SPIED: 2027 Lexus RX facelift spotted at the Nurburgring

If there's another luxury vehicle that put Lexus on the map, it's probably the RX. Yes, the LS kick-started what the Lexus brand is today, but the RX introduced the market to a luxury crossover that combines sedan-like comfort with the practicality and capabilities of an SUV in a passenger vehicle.

From its humble beginnings in 1998, the Lexus RX is now on its fifth generation and is showing no signs of stopping, as the brand continues to make new luxury crossover offerings. But since the fifth-generation model has been out since the middle of 2022 (arrived here in PH back in early 2023), the RX is due for a minor model change, and our spies were able to spot the refreshed version being tested.

Our eagle-eyed spies managed to see a camouflaged prototype of the updated 2027 Lexus RX being driven at the Nurburgring recently. Based on the photos our spies were able to take, the RX will have some changes on its front and rear fascias. While the camo livery makes it hard to see what Lexus has changed, it looks like the front grille will be getting some updates, including the front bumper.

By our estimates, the signature spindle grille will likely get a new pattern, while the grille and bumper designs could get some minor, if not radical updates. The changes at the rear are harder to tell, but we won't be surprised if it also gets some obvious changes here and there. Heck, perhaps we can expect the brand to give it new LED taillight graphics, a redesigned bumper, and a slightly tweaked tailgate.

Under the hood, the 2027 Lexus RX will most likely get the carried-over engines from the current model. That means the ICE RX 350 and the hybrid RX 350h & RX 500h F Sport models could be carried over for the 2027 model year update.

But with demand for electrified vehicles continuing to rise, Lexus might also reveal an upgraded version of the plug-in hybrid RX 450h+. Currently, this particular model only has an 18.1 kWh battery pack, which gives the crossover an EV range of up to 60 km. For the 2027 update, perhaps Lexus might introduce a bigger battery pack and a more powerful hybrid system to give it more range and better efficiency.

According to our spies, Lexus is expected to reveal the refreshed RX in late 2026 as a 2027 model year vehicle. With that, maybe Lexus will hold its official debut in Q4 just before the year ends.