The 2026 Lexus NX 350 in Caviar. Photo: Lexus USA Newsroom.

2026 Lexus NX 350: Edison Buyers Guide

What the turbo actually feels like

The NX 350's 2.4-liter turbo four is a different animal from the NX 350h's hybrid four — it's not trying to sip fuel, it's trying to respond the instant you ask for power, and the 317 lb-ft of torque arrives low enough in the rev range that it does. Lexus pairs it with a conventional 8-speed automatic instead of the hybrids' eCVT, which means normal gear-shift feel rather than the rubber-band sensation some drivers associate with continuously variable transmissions. It's the quickest NX that isn't the plug-in, at 6.6 seconds to 60, and the only NX 350 grade offered is AWD — Lexus dropped the front-drive option along with the old NX 250 for 2026.

The trade-off is at the pump: 24 mpg combined is respectable for a compact luxury SUV with this kind of power, but it's a full 15-16 mpg behind the NX 350h on the same size of gas tank. Lexus recommends 91-octane premium fuel to get the rated output; the engine will run on 87-octane regular, but expect a modest hit to power and efficiency if you fill up that way regularly.

Four grades, one clear ladder — with one twist

Standard NX 350 opens at $44,825 with a 9.8-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen, Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, NuLuxe leatherette seating, a power liftgate, and heated front seats. Premium ($46,750) upgrades to the 14-inch touchscreen and adds more standard convenience content. Luxury ($50,890) swaps NuLuxe for genuine leather and rounds out the comfort ladder. F Sport Handling ($50,800) is the one that breaks the pattern — it's actually priced below Luxury on this powertrain, not above it, because it's a handling-focused trim rather than a luxury-content trim. It trades some of Luxury's plush finishes for Active Variable Suspension, front and rear performance dampers, 20-inch black alloy wheels, sport seats, and a sport steering wheel wrapped in perforated NuLuxe. Cross-shop it against the F Sport Handling guide before assuming Luxury is automatically the "higher" trim — on the NX 350, the sportier grade is the cheaper one.

What it gives up next to the hybrid

Every NX 350 buyer is implicitly choosing power delivery over efficiency versus the NX 350h, which starts almost $700 lower at the entry grade and returns 39-40 mpg combined instead of 24. If your daily driving is mostly local — the kind of stop-and-go Route 1 and Woodbridge Avenue traffic where a hybrid's electric-only crawl genuinely saves fuel — the 350h will save real money over ownership. The NX 350 makes more sense for drivers who do a lot of highway merging, want the more traditional automatic-transmission feel, or simply prioritize the turbo's throttle response over any mileage difference.

What buyers say

The NX 350's 2.4-liter turbo four. Photo: Lexus USA Newsroom.

Ali Abbas, a Master Certified Consultant on Lexus of Edison's own staff page, comes up repeatedly in reviews specifically tied to the NX 350. Edward M. wrote: "Buying my new SUV at Lexus of Edison was a very pleasant experience because it was exactly the type of SUV I wanted and with the knowledgeable help of Ali Abbas, we agreed upon a great price. Ali then took the time to install the Bluetooth functions between my iPhone 15 and that of the Lexus 350 NX SUV... Next day Ali followed up with a phone call to find out if I needed any more help." Sal A., an existing owner, described what happens after the sale: "My experience has been excellent every time I visit the dealership. From the time I bought my NX-350, both Riz and Mohammed have provided outstanding service... It's clear that customer satisfaction is their top priority."

Frequently asked questions

Is AWD standard on the NX 350, or is FWD available?

AWD is the only configuration Lexus offers on the NX 350 for 2026. The front-wheel-drive gas NX (the old NX 250) has been discontinued; if you want front-wheel drive on a 2026 NX, the NX 350h hybrid is the only powertrain that offers it.

What's the 0-60 time on the NX 350?

About 6.6 seconds, per Lexus's own published figure — quicker than either NX 350h configuration, though not as quick as the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid's 6.0-second estimate.

Does the NX 350 F Sport Handling cost more than Luxury?

No — on this powertrain specifically, F Sport Handling ($50,800) is priced slightly below Luxury ($50,890). It's a different kind of upgrade (suspension and handling hardware) rather than a strictly "higher" trim, so don't assume price order carries over from other Lexus model lines.

Is premium gas required?

Recommended, not strictly required. Lexus specifies 91-octane premium for full rated power and efficiency on the turbo engine; 87-octane regular will run but with a performance and mileage trade-off.

Next step

See how the NX 350 stacks up against the NX 350h hybrid and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, or head straight to the pricing & leasing guide for New Jersey-specific tax and lease math. Current NX 350 inventory is on Lexus of Edison's new-vehicle search.

All 2026 Lexus NX guides

• 2026 Lexus NX overview
• 2026 Lexus NX 350h
• 2026 Lexus NX 450h+
• 2026 Lexus NX F Sport Handling
• Lexus NX service & repair in Edison
• 2026 Lexus NX pricing & leasing in Edison