New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs, Engine, Redesign

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs, Engine, Redesign  –  If anything’s going to be the bridge to an electric future, it’s the plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), which runs fuel-free on a stored charge but defaults to conventional hybrid operation when that’s depleted.

Redesigned for New 2026, the second-generation Lexus NX includes gas-only and conventional models, just as before, but adds a PHEV powertrain for the very first time. The New 2026 Lexus NX 450+ runs from $62,065 to $78,465, while I had the $77,765 Executive trim. All pricing includes a non-negotiable $2,115 freight charge, while all NX models are all-wheel drive.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

Think about being all relaxed and cozy in your most comfortable chair, and you’ve pretty much got the NX 450+. The seats are supportive; both front chairs have eight-way power adjustment, and there’s a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. You can set the climate control to send air just to occupied seats, saving battery when you’re on electric-only. The ride is deliciously comfortable as well – smooth but not too soft – and the cabin is quiet. Overall, this is one of the top vehicles for interior comfort that I’ve driven in a while.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

The NX 450+ includes such standard items as 20-inch wheels, a power tailgate, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-inch infotainment screen, premium stereo, heated steering wheel and auto-dimming mirrors. The Executive package includes a head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and premium LED headlights, but also a couple of items I would have expected in the base trim, such as a wireless charger, auto-levelling headlights, and a hands-free tailgate.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

Engine and Performance

The NX 450h+ shares its powertrain with the Toyota RAV4 Prime. It has a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that makes 181 hp on its own, and 304 hp when combined with the hybrid system, and with a 6.6-kW onboard charger. It’s officially rated for 61 km on electricity alone when fully charged, which takes about 2.5 hours on a 240-volt charger. (While it takes longer, you can also top it up from a regular 120-volt outlet; you don’t need to install a home charger as you’d want with a full electric.) When that depletes, the system automatically reverts to gas-electric hybrid operation.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

You can choose to start your journey on battery; run in auto mode, which automatically switches between battery or hybrid, depending on conditions; or save the charge for later by running on hybrid and then switching to battery-only. That means it’s possible to use the combined gas-electric system for the highway, when a battery depletes faster, and then tackle city streets with that stored charge, where electric operation is more favourable.

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Fuel Economy

I charged the vehicle whenever it sat in my driveway, and while I haven’t received the hydro bill yet, it’s immensely satisfying to drive more than 500 km and pay $5.70 for gasoline. On electric operation, the NX 450+ is rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 2.8 Le/100 km (energy used converted to equivalent gasoline energy). When I was in that mode, I averaged 6.8 L/100 km. This Lexus doesn’t yet have much similarly sized, plug-in luxury competition, but one example, the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV, is rated a 3.0 Le/100 km, and 7.1 L/100 km on gasoline. New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Safety Features

The Executive package adds items such as a panoramic-view rear monitor and a self-parking feature. That last one is slower than parking it yourself, as all of these systems are, but it works really well and does everything, including changing gears, applying throttle, and finally putting itself in park. Later in the model year, a remote parking system will be available that will allow all that to be done without anyone in the driver’s seat.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Price and Release Date

It’s a hefty step from the $62,065 base trim to my Executive at $77,765, thanks to such items as 20-inch wheels, more driver-assist technology, higher-grade headlights, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and more. The range-topping F Sport Series 3 then adds variable suspension, F Sport steering wheel and seats, sportier drive mode settings, and F Sport styling cues for $700 more. Should you not want PHEV, the regular NX 350h hybrid, also all-new, runs from $52,015 to $67,815.  New 2026 Lexus NX 450h Specs

The Lincoln Corsair comes in at slightly less than the 450h+, running from roughly $60,000 to about $73,000 with most option packages. If you’re willing to forego some of the Lexus luxury features, the Toyota RAV4 Prime can be fully kitted to its top level for $59,000 or so (and there are government incentives available at the federal and provincial levels that could see that price drop by thousands of dollars).