2024 Lexus TX SUVOTY Review: We Waited Two Decades for This
A 3-row Lexus crossover finally arrives for those who’ve outgrown their RX.
Pros
- Three distinct powertrain options
- Finally, a three-row Lexus crossover!
- Lots