Lexus offers a broad variety of passenger cars and SUVs with both hybrid and conventional gasoline powertrains. But one thing that has been missing from the luxury brand’s lineup is an SUV with a third row of seating that’s large enough for adults. That has changed with the launch of the 2024 Lexus TX, the brand’s first model designed and developed exclusively for the North American market.
Related: 2024 Lexus TX Review: Everything’s Bigger in TX … But Not Necessarily Better
The TX is an all-new model riding on the same platform and using mostly the same powertrains as the more mainstream Toyota Grand Highlander. It distinguishes itself with crisp, creased styling using familiar Lexus cues, including a full-width taillight treatment and a more sophisticated and integrated interpretation of the distinctive Lexus spindle grille.
Three flavors of the TX are offered: the base TX 350 with a conventional powertrain, the TX 500h Sport Performance with its more powerful hybrid powertrain and the TX 500h+ plug-in hybrid. Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman sampled all three at a media event. (Per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for all travel and accommodations at such manufacturer-sponsored events.) Bragman came away with some good things to say, but he also found that the newest Lexus comes up short on the luxury front and that it could use more to distinguish it from the lesser Grand Highlander.
Tap the link above to read his expert review; for a quicker look, below are five things we like about the 2024 Lexus TX and three things we do not.
Things We Like
1. Powertrain Choices
The base TX 350 is powered by a 275-horsepower, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. Stepping up to the AWD-only TX 500h F Sport Performance livens things up by pairing the same turbo 2.4-liter four-cylinder with an electric drive system for a total output of 366 hp. Topping the range is the TX 550h+, matching a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with a PHEV drivetrain; it’s good for 404 hp.
2. Four-Wheel Steering
The F Sport Performance variant is equipped with four-wheel steering, which helps with maneuverability around town and on the highway. When parking or engaged in other low-speed applications, the rear wheels can turn up to 4 degrees in the opposite direction of the fronts for tighter turning. On the highway, the rears turn in the same direction as the fronts for greater lane-changing ability and stability.
3. Stretch Out
An area where the TX excels is with interior room and packaging, which is a big improvement over the old RX-L and its tiny third row; all three rows of the TX offer plenty of space and easy access. Depending on trim level and options, buyers can choose from either a bench seat or captain’s chairs in the second row. Getting to the third row is made easier thanks to a second row that tilts and slides forward at the touch of a button. The third row also has plenty of head- and legroom, and the seat cushion sits high enough to avoid a knees-up riding position.
4. Bonus Features
The TX comes with some helpful and uncommon features, including a camera that turns the rearview mirror into a screen with the flip of a switch; it takes passengers and cargo out of the picture for a clear view to the rear. Another welcome addition is a power-folding third row, something not available on even the top trim of the Grand Highlander.
5. Go Big or Go Home
The top TX 500h+ trim delivers the most Lexus-like driving experience, compared to the TX 350’s more mainstream SUV feel or the overly stiff ride of the TX 500h F Sport Performance. With its cushier ride, smooth and refined powertrain, and added amenities, the 500h+ delivers a more genuine luxury experience than either of its siblings.
More From Cars.com:
- Startlingly Diverse Lineup: 2024 Lexus TX Starts at $55,050
- How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2024 Lexus TX 350?
- 2024 Lexus TX Up Close: At Last, a Truly Spacious Three-Row Lexus
- 2024 Lexus TX: An Admission That Putting a Third Row in the RX Wasn’t the Best Idea
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Things We Don’t Like
1. Luxury Lite
While the TX comes with some goodies that aren’t available on the Grand Highlander, it really doesn’t look or feel that much more luxurious. Interior materials quality isn’t noticeably more upscale, nor is the overall look and design of the multimedia system and displays. That’s not to say the TX’s cabin isn’t a nice place to be, it just doesn’t seem like there’s enough to set it apart for the added cost. The interior isn’t any more impressive than anything from Acura or Infiniti, and it comes up short when compared to German brands or even a Jeep Wagoneer.
2. F Sport Shortcomings
With its 366-hp hybrid powertrain, the F Sport Performance delivers lively acceleration with the smoothness and refinement expected of a Lexus. But its adaptive suspension makes for a stiffer ride, compounded by 22-inch wheels that transmit more road imperfections to the cabin. The performance tires also generate more noise than you might expect, and it all adds up to a decidedly un-Lexus-like lack of calm and quiet without it being any more enjoyable from behind the wheel.
3. Questionable Value
When all of the beans are counted, the TX makes at least as good an argument for a Grand Highlander as it does for itself. Both feel similar on the road and use similar powertrains. A Grand Highlander in the top Platinum trim has an interior that’s just as nice as the TX’s, and when equipped with the base turbo 2.4-liter engine, it costs a few thousand dollars less than the least expensive TX. All it lacks is a Lexus logo — and for better or worse, the grille that goes with it.
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