Hi, I owned a Toyota Prius for 18 years and wanted to keep it even longer but a major repair more than the car's worth came up and I bought a RAV4 and don't like it. It's too big for me and I really miss a hybrid. Been trying to buy a 2026 NX 350h Luxury AWD since October 2025 and was ghosted about a test drive so gave up. Contacted a different sales person in January and was offered (I did not ask) to order a custom build if I didn't mind waiting 3-4 months. Unfortunately, I have to work with New Country, Latham. Not a pleasant experience so far. I should have come here sooner.

When I push to get the order started they stall on getting back to me and push an allocation. Maybe they didn't count on me not being in a hurry and not minding the 3-4 month wait because they keep saying "but you can get the car much sooner." To which I reply, "I don't mind waiting." I started calling around. Some sales ppl said they can't custom order (Ramsey, NJ). Then another (Balise Lexus, Springfield, MA) said they could, had a call in to Lexus, but then ghosted me.

Is keeping the build option on the Lexus site a known bait-and-switch tactic? Gives customer the illusion they can order one then once in the door push the allocations with a bunch of extras? Are custom orders actually possible? Someone is lying.

I'm hoping to order atomic silver and thought it would look fantastic with Macadamia interior until I started reading about upkeep. I'd probably still get it if the seats were all leather and easy to wipe off. I wish they didn't put that microfiber stuff in the mix. And can't get NuLuxe on the luxury model (don't want to give up panoramic roof to go to Premium). I'm neat and clean in general but don't know if I want to be that hypervigilant. I'm thinking Palomino now.

 

The dealers we shopped had allotments and we claimed an incoming NX. Also bought a 2nd NX off the lot that just came in. Each had some options we did not want but not a big deal. The options on top of the sticker would have been a deal breaker. Paint, wheel, interior protection, LoJack, etc... I'd buy somewhere else if the window sticker is jacked up. Look for an incoming NX and be slightly flexible. Myself I went for the Luxury..it's fully loaded. The interiors (Pala & Maca) you like are beautiful. Welcome aboard and good luck....

 

What you describe seems to be a familiar story. Many dealers claim you cannot custom order any longer, while some claim you can. I can’t help but think the dealer that claims they can is simply able to intervene at an earlier stage of the allocation process where they can still specify things like paint colors and factory options, but they cannot control options that are simply regional choices. This is strictly my OPINION from following similar discussions across multiple Lexus subforums.

So to answer your question, yes the “build” section does seem a bit like a bait and switch tactic. I wish they would relabel it to “vehicle finder” and be more upfront about the feature on their site. Fortunately, I have been comfortable with models on the lot or allocations so I have not attempted a custom order myself. Good luck with your “order.”

 

The NX350h luxury is very hard to find, with the recent chip shortage due to AI demands, Lexus is using the chips for higher end models. My salesman told me they are selling NX350h before they hit the lot and at no discount. When you custom order a car from the dealer, it counts as one of their NX allocation, meaning they get 1 less car in their future shipment. The dealer rather sell you a car on the lot. My advice would be to look at sites like carguru or autotrader for cars with your colors. If you do find one that is too far, you could always have your dealer trade for it and truck it in. Good luck.

 

Did you get to know which specific type of chip is driving this shortage, for Lexus to be prioritizing such chips for higher-end models ?

 

It mostly the dram memory chips.

 

I've seen several auto reviewers claim that Toyota and Lexus plants in North America are running full out, no word on shortages of any kind. Wait times are still not great, several months on average if you can get a dealer to commit to your specific order, otherwise you're going to have to select from their allotment vehicles already in the queue.

 

https://www.pcauto.com/my/news/the-c...-in-2026-17826

 

Good luck on your search! I have a few things to note.
1. Make sure you test drive an NX - it is not much smaller than the RAV4, although the interior feels more compact in size.
2. I don't know of any microfiber on the luxury models. We have an NX450h Luxury with Macademia - the upkeep is harder than our Luxor Beige Porsche but not awful. The color is great, I'd go for it if you tend after your cars at all.
3. Try Lexus of Lehigh Valley. They are one of the biggest in the nation, deliver up and down the East Coast, and got this reputation from being transparent. While I did not buy there since another dealer had incoming the combo we wanted, they were quite helpful and would be my first call next time.

 

My dealer said they could not order a car, but could request one with the options I wanted. Then expect to wait months and they may or may not get exactly that build.

