Lexus Puts U.S. Numbers on the 2027 NX: 324-HP Plug-In, 45 EV Miles, NACS Standard
U.S. figures for the hybrid-only 2027 NX: 244 hp for the 350h, 324 hp and an estimated 45 electric miles for the plug-in. Pricing is still to come.
Lexus has put U.S. numbers on the 2027 NX, and the plug-in hybrid carries the story. The NX 450h+ now makes a preliminary 324 hp, is good for a manufacturer-estimated 45 miles on electricity alone, and comes with DC fast charging and a NACS-style charge port on every grade. The NX 350h hybrid gets a preliminary 244 hp. A gas-only NX no longer exists for America.
The spec sheet, published by Lexus on October 20, fills the gaps left by the September global debut, which confirmed the hybrid-only lineup and the larger battery but stopped short of U.S. output, fuel economy, or where the cars will be built.
What the plug-in gains over the 2026 model
The 450h+ keeps its 2.5-liter four-cylinder but gets a stronger front motor, up from 180 hp to 203 hp, with the 54-hp rear motor carried over. That takes total system output from 304 hp to 324 hp, all of it preliminary until Lexus finalizes the figures. The battery delivers 8% more output and 8% more capacity than before.
The range gain is the number buyers will notice. The 2026 NX 450h+ carries an EPA rating of 37 miles on electricity; Lexus now estimates 45 for the 2027 car, an eight-mile improvement. It still trails the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e and its EPA-rated 54 miles, so the NX moves up the class without taking its top spot.
Charging is where the plug-in changes the most. Every 450h+ now has a DC fast-charging port that Lexus says takes the pack from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes at 50 kW. On a 240-volt home outlet, a 10-to-100% charge takes about 2.5 hours. The port itself uses the NACS style, the connector Tesla popularized, though Lexus hasn't said whether the NX will be able to use Tesla's Supercharger network.
The hybrid barely moves
The NX 350h's changes are smaller. Its 2.5-liter engine makes 186 hp and 173 lb-ft, paired with a 160-hp front motor and, on all-wheel-drive versions, a 54-hp rear motor. Net output is a preliminary 244 hp, 4 hp more than the 2026 car. E-Four all-wheel drive is standard on F SPORT and Luxury and optional on Premium and Premium+.
Lexus's own fuel-economy estimates, pending official EPA ratings, run as follows (city/highway/combined):
- NX 350h FWD: 44/35/40 mpg
- NX 350h AWD: 42/34/38 mpg
- NX 350h F SPORT: 41/34/38 mpg
- NX 450h+: 39/35/37 mpg
- NX 450h+ F SPORT: 38/34/36 mpg
If you're weighing the hybrid against the plug-in, our five-year cost comparison of Toyota's hybrid, plug-in, and EV lays out how the math works for the corporate sibling.
Cabin: the big screen is standard, the fragrance is free
A 14-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital cluster are standard on all four grades, Premium, Premium+, F SPORT, and Luxury. Sensory Concierge, which ties cabin lighting, audio, climate, seat heating, and one of three fragrances into preset moods, is now standard on Luxury and F SPORT rather than optional. Luxury also gets a 17-speaker, 1,800-watt Mark Levinson system as standard; F SPORT can add it as an option. Lexus says engine noise in the cabin drops by 20% compared with the 2026 NX, and the steering wheel shrinks by 0.4 inch to 14.2 inches.
Nine exterior colors are on offer, with Shaded Ivy new for 2027, Incognito reserved for F SPORT, and Iridium replacing Atomic Silver. Inside, five colors include the new Abalos and an F SPORT-only Radiant Red. F SPORT rides on exclusive 20-inch wheels, and Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 is standard across the range.
Built in Canada and Japan, priced later
The NX 350h will come from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Ontario and from Toyota Motor Kyushu in Japan. The 450h+ is Japan-only, built at Kyushu.
What Lexus hasn't said is what the car will cost. The 2026 NX 350h starts in the mid-$40,000s with destination and the 450h+ near $60,000, and Lexus has tended to raise entry prices on its 2027 models, as it did with the RX after dropping its base trim. It has also been willing to cut plug-ins outright: the 2027 TX lost its PHEV. The NX goes the other way, making the plug-in its headline act.
Also missing: an exact on-sale date for the U.S., official EPA ratings, and acceleration figures. Lexus says pricing and further grade details will follow closer to launch, with the NX due in global markets by the end of 2026.
