The Lexus NX is like the middle child in a large family. It’s quite a lot more expensive than the UX but not as plush or spacious as the RX. And Yet, this is one of the most sought after Lexus models here in Canada.
Performance
Engine – The 2026 NX350h is powered by a 2.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder that produces 240 net hp (179 kW). As per usual, Toyota/Lexus won’t say the net torque but the engine torque is rated at 167 lb-ft (226 Nm). From behind the steering wheel, this engine feels as though it has enough of a pep. When commuting to work, it doesn’t feel underpowered and it responds quickly enough when you demand a burst of acceleration while performing an overtake maneuver on a highway. But when it’s fully loaded with cargo and people, it can feel as though its struggling to go up a steep hill. However, if you switch the NX to Sport mode, the throttle response is much sharper and it feels a little bit more eager to get going.
The NX 350h has a little 1.6 kWh battery that can provide electric only driving for brief periods. Primarily this is done at speeds under approximately 70 km/h (43 mph) and under light throttle applications or maintaining speeds. At highway speeds, the only time it switches to EV mode is when the car is coasting. There is a dedicated EV mode that allows for faster EV-only acceleration from a stop but it automatically gets disabled if the NX350h goes faster than 35-ish km/h (21 mph). If you don’t touch that button and you’re gentle with the throttle, the Lexus NX can accelerate to about 65 km/h (40 mph) on electricity alone. This of course has to be with a nearly fully charged battery and it’ll be a very slow acceleration. In other words, you’ll have a few angry tailgaters behind you.
Fuel Economy – The 2026 Lexus NX350h is rated for 5.7 L/100km (41.2 MPG) in a city and 6.4 L/100km (36.7 MPG) on a highway. I managed to get 6.1 L/100km (38.5 MPG) during my time with the car which is slightly worse fuel consumption than when I last drove the NX350h. Granted, the last time I reviewed this car, it was Spring and I drove it more often in a city environment. This time around, it was late November, which means lower temperatures, and I drove it roughly half in a city and half on highways. But either way, it’s still good fuel economy figures.
Transmission – Paired with this engine is an eCVT automatic. It does its job of providing smooth operation along with good fuel economy very well. When you switch the NX to Sport mode, the transmission will provide virtual gears for you to play around with and control via the nice feeling paddles on the steering wheel. But don’t expect lightning fast responses.
Braking – The battery gets partially recharged by the regenerative braking system. The brake pedal has a firm feel and can provide more than enough force to bring the crossover SUV to a stop. However, the pedal doesn’t have a lot of movement under light braking applications which makes it a bit more difficult to come to a complete stop if you have a heavier foot. Additionally, the NX350h does not have different levels of regenerative braking like the Hyundai Tucson or Honda CR-V hybrids. It’s all controlled through the brake pedal.
Handling – The Lexus NX350h is a composed SUV around twists and turns. It feels planted with the suspension doing a good job controlling the body roll through corners. Adaptive dampers are available on the NX350h but only through the F-Sport packages, at least for us Canadians. This demo vehicle did not have the F-Sport package. Steering is responsive with a hefty feeling steering wheel at high speeds. It can firm up a little bit more when switching the NX into Sport mode. However, don’t mistake this car for a sporty luxury crossover SUV. The Genesis GV70, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, etc. all do a better job of delivering driving dynamics.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Despite this demo version of the Lexus NX not being equipped with adaptive dampers, the ride is really good for having standard suspension. It feels plush without being overly floaty. But over bigger bumps, it will take a few more jounces before the suspension settles the body. The seats are the other half of the comfort equation. They’re plush, supportive, and don’t induce any pressure points through your back, legs, or bum.
Interior Space – This new generation of the Lexus NX was designed to provide more passenger space. However you wouldn’t know that from looking at it on paper because it actually has less than some of its competitors. Even so, legroom in the front and rear seats is good. My knees are nowhere near the dashboard and behind my 6’4” driving position, I have an ample amount of space. My knees gently brush up against the back of the front seat but they don’t feel squished. However, headroom is a different story. My hair doesn’t brush up against the headliner but it is close even with the driver’s seat to its lowest position. In the back, my hair does brush up against the headliner and although the seats can recline a bit, it’s still very close.
