the SUV segment. It now includes the 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ Luxury, one of 15 compact crossover configurations.
It sits between the subcompact UX and mid-size RX lineups, offering Lexus a confounding array of family vehicles. Is there demand for so many SUV variants?
Lexus says “NX” means “Nimble Crossover,” an apt description. The NX 450h+ Luxury, a plug-in hybrid, handles well in parking lots and on highways. It’s also a quiet cruiser, especially at freeway speeds.
The NX 450h+ uses a retuned 2.5-liter four-cylinder from the 350h, with larger electric motors and 304 horsepower. Its bigger battery extends the electric range to 37 miles, according to Lexus. It’s paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel drive system.
The carmaker also states the NX 450h achieves a combined 34 miles per gallon in city and highway driving. Level 1 and 2 charging cables are stored in a case in the rear cargo area. The gas fueling portal is located on the driver’s side; the electric charging portal is on the passenger side.
Ambient lighting and a heated steering wheel are holdovers from other trims. But the luxury designation also features trim-only amenities, such as heated and ventilated front seats.
Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, standard across the lineup, is comprehensive. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, oncoming vehicle detection, and adaptive cruise control.
Lane-tracing assist, emergency steering assist, road-sign recognition, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking are standard. So are a digital rearview mirror, moonroof, and a 14-inch infotainment system. The Mark Levinson sound system, with 10 speakers, is a $1,020 upgrade.
A colleague and I thoroughly tested safety features and performance on a recent round-trip from Sacramento to Los Angeles—an estimated 800-mile journey mostly on Interstate 5 and Southern California highways. With the flow of traffic sometimes exceeding the posted speed limit, the SUV averaged 32.4 miles per gallon.
Negotiating the Grapevine reveals a vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses. The demanding six-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Kern County, sits between Fort Tejon and the base of the grade, climbing to 4,144 feet at Tejon Pass.
But the overall stretch, with steep ascents, descents, and prominent 18-wheel truck madness, extends 40 miles from just north of Castaic in Los Angeles County to the bottom of the grade where the I-5 enters the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County.
The notorious stretch exposed the NX 450h’s driving weakness—it struggles on ascents. However, the vehicle’s strength was also apparent. During the often tense driving segment, the SUV showcased its quiet drive, further enhanced by the luxurious, if overall tight, interior featuring red leather seating and overall comfort.
Lexus was once a defining luxury vehicle, and the NX 450h is a satisfactory small SUV. But it’s also positioned in a competitive segment, with strong challenges from German and South Korean challengers. Its $67,000 price warrants further attention to consider other carmakers’ offerings.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, also contributes business, lifestyle and sports content to several print and online publications. E-mail: james@jamesraia.com.