Next-Gen Lexus NX May Add V-6 Engine Option

After over five years on the market, the Lexus NX is set for a redesign. While the official release date hasn’t been confirmed, we expect the next-generation model to debut within the next year. Meanwhile, recent trademark filings for “NX 250” and “NX 350” by Toyota—Lexus’ parent company—in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. suggest new powertrain options could be coming to the compact crossover SUV.

Since the next NX is expected to be built on the same Global Architecture-K platform as the latest Toyota RAV4, it’s likely that the Lexus crossover will share Toyota’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine—if the “250” in “NX 250” is any indication.

Although Lexus’s numerical naming doesn’t always directly reflect engine size (for example, the LS 500 uses a twin-turbo 3.5-liter six-cylinder), it often does. If that holds true here, the new NX may replace its current 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with the RAV4’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine. Expect Lexus to tune this engine for slightly higher output compared to the RAV4’s 203 horsepower.

Similarly, the “350” in “NX 350” probably refers to a V-6 option for the upcoming crossover. While the RAV4 is only offered with four-cylinder engines, its platform also supports models like the Avalon, Camry, and Highlander, all of which offer a 3.5-liter V-6.