Sure there was the RX-L, there’s still the GX and there’s of course top dog LX but the Lexus TX is finally a respectable 3-row family hauler that’s been sorely amiss from the Lexus lineup. Don’t get me wrong, the GX and LX are nice in their own ways and have some unique off-road capabilities. And yes, they do offer 3-rows of seats in certain configurations, but those are body-on-frame beasts with solid rear axles that, despite all the coddling, can’t overcome the heft in mass and demerits in driving ride and dynamics that come with it along with it, as well as the space packaging problems it presents to offer up a good 3rd row seating position. Corporate cousin Sequoia also shares these odd trade-offs.
Also odd in the Lexus lineup is that the LX and GX don’t readily compete with the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class or BMW X7, both of which are unibody and both of which handily outsell the LX and nearly outsell the much cheaper GX. Not to mention the LX and GX don’t match the market share of other body-on-frame beasts like the Cadillac Escalade or even the Lincoln Navigator.
The TX luckily incorporates the benefits of a unibody construction and independent rear suspension, suiting the daily driving needs of some 95% of SUV drivers out there. That’s nothing new for Lexus, the brand that literally launched the modern luxury crossover segment with the RX, which was a runaway hit. The RX is such a hit that Lexus was always a bit afraid to do anything that might knock the RX off its luxury sales leadership perch, hence the first attempt being the RX-L to try to add sales to the RX nameplate. While that 3rd row was sorely lacking, the TX delivers size and function in spades.
The TX line starts in the mid-$50,000’s with the TX350 with a turbo 4-cylinder engine. That’s no doubt the core of the line up, offered in Base –> Premium –> Luxury trims. Above that we see a TX 500h F SPORT Performance, marrying the turbo 4-cylinder engine with power-minded hybrid setup, starting at the $70,000 mark. At the top of the price ladder we have this $80,000 TX 550h+ Luxury, so it gives up some F SPORT-ness but gains a V6 (only V6 in the lineup) mated with a plug-in hybrid system capable of some 33 miles of all-electric driving.
Driving in EV mode is smooth and nice and the 30ish miles of range is decent for daily errands. I also like that in EV mode, as long as you have enough battery power remaining, it won’t kick on the gas engine if you floor the accelerator, letting you maximize your EV driving. At the same time you should be cognizant of the power differences between driving modes should you need to shoot out into traffic or make a turn. But I feel like the TXh+ just whets your appetite for EV-ness and makes you want to just have an EV for all your driving, particularly if you do have a level 2 charger at home like we do. At a similar price you could get yourself a Kia EV9 or Rivian R1S Dual Motor.
Ride quality was also good with the added weight of the plug in hybrid system well managed within the vehicle. And that’s without the complexities and costs of an air suspension like the Volvo XC90 Recharge offers. Not sure if it was an overall weight issue, but the plug-in hybrid model, despite topping the TX model range, doesn’t have a sunroof available. Like not even a small one. In this era of mega panoramic roofs that seems like an odd omission for the luxury sector.
In terms of design, I don’t think the exterior is particularly premium. The front end has this all plastic with numerous horizontals bars that evokes the last generation Toyota Highlander. Nothing too distinctive from either the side or rear profiles either. Is there any SUV that isn’t doing the full width single line lighting element these days? At least once you get inside, the interior materials are a step above the corporate cousin Toyota Grand Highlander. I don’t know if Lexus skipping the metal audio speaker trim bits is refreshing or dull/cheap… The main Lexus infotainment interface itself is well-positioned and is a good size for the large and wide cabin. The only knock is that it’s just so similar to the Toyota brand execution of it.
Space wise the TX has adult size room in all 3 rows at once, not something all 3-row crossovers can claim. Adults can even manage to sit in the 3rd row, behind a rear facing car seat installed in the 2nd row. That’s something our long-term EV9 struggles with, where the space remaining for anyone behind the rear facing car seat is for really only for kids.
Lots and lots to like about the TX! Finally a good size, finally an electrified (but not fully electric) powertrain, good tech and feature set, from a luxury brand people value. Would still love to see them throw a full EV into the mix and would still love to see them have something to truly reach the luxury echelons of the GLS-Class and X7, but the brand knows its core customer and the value set that they prioritize. For all that, the Lexus TX checks many boxes.
