I have been a Lexus owner since 2000... a 2000 RX350, a 2011 RX450h, and for the past six weeks and 600 miles a 2026 NX 350h. My first NX. We bought this NX to "downsize" but ironically this NX is actually larger that the 2000 RX and not too much smaller than the 2011 RX. Cars have grown over the years! If you are shopping the NX, here are a couple of my early takes on the car compared to my older RX's:

*The NX feels solid, planted, and more agile than my earlier RX's. Ride quality seems great and it tracks well for its size.
*Fuel mileage is WAY better. (I was down to 20-21 in town and 28-30 on the highway with the 2011 RX.)
*Technology is MUCH improved. It took me some time to program the car but it's been worth it. It feels like a really safe car and I don't even mind the touch sensitive steering controls.
*I really like the adaptive cruise control and LOVE the self-parkling option. Fast and accurate.
*It's a good looking car although I wish it had a little less chrome (e.g. window surrounds).
*I've had zero problems getting around with a hitch mounted bike rack.

There are a few cons for me, including:
*While the Mark Levinson system is really good in the NX, it doesn't feel quite as rich and encompassing as on the RX (could be the size of the car).
*The NX feels under-powered to me. I miss the sound and the confident acceleration of the RX's six-cylinder.
*There is more road noise than I'm used to... maybe the run flats?
*Call me old fashioned by I miss the spare tire I had in the RX.

So far, so good with the NX. I don't plan on keeping this one forever... maybe four years. Then MAYBE go electric if that technology has advanced a little more...

 

I think audio systems have gone downhill generally across the board. Cost cutting. Almost all brands are owned by Harman which in turn is owned by Samsung.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harman_International

Your plan to not keep it forever and maybe 4 years is exactly how Lexus likes it. If you take it down to 3, they will like it even better.

 

No spare can be problematic. Spares should be mandatory in production. I really like our 2 NX’s but not comfortable with no spare on board. I do have the full kit Modern Spare however it is not always in the cargo.

 

We had a 2014 RX and would probably still have it, were it not totaled in an accident. We replaced it with a '25 NX 350. I agree: love the technological improvements, especially the lane centering and adaptive cruise control. And it is quicker than the older V-6: 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds with my Michelin CC tires. In Sport mode, it drives better than I need to, although honestly, we usually drive in Econ mode. We're getting around 22 mpg, which is what we got with our RX (yeah, yeah, yeah, shoulda bought the hybrid, but we drive about 5-6000 miles per yeah, so it's not too bad. And in the next election, Trump will eventually be replaced with someone less crazy, we hope).
The lack of a spare tire bothers me. There's the Lexus emergency service as well as through our insurance. Still....those skinny aftermarket kits look better all the time. Will they fit under the floor?

 

Ageed. I too also switched from RX to NX. I had 2nd Gen 2005 RX 330 and went to a 2025NX450h+. I find the handling and technology of my NX 450h+ superior to my RX. Because of the EV Power Train, it is quieter than my RX and my dad's 2nd Gen NX350h even when the ICE engine kicks in. It is similar in size to my RX overall. Although my RX because of its egg shape had more cargo space and there was more room in the backseat. My RX had more luxurious trim and little things like the automatic retracting tonneau cover, wood trim etc. My NX is quieter than my RX was. I looked at the new 5th gen RX, but it was just too big and for the same features and powertrains, the NX was the more Nimble RX that fit better at my stage of life. I do miss having a full size spare.