2026 Lexus NX 450h+ F SPORT: Stop Buying The Wrong One

Usually, the smart money Lexus is the base hybrid. It’s efficient, comfortable, and reasonably priced. The 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ F SPORT Handling is none of those things. It is complicated, it weighs 4,500 pounds, and it costs over $60,000. But after a week of driving, I’m starting to think the smart money is wrong. For 2026, Lexus has finally paired the plug-in hybrid powertrain with the F SPORT Handling package in Canada, adding the Adaptive Variable Suspension and performance dampers to the heaviest SUV in the lineup. The result is a car that finally feels finished—but you have to pay Porsche money to get it. In this review, we diagnose whether the adaptive dampers can manage the mass of the 18.1 kWh battery, if the CVT ruins the "F Sport" experience, and why this might be the only NX actually worth the premium. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 The $65,000 Question 0:45 What "F SPORT" Actually Means 2:00 Damping vs. Weight (The Fix) 4:00 The Powertrain Paradox (304 HP vs. CVT) 5:45 Real-World EV Range & Charging 6:25 Interior: The "Bank Vault" Factor 8:00 Verdict: The "Finished" Car The 2025 Lexus RX 500h Black Line Is a 366HP Hybrid That Actually Drives Like It Means It https://youtu.be/QOAdoIBjuk8 ——————————————————————— // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link) /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com/ /// SUBSCRIBE Subscribe NOW to Brian Makse's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=brianmakse /// SOCIAL Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack Spotify: https://sptfy.com/brianmakse Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/ /// MORE About Brian: http://makse.com/about /// WHAT I'M LISTENING TO Real AF With Andy Frisella https://andyfrisella.com/blogs/realaf-podcast Be sure to let us know what you think about this video and smash the subscribe button if you haven’t already! Test vehicles are provided by the respective manufacturers for review purposes, unless otherwise noted, and all opinions are our own. Music © 2026 Russell Soares (russellsoares.com), used with permission, all rights reserved. #Lexus #LexusNX #PHEV #BrianMakse