Lexus SUVs are among the most popular luxury vehicles on the market, and when taken as a whole, the brand’s sport-ute lineup is enjoying some decent sales performance so far this year. That said, credit for the boost lies squarely on the shoulders of its crossovers, rather than the body-on-frame GX and LX bruisers – which are straight up not having a good time in 2026. Nevertheless, the hot-selling Lexus RX is leading the charge with strong sales in May 2026, followed closely by the compact NX and three-row TX.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L I4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
2-speed CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
183 HP @6000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
233 lb.-ft. @ 4300 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
37/34/36 MPG
Base Trim Battery Type
Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
Hot Sellers With No Signs Of Slowing Down
The industry’s most popular luxury SUV looks like it’ll retain its crown for 2026 as well. The two-row Lexus RX found 11,075 new owners last month, a healthy uptick of 25.1 percent compared to May 2025 despite fewer dealer selling days. That puts the RX’s year-to-date sales at 50,068 units, an 11.8 percent improvement over last year’s 44,780.
2023 Lexus RX rear 3/4 angle in blueLexus
Lexus’ second best-selling crossover is still the NX small SUV, but its lead is shrinking. Its 6,239 sales last month represented a 10.3 percent drop compared to May 2025, which allowed the larger TX to close the gap a bit. That three-row SUV found its way to the garages of 5,444 customers, a slight decrease of 52 from the same month last year but a net 2.9 percent increase in sales when taking the fewer selling days into account.
2024 Lexus TX Exterior front 3/4 dynamic shot on roadLexus
Flagship SUVs Suffer In Sales
Notably, however, Lexus’ first-ever SUV isn’t doing so hot in 2026. The LX, available in both 600 and 700h trim levels, only moved 613 units in May 2026, making it the automaker’s least popular SUV offering. So far this year, Lexus has sold 3,097 examples of the flagship sport-ute, compared to 3,150 vehicles during the first five months of 2025.
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The Lexus GX is suffering a worse sales decline – although higher overall numbers – than its big brother. Last month, Lexus dealers moved 2,104 examples of the Land Rover Defender rival, a decline of 35.6 percent compared to May 2025. Year-to-date sales paint a similarly bleak picture, with 12,537 units representing a 23.9 percent drop.
2024 Lexus GX Overtrail Nori Green frontLexus
Some Surprises In Store For Lexus Dealers
Despite sales of EVs lagging overall, the electric RZ had a great month, with 1,140 sales in May compared to 911 the year before. Year to date, Lexus has found 6,810 homes for its stylish, comfortable EV, more than doubling the 3,016 units it sold in the same time period in 2025. Clearly, the update that brought more range and faster charging to the 2026 model is resonating with buyers.
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While some fresh new specs are responsible for the RZ’s improved showroom performance, we can’t attribute the same to the still-popular Lexus UX entry-level crossover. Launched in 2019 and mildly updated in 2023, the UX is among the most dated vehicles on the market today, yet it still sold a reasonable 1,176 units in May 2026, an improvement of 33 percent relative to last year.
Overall, Lexus SUV sales hit 27,791 units last month, just barely improving on May 2025’s 27,053 sales. Through the first five months of the year, around 124,874 buyers have opted for a Lexus sport-ute, compared to 124,192 sales in the same time period last year.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
2026 Lexus LX F Sport Handling Front 3/4 angle in grayLexus
The Lexus GX and LX could be suffering from the fallout of Toyota’s widespread recalls of the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 found under the hoods of those luxury SUVs, as well as the Tundra pickup and Sequoia family ute. Reliability problems are uncommon for Lexus, and we’re sure the division is eager to have a fix for that problematic V6 before it foists them upon its loyal customers. Until then, the stalwart RX and its NX and TX siblings can carry the banner.
Source: Lexus
