2027 Lexus NX 350h: Better Tech, Better Economy, Same Old Trade-Offs

Driving through the Ontario countryside west of Toronto on a moody autumn day is a kind of perfection. I’m here for the absolute peak of the fall color season – when the orange, red, yellow canopy is still crisply contrasted by technicolor green fields below – watching tidy farmsteads and occasional horse-drawn carriages fly by the window of my Lexus NX.

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The NX 350h has been comprehensively updated for the 2027 model year, though it comes just shy of being labled as a new generation by Lexus, and it’s a swell thing for taking in the pastoral sights. While neither the car nor the drive route are particularly enthusiastic (this part of Ontario doesn’t seem overly blessed with curvy roads), I couldn’t be happier doing a third lap of my drive route; ripping through the last few episodes of a favorite podcast and relaxing back into a nicely designed driver’s seat.

Lexus has done yeoman’s work updating the NX for the core customers in the compact luxury SUV market, with more power, a better cabin, and elegantly improved tech. And while it isn’t without a flaw, the NX certainly seems well constructed for everyday driving (and finishing the podcast).

The New Lexus NX 350h: What’s Hot?

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The biggest update to the 2027 NX lineup is the all-electrified suite of powertrains. The ICE-only NX 350 with its 2.4T four-cylinder has been retired, while revamped versions of the 350h hybrid and 450h+ plug-in hybrid remain.

The standard hybrid (which made up the bulk of my drive time) gets a modest improvement in horsepower, up from 236 to 244 hp, for both front- and all-wheel-drive versions. The plug-in NX 450h+, which I hope to drive more for a later review, now offers 45 miles of all-electric range and a sprightly 324 hp, up 20 from the outgoing car.

Lexus

Naturally, the Lexus team has improved efficiency as well: the front-drive NX 350h returns an estimated (EPA figures are still forthcoming) 44 miles per gallon in the city, 35 highway, and 40 combined. The mpg figures drop to 42 city, 34 highway, and 38 combined for the AWD car. Lexus really stands alone here; the impressive fuel economy numbers are unmatched in the class.

The NX does have a revised front and rear fascia with new lighting and a generally freshened look, but the updates are subtle enough that, at a glance, you might not notice. For instance, the team had two of the previous-gen cars on hand for comparison drives, and at first I found myself walking toward them before I realized my mistake. Suffice it to say that this isn’t a revolutionary exterior facelift.

With that said, the biggest quality-of-life improvement for new NX drivers is almost certainly the standard Lexus Interface infotainment system with a sleek, 14-inch touchscreen display. Where older Lexus (and Toyota) systems were both frustrating and balky until your phone mirroring loaded up, the new Lexus system is responsive, easy to use the first time out, and deeply customizable. In fact, I liked it well enough that I defaulted to the built-in system even when using my iPhone with CarPlay at the ready.

Best Features:

• Excellent hybrid fuel econ, with up to 40 mpg for the front-driver
• Great infotainment system that makes CarPlay feel almost optional
• Comfortable, well-designed seating
• Optional Mark Levinson audio ready for your bangers

Is The Lexus NX 350h A Driver’s Car?

Lexus

The luxury brand has updated this compact crossover to feel smoother and quieter than before, and it has a bit more power, but the NX is far removed from any kind of driver’s car designation.

What the hybrid powertrain offers up in fuel efficiency it gives back in terms of responsiveness. Lexus quotes a 6.7-second 0-60 time; and while I guess I believe that’s accurate, any time I floored the car from a standstill, the thrashiness of the acceleration experience was such that it brought very little joy. Full-throttle is kind of a “break glass in case of emergency” proposition.

I mentioned that there were very few corners in the drive route, which may have been intentional. A few times I got goofy and pushed the NX hard around traffic circles to get a sense of the grip; while the car technically went in the prescribed direction, the vertical motion/softness in the suspension was less than impressive.

Lexus

Lexus did improve the suspension response and chassis rigidity, but I think the improvements largely come into play with rough road mitigation and not flinging the thing into a corner.

I also feel compelled to point out that, while this NX is quieter than the outgoing car, there’s still a lot of unpleasant noise from the powertrain that makes its way into the cabin. Not ideal.

Stick to straight roads, a few mph over the speed limit, with the excellent (optional) Mark Levinson stereo cranked, and you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more.

How To Build The Lexus NX The Right Way

Lexus

Given my issues with the hybrid powertrain, I suspect the right way to buy the NX is with the PHEV system. Still, the standard hybrid will no doubt make a strong value proposition in terms of purchase price (or lease rate) and running costs.

For a no-nonsense luxury SUV I think the NX 350h in silver (because I have class), with the lovely red-orange Abalos interior trim, and the Levinson audio.

Unfortunately, we still don’t have exact pricing for the ‘27 model year so it’s hard to do a perfect value-for-dollar analysis, but I suspect the NX hybrid in the low $50k range will feel bang-on.

HotCars Take: Love It, Leave It, or Mod It?

Lexus

The new NX is a nice evolution of the outgoing SUV, and for previous Lexus owners looking to update, or perhaps downsize, the suite of economy, tech, and comfort will be compelling.

With that said, compact SUVs like the Audi Q3 offer compelling alternatives for buyers who value driving dynamics and refinement over fuel economy. There are also truly impressive EVs approaching this price point – the Volvo EX60 says hello – for those looking for a whisper quiet drive, a ton of torque, and who aren’t afraid of a few electrons. You know who you are.

Then again, I did finish that podcast. And I’d happily head back to Ontario to knock out the next one… maybe that’s the point.

Base Trim Engine

2.5-L inline-4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

240 hp

Make

Lexus

Model

NX

Segment

Compact Luxury SUV

Pros & Cons

• Interior design and finishes are refreshingly modern and clean
• The infotainment software goes from being an NX weakness to one of our favorites in the segment
• Great seats and a banging stereo make this a great way to crush long drives

• The hybrid is not at all sporty.
• Weirdly high levels of in-cabin noise from the powertrain
• Good legroom but poor headroom for back seat passengers