Lexus has pulled the covers off a facelifted NX, and the headline is that its best selling model in Australia is going hybrid only. The updated Lexus NX drops pure petrol versions in favour of petrol hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, and lands here some time in 2027. The current car is pictured.
What changes
Up front there is a flatter, sharper spindle grille and new headlights with twin horizontal running lights. The bigger news sits inside, where a redesigned dashboard borrows heavily from the new ES sedan, joined by a smaller steering wheel and a lower seating position. At the rear, the tail lights gain extra L motifs and an illuminated Lexus wordmark.
Cartell Assessment
The NX is Lexus Australia's volume seller, so dropping pure petrol is a meaningful call. It follows the wider Toyota group move away from petrol only models in this class, and it should sharpen the NX against the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. The cabin rethink matters most, because the current interior is starting to feel its age.
AU Outlook
Australian pricing, grades and timing are yet to be confirmed, with local details expected closer to the 2027 launch. Given the outgoing NX sits at the premium end of the mid size class, expect the hybrid only range to carry a modest rise when specifications firm up.
