Road Trip Rides: 2026 Lexus NX

By Jay Kana | Published February 20th, 2026

Photos by Jay Kana

Subscribe to the Modern Traveller Newsletter to get terrific travel articles like this one straight to your inbox!

The Lexus NX compact crossover is the brand’s best-selling vehicle and in 2025, it accounted for 35% of all Lexus Canada sales. It’s so popular, that sales were up 26.9% over 2024.
It’s available with a traditional gasoline engine, a hybrid system and a plug-in hybrid system, with the hybrid system being the most popular choice with a 46% take-rate.

The compact crossover segment is the most popular in Canada, with BMW’s X3 and the Genesis GV70 also being their brand’s best-selling vehicle.

What makes it so popular? It’s right-sized for ideally four occupants and in a pinch, you can put someone in the middle rear seat. There’s ample cargo space, it’s easy to drive and park, plus it’s packed with plenty of standard features and safety systems.

The model featured here is the 450h+ plug-in hybrid.

Key Info

Body type: Compact crossover
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder, 306 horsepower, e-CVT for the plug-in hybrid
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 6.9 litres per 100/km combined, 2.8 Le/100 km
Electric range: 60 kilometres
Fuel tank size: 57 litres
Total range: 886 combining fuel and battery
Cargo space: 643 litres
Towing capacity: Up to 2,800 pounds

What makes the 2026 Lexus NX a good road trip vehicle?
Regardless of which powertrain you choose, they all drive well. My plug-in hybrid tester features ample power and the up-to 60 kilometres of electric range is helpful to save some fuel.
The drive feel is smooth and the NX absorbs most of the road imperfections, is relatively quiet at higher speeds when the gasoline engine engages.
The standard all-wheel drive is ideal for Canada’s varying weather conditions and the smooth acceleration makes driving on the highway and city roads comfortable.

The rear seats offer a decent amount of head and leg space that will keep the two occupants happy as you adventure on the open road, including heated outboard seats.

Standard features of the 2026 Lexus NX plug-in hybrid include heated and ventilated front seats, a 14-inch infotainment screen, eight-way power front passenger seat, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and dual-zone climate controls. One drawback is that the climate controls are embedded at the bottom of the infotainment screen. Yes, there are two large physical dials for adjusting the temperature but it’s a trend in the auto industry that might revert back to more physical controls.
The infotainment system itself is easy to use with clear menus and a responsive touch screen.
The electronically-assisted door handles might not be for everyone’s taste. Thankfully, there’s a manual latch system as a backup.

There’s a long list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Bonus points go to the spacious double-hinged centre console, where it opens both left to right and right to left, reducing inconvenience to the driver’s right arm.
Additional bonus points to the hidden storage cubby beneath the sliding wireless charging tray!

From daily life to road trips, the Lexus NX is an excellent choice for those who want luxury, a smooth drive feel, plenty of technology and renowned reliability.

3 Perks

Luxurious cabin with plenty of standard features
Impressive driving dynamics
Hybrid system is one of the best

3 Irks

Screen-based climate controls
Expensive options
Electronically-assisted door handles