Fast Facts | 2026 Lexus NX 350h F Sport Handling AWD
⚡ Power: 240-hp hybrid system with two electric motors and AWD
🔋 Efficiency: EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined; saw 31 mpg in freezing conditions
🛞 Ride: Adaptive dampers stiffen in Sport modes and soften in Normal and Eco
🎨 Design: F Sport styling adds 20-inch wheels, mesh grille, badges, and sport seats
📏 Space: Comfortable for couples; rear cargo fits a full week of luggage
🛠️ Tech: Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and a driver-focused dual-screen layout
A More Focused, More Stylish NX
If you’re looking for an SUV that’s luxurious and fuel-efficient, Lexus has long been a go-to choice. For 2026, the Lexus NX 350h is sandwiched between the subcompact UX and the family-friendly midsized RX. It gets a number of tweaks and shuffles that show how well it continues to hold up against rivals from Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Lincoln.
Want to understand exactly how Lexus squeezes 40 mpg combined out of a luxury SUV? Check out this simple breakdown: How Hybrid Cars Work
The revised NX 350h doesn’t try to be all things to all people. Instead, it focuses on delivering a comfortable daily commute, all while cutting a striking profile and sipping fuel more efficiently than you might expect. With only a handful of minor quirks, it's a compelling package for couples who’ll occasionally need extra space.
F Sport Handling Trim Injects New Visual Passion
I drove the 2026 Lexus NX 350h F Sport Handling AWD, a trim newly available for the standard hybrid this year. It was previously reserved for plug-in or gas-only models and looks and feels like the most potent version of the crossover.
It’s that first part — the looks — that will be most relevant to NX buyers. The F Sport's styling includes 20-inch rims, sport seats, a thicker steering wheel, a mesh grille, and as many F-Sport badges on the fenders and upholstery as good taste allows. Together, it’s an effective visual upgrade over the standard hybrid, and one that gives the crossover an almost hot hatch look.
If you’re curious how Volvo interprets the future of compact electrified luxury, this road test delivers a sharp look at the brand’s smallest SUV: Volvo EX30 Road Test
Performance-wise, the “Handling” part of the package centers on an adaptive suspension that firms up in Sport or Sport+ modes and softens in Normal and Eco modes. Think of it as a dial that lets the NX 350h’s ride bumpier (at its most aggressive) or smoother, depending on your mood.
Don’t Get Too Excited About F Sport Performance
If I sound dismissive of the F Sport Handling’s performance, that’s because I don’t think it's the most interesting aspect of the NX 350h’s personality. Yes, cornering is somewhat flatter thanks to adaptive dampers, but this isn’t the kind of vehicle that rewards aggressive driving.
Instead, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and its pair of electric motors are much better at delivering solid acceleration on two-lane highways and when passing on the interstate. Together, they produce 240 horsepower, roughly similar to what many turbocharged four-cylinder motors offer in gas-only SUVs of a similar size.
If you’re curious how a luxury SUV can hit 40 mpg combined, this explainer puts hybrid efficiency into everyday terms:
The hand-off between electric and gas power is smooth when pulling away from a stop, and while the hybrid’s continuously variable automatic transmission can sometimes peg the engine’s revs at a noisier-than-expected level, if you aren’t always flooring the gas, the cabin remains pleasantly peaceful.
The NX 350h also features paddle shifters and a Sport mode for its gearbox, giving drivers access to fully “virtual” ratios. In practice, swapping gears sometimes has no real effect on engine or vehicle speed, another sign that the F Sport is best admired rather than pushed hard.
From a fuel efficiency perspective, the hybrid is EPA-rated for 40 mpg combined, which is impressive for its power and size. In the near-freezing temperatures with the climate control blasting and snow slipping under its all-season tires, I squeezed 31 mpg out of the Lexus.
A Well-Designed Package Inside and Out
When you're not trying to set land speed records, it’s easy to enjoy what the Lexus NX 350h offers. I’m happy to report that the distinct gauge cluster screen sits in an honest-to-goodness binnacle instead of in the single-pane rectangle that merges gauges and infotainment found on so many modern luxury machines.
That means that the main screen also gets its own frame, angled toward the driver, with dials for volume and climate control integrated directly beneath. The larger display handles Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (both wirelessly), as well as a host of vehicle settings and info. Lexus has resisted stuffing too many settings into the smaller gauge screen, but there’s still a learning curve when navigating its context-sensitive steering wheel controls, which handle different commands depending on which on-screen menu you’ve activated. It’s a bit too complicated.
When I wasn't tapping on the spokes, my thumbs were gripping the thickly-padded (and heated) steering wheel, which, like everything else in the Lexus’ cabin, felt worthy of the vehicle’s premium price. There are no cut corners here, no nods to more pedestrian switchgear or materials. Even the well-bolstered F Sport seats weren’t overly pinchy.
The back seat is similarly well-trimmed, if not quite as roomy as some competitors, and I was able to fit a full week’s worth of luggage under the NX 350h’s cargo cover without having to fold down the back bench.
I encountered a few bugs with the adaptive cruise control, which occasionally missed rapidly slowing traffic ahead. In one instance, it rapidly accelerated the SUV into the back of a truck in standstill traffic. Each time I had to be quick with the brake pedal, which is a reminder that paying attention at all times is absolutely required when these systems are active.
If you want a glimpse of where Lexus is heading in the next wave of electrified SUVs, this forward-looking roundup is a great place to start :Future EVs We Can’t Wait to Drive (BMW, Lexus, Hyundai, More)
The Closest Competitor Might Be The RX
With nearly every option (except the towing package) installed, my Lexus NX 350h F Sport Handling AWD had an MSRP just under $60,000. As a fuel-sipping, all-weather style piece whose all-wheel drive had little difficulty dispatching an unexpected blizzard, there’s a lot to recommend this SUV. Keep in mind, though, that once you approach this price point, there are larger and more powerful options available. You’ll need to decide if you want all the bells and whistles on a compact model like the NX or jump to a more spacious, if not quite as equipped, vehicle like Lexus’ own RX 350h hybrid.
🔍 More Lexus Hybrid Coverage
- 2025 Lexus LX 700h Review
A powerful hybrid luxury SUV that blends capability with surprising efficiency.
Read More ➜ - 2025 Lexus RX F Sport Review
A sharper, sportier take on Lexus’ popular midsize hybrid SUV.
Read More ➜ - 2025 Lexus TX 500h F Sport Performance
A larger three-row alternative with hybrid muscle and bold styling.
Read More ➜
