Lexus RX styling changes are setting the tone for a revised Lexus NX that is expected to reach the U.S. in the 2027 or 2028 model year. The compact SUV has been largely unchanged since June 2021, and the update would bring exterior styling changes, a redesigned interior, and revised hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems.
The most visible changes appear outside. The revised NX is expected to bring sharper headlamp graphics, a revised spindle grille, triangular side bumper vents, and a sharper splitter and fog lamp design. The side profile looks virtually unchanged, with new 18- and 20-inch wheels expected to be the only side-profile revision offered in the U.S.
Lexus NX and MY2027/28
MY2027/28 timing also points to possible changes at the rear. Lexus could tweak the tail lamp graphics and redesign the lower bumper with that update. For buyers, the practical takeaway is simple: the next NX is not a clean-sheet replacement, but it is moving far enough beyond a trim tweak to reset the model’s look and cabin layout.
Spy shots suggest the dashboard has been redesigned to look slimmer and more elegant. The current 14-inch touchscreen with a curvy housing and integrated volume dials may give way to a more symmetrically designed, tablet-style 14-inch unit similar to the one seen in the all-new ES. The restyled NX may also get a new climate control panel with capacitive touch buttons, new trim surfaces, improved material quality, a new wireless smartphone charger with higher output and cooling, higher-output USB Type-C ports, and massaging front seats.
NX PHEV powertrain changes
The powertrain changes are more measurable. The incoming NX will offer both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. The hybrid version should use Lexus’s fifth-generation 2.5-liter hybrid system with an integrated eAxle, and output may stay around 240 hp while EPA-estimated fuel economy climbs from today’s 39 mpg combined into the low-to-mid 40s.
The PHEV side points to a bigger jump. The new PHEV may be based on Toyota’s sixth-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain, with output rising to 325 hp and battery capacity increasing to 22.7 kWh from 18.1 kWh. EPA-estimated electric range could increase from 37 miles to around 45 miles, and DC charging at up to 50 kW may be limited to higher trims rather than standard across the lineup.
For buyers waiting on the next NX, the open question is timing inside the U.S. window: whether the updated model lands as a 2027 model year vehicle or a 2028 model year vehicle is not set. The rest of the package, though, already points to a longer-cycle SUV getting a clearer visual update and a more meaningful efficiency step than a routine refresh.
