High demand and limited inventory have stretched waiting periods for Lexus SUVs like the GX and TX to unprecedented lengths.
Although Lexus has yet to release complete sales data for 2025, the luxury automaker appears poised to break more records. Lexus anticipates that sales will exceed 360,000 units for the year, largely driven by strong demand for its SUVs.
That figure would represent roughly a 5% increase over 2024, which itself was the brand’s best year in its 35-year history. The downside, however, is that buyers are now facing long waiting periods for certain models, as demand continues to outpace supply.
Inventories for some Lexus models fell to less than three days’ supply nationwide in late December. By comparison, overall new-vehicle inventory stood at 88 days in November, just before the holiday season. Even at that time, Lexus was already struggling to keep inventory levels on par with competitors like Infiniti, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
These constrained inventories mean that many buyers must wait several months for delivery. Some are paying full sticker price just to secure a vehicle, while others are widening their search beyond local dealerships to find the model they want.
Over 80% of Lexus sales now come from SUVs or crossovers, with the RX, GX, and three-row TX models in particularly high demand. Through the first three quarters of 2025, Lexus had already sold more than 80,000 RXs and nearly 40,000 TXs. The GX, refreshed for the 2024 model year, sold over 28,000 units during the same period.
Lexus currently offers seven SUVs, ranging from the subcompact UX to the large and commanding LX. The midsize RX remains the brand’s cornerstone model, followed by the smaller and more affordable NX.
Hybrid powertrains have enhanced the appeal of several models. The UX is offered exclusively as a hybrid, while the 2026 NX recently shifted to a lineup heavily focused on hybrid options. Even the LX, long powered by a thirsty V8, now features a twin-turbo V6 hybrid producing 457 horsepower, demonstrating that performance and efficiency can coexist without compromise.