Behind the seats, the Lexus NX 350h has one of the smaller trunks. It can accommodate 643 L (22.7 cu-ft) of space with the rear seats up and 1,328 L (46.9 cu-ft) of space with the rear seats folded. There is a small storage compartment under the trunk floor but no spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Overall, the cabin of the 2026 Lexus NX350h is well isolated from outside noises. It’s not perfect, but for the price of the NX 350h, it is good. During city drives, the engine’s noise is well muted when accelerating at a moderate pace. However, it will become annoyingly loud if you mash your foot on the throttle pedal. On highways, wind and engine noise is negligible but there is a little bit of road noise intruding into the cabin. However, it’s acceptable and it doesn’t require you to raise your voice in order to have a conversation with rear passengers.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2026 Lexus NX350h starts at $57,675 CAD ($45,470 USD, FWD). This demo vehicle had the Ultra Luxury package equipped which raised the price to $65,782 CAD ($48,945 USD, Premium AWD). That is quite a bit of money for something that has less space than the German rivals but at the end of the day, you are paying less than the competitors and saving more fuel.
Gadgets – The NX350h is equipped like a luxury crossover should. It has heated & ventilated front seats, NuLuxe synthetic leather, a heated steering wheel with power adjustable settings, a massive 14” touchscreen, hands-free power liftgate, surround view cameras, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate controls, a digital rearview mirror, and a wireless phone charging pad. If you opt for the F-Sport 3 package, then the NX can also be equipped with a head-up display, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, an advanced parking system that can help park the car, power adjustable rear seats, and auto leveling headlamps.
The infotainment system is intuitive to use and is the same one that is found in Toyota vehicles. So upgrading from a Toyota to a Lexus shouldn’t be a big step in learning this system. It allows for wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto. The navigation system is subscription based but if you carry your smartphone, you’ll always have Google Maps or Waze to use for navigation via CarPlay or Android Auto.
Interior Design – The cabin of the new Lexus NX 350h looks like what someone would expect from a modern Lexus. There’s soft touch materials throughout and the design is thoroughly modern. The touchscreen is the most prominent feature of the dashboard and it is not as far away from the driver as the older design. The infotainment screen is controlled by touch inputs and no longer a trackpad. There aren’t that many physical buttons but there’s just enough to control the temperature and important vehicle features such as the window defrosters.
Exterior Design – The first Lexus NX looked as though it had an overbite with the nearly non-existent front chin. But if you optioned it with the F-Sport package, then it would give the NX a large chin along with a grille that looked as though it could swallow small dogs and cats. This new 2026 NX still has the Jay Leno chin but the hourglass grille is a bit more proportionate to the car. It doesn’t look as encompassing. Around the back, it has a lightbar that extends from one side to the other which is reminiscent of its little brother; the Lexus UX.
Safety – The 2026 Lexus NX350h is equipped with standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. This includes a wide range of driver and safety aids from automatic emergency braking to lane keep to rear cross traffic alert. The only safety options that can be added on with higher spec packages include intuitive parking assist with auto braking, front cross traffic alert, and lane change assist
Warranty – The 2026 Lexus NX350h has a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle, 6 year / 110,000 km powertrain, and an 8 year / 160,000 km hybrid component warranty. The Hybrid battery is covered for 10 years / 240,000 km. For more information on Canadian Lexus warranty, click here. For information on American warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So why is the NX one of the best-selling Lexus SUVs here in Canada? For a start, it can achieve excellent fuel economy with this hybrid powertrain or the PHEV version, the cabin feels as a Lexus should, and it’s easy to drive without tiring you out. Sure, it’s not the biggest amongst its competitors but it is less expensive and if you need more space, there’s the Lexus RX; the best-selling Lexus SUV in North America.
Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the NX350h. www.Lexus.ca
2026 Lexus NX 350h Gallery
