2026 Lexus RX Upgrades Tech, Lowers Price on PHEV Model

For 2026, the Lexus RX gains additional standard features, updated controls, and a new entry-level plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option, all while keeping price increases minimal.

The newly introduced RX450h+ Luxury is priced at $105,350 before on-road costs, coming in $18,300 cheaper than the Sports Luxury, which had been the only PHEV variant available until now.

It’s priced $8150 above the RX350h Luxury AWD, but the premium brings added features such as adaptive suspension, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and ventilated front seats.

Lexus Australia also says RX models built from September 2025 will benefit from refined haptic steering wheel controls and an improved climate control system for smoother, more intuitive operation.

Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions now include Vehicle Approach Notice, Lexus’ term for an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) that produces a low-speed warning sound to help alert pedestrians.

A wireless phone charger is also now standard across the entire lineup. Previously, it was included on all grades except the Luxury trim, where it was bundled within Enhancement Pack 1.

All variants see a small price rise for 2026, with increases capped at $265 for the entry-level front-wheel-drive RX350h Luxury.

“These updates, along with the introduction of the RX450h+ Luxury grade, highlight Lexus’ ongoing commitment to refined innovation and expanding the luxury of choice for our customers,” a Lexus Australia spokesperson said.

Choosing the RX450h+ Luxury over the higher-priced RX450h+ Sports Luxury means giving up a number of premium features, including:

Features not included on RX450h+ Luxury:

• 21-inch alloy wheels

• 3-projector bi-LED headlights

• Cornering lights

• 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio

• 19-way power front seats with memory and 4-way power lumbar

• Heated and ventilated outboard rear seats

• Multi-colour ambient lighting

• Heated steering wheel with woodgrain trim

• Woodgrain interior inlays

• Digital rear-view mirror

• Semi-aniline leather-accented upholstery

• Manual rear sunshades

• Surround-view camera

• Intelligent Parking Assist

However, the RX450h+ Luxury still comes well equipped with an extensive list of comfort, technology, and safety features, such as:

Standard features on RX450h+ Luxury:

• 19-inch alloy wheels

• Adaptive suspension

• Single-projector bi-LED headlights with automatic high-beam

• Panoramic sunroof

• Rain-sensing wipers

• 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• DAB digital radio

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster

• Head-up display

• 12-speaker Panasonic audio system

• Five USB-C ports

• 8-way power front seats with 2-way lumbar

• Heated and ventilated front seats

• Leather upholstery

• Wireless phone charger

• Power-adjustable steering column

• Single-colour ambient lighting

• Adaptive cruise control

• Autonomous emergency braking (front and reverse)

• Blind-spot monitoring

• Lane-keep assist

• Lane Tracing Assist (lane-centring)

• Rear cross-traffic alert

• Safe exit assist

• Front and rear parking sensors

• Reversing camera

Both RX450h+ variants use the same plug-in hybrid setup, pairing a 136kW/227Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors—one producing 134kW/270Nm at the front and another delivering 40kW/121Nm at the rear. Power is sent through a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with energy stored in a lithium-ion battery.

Combined output is 227kW, and Lexus lists identical efficiency figures for both trims: 1.3L/100km fuel consumption and an electric-only range of 85km on the NEDC test cycle.

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