We ended up getting my wife’s NX 450h+ off the lot. But I did the request thing on my TX550h+ and it took about 6 months. But a TX550h+ is a bit of a unicorn and even then I didn’t get my first choice of interior color.

I do think the request option is close to ordering. In my case, they got a firm build date about 2 months out. Then about a month out they confirmed some details like roof rack and tow hitch.

My guess is the things like exterior and interior colors and the most common packages are cranked out as common combinations based on sales projections. Therefore you probably can’t get some unusual combination on these main features.

It does suck that when buying a relatively expensive car, you don’t get the luxury of getting it exactly the way you want, even if you’re willing to wait.

 

I've read that the suede microfiber on the edges of the seats, and may be on the doors, etc. too, is called Alcantara. (Trying to reply to TheRas900 but I think I did it wrong and can't find a way to delete or fix it in the edit area.)

I test drove the Nx and the Rx. I'm aware the Nx measurement specs are pretty similar to the RAV4. In fact, I had to tell the salesman this. He kept insisting it's smaller so I had to snip the dimensions from Consumer Reports to send him. The Nx is acutally a tad longer than the RAV. But the RAV feels monstrous to me. I don't get that feeling in the Nx and the hood is sloped down so it doesn't feel like there is a giant hood out in front of me while driving.

 

Responding to your original post and piggybacking on your current post.
I asked around a couple dealerships while I've been in for service about the custom build feature and they've basically said the same thing; Toyota/Lexus doesn't do Custom/Bespoke builds anymore besides the now discontinued LS and LC models. They can request certain features from the factory (exterior/interior coloring, trim level) and match up as best they can on what you'd like but they won't do something that doesn't make sense like adding 21 inch wheels on the base model without an F Sport Badge. I believe whichever dealership you've been speaking to can give your request to the factory and they might match up to the majority. I had requested the Redline or Atomic Silver back in August 21 and my dealership received the Redline in December 2021.


I think the right wording for the NX would be "snug", not smaller. Even though it's longer by an inch, the curve of the roof line and trunk results in less interior trunk space as an example.

 

I just looked because as I was surprised you saying the Rav4 was about the same size as the NX. Sure enough based on the Toyota and Lexus website data, this is true. Looking into it, apparently the NX is based on the Rav4.

I also think you're right about the hood slope and better view. The Rav4 definitely has a boxier shape.

In the end, what counts is how it feels to you. My wife avoids driving my TX. Even though she can raise the seat up high enough to see well, she doesn't like the large hood and is generally uncomfortable parking and maneuvering something that large.

 

I have the 2024 Lexus NX350h luxury, there's no microfiber on the edges of the seats. The RX350h luxury has the microfiber on the seats.

The NX30h is more smoother than the Rav4 hybrid as well and has more sound insulation. We also have a Rav4 (non-hybrid) but it's more of an utility vehicle so it's less comfortable.

The luxury NX350h maybe nice to drive since part the seats are softer with leather on the seating portion areas. The sides are still Nuluxe which holds up well over time.

When the market is slower, some dealer would help with builds but if the demand is high, Lexus doesn't do that given it takes time to customize the request. I got mine build order when it was slower and waited 3 weeks in 2024 from Japan.

Given oil prices are crazy right now, everyone is looking at hybrids that's why it's difficult to find one. Dealers are businesses as well and want to maximize their profit during high demand times. High demand, low supply, then the price is at MSRP or higher.

This channel has many chats on add-on accessories that can be installed by anyone as well. You can save some $$$ on some add-ons by doing installing it yourself as well.

Best times I found to purchase is mid-Nov to Jan btw. There were deals then.

Good Luck.

This NX350h luxury hasn't changed much over the years:

 

I went to the Luxury trim mainly because of the pano roof. When I go to Lexus build I don't find that option on a Premium. But I see a bunch of YouTube reviewers driving Premiums with pano roofs. Does anyone know, can I get pano roof in a Premium?

Should I get the rearview mirror camera? I think it's weird but a reviewer said it can be nice because of the small rear window and back headrests blocking some of the view. I also thought I would like Front Cross Traffic alert and will probably still go for that but one reviewer said he doesn't like that it beeps at him if just waiting at a stop sign and car goes by for instance. No way to disable if desired.

My must haves are the foot kick sensor, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, 14" screen, pano roof. If I can get all those in a Premium and add those other extras, I would be good with that. I also planned on adding the panoramic view sensor if anyone cares to weigh in on that. Thanks!