Lexus NX vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Lexus NX, despite being a few years into its second generation, maintained a fresh appearance with its well-integrated styling elements. The design featured chunky fenders, headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, and taillights connected by a thin strip, all anchored by the distinctive Lexus spindle grille. While it wasn't as classically handsome as some competitors like the Genesis GV70 or Volvo XC60, it avoided the awkwardness seen in models like the Audi Q5 or BMW X3. The design team at Lexus refined the existing recipe, ensuring that elements like the oversized grille and LED DRLs appeared intentional and cohesive, rather than mere visual enhancements. The NX's design choices, including the F Sport packages with adaptive dampers and black 20-inch wheels, contributed to its bold aesthetic, although the interior, particularly in the F Sport 3 trim, didn't quite meet luxury expectations, feeling more akin to high-end versions of the Toyota RAV4.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative and familiar design path, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with the Platinum trim adding a layer of luxury. However, the use of glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces highlighted the vehicle's value-oriented nature. The climate system was straightforward, with large knobs for temperature adjustments, but the infotainment interface had its quirks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Overall, the Grand Highlander Hybrid's design and interior focused on practicality and comfort, making it a sensible choice for families.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered a range of powertrain options, but the standard setup in the NX 350 F Sport 3 test car was underwhelming. It featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. While Lexus claimed a 7.0-second zero to 100 km/h time, the sluggish transmission made achieving this difficult in real-world conditions. The NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid models appeared more promising on paper, with the former generating 240 hp and the latter 304 hp. However, the NX's indifferent chassis tuning and firm dampers in the F Sport 3 package resulted in an uncomfortable ride and unengaging driving experience. Despite efforts to reduce noise, wind noise at highway speeds detracted from the cabin's serenity.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max, on the other hand, emphasized performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission that avoided the droning common in CVTs. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, achieving 8.8 L/100 km combined, it offered impressive towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. During testing, the Hybrid Max demonstrated rewarding acceleration and a soft, isolating ride quality, although it exhibited some vertical bounding and lateral rocking on uneven surfaces. The handling was secure at moderate speeds, but the vehicle's size became apparent on winding roads. Overall, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max delivered a satisfying blend of performance and comfort.

The 2026 Lexus NX offered competitive passenger space for a compact luxury SUV, but with some compromises. Rear-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC, though legroom was slightly less generous. Front-seat legroom was on par with the Audi and Mercedes, but the Acura offered more. The front seats felt somewhat constrained, with limited headroom and hindered outward visibility due to the deep dashboard and large exterior mirrors. Cargo space measured 643 litres with the rear seats up and 1,328 litres with them folded, trailing behind competitors. The NX's towing capacity of 907 kilograms was also below class-leading figures.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space and versatility. It provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with more than 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a smart and upscale interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. However, some storage locations were unlined, potentially contributing to noise and vibration. The second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row, which offered reasonable comfort for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded and 2,761 litres with the second row down, nearly matching the capacity of a minivan.

The 2026 Lexus NX came equipped with a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 14-inch display available on higher packages. All models featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and six USB ports. Higher-priced packages offered a head-up display and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The infotainment system included cloud-based navigation and voice recognition, though some features required data connectivity subscriptions. The 14-inch touchscreen was well-placed, but the touch slider for fan speed adjustment was awkward. The voice recognition system responded to basic commands but struggled with more specific requests.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, in XLE trim, featured a 7-inch digital driver display with traditional analog gauges, while Limited and Platinum trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. All models had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services provided features like automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were minor drawbacks. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Lexus NX was equipped with the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, which included features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane centring assist. Additional driver-assist features included park assist, front cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The NX received a 2025 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top scores in most crash tests, though it missed the highest award due to an "Acceptable" score in the moderate overlap front crash test. The NHTSA had not yet published safety ratings for the current-generation NX.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander's safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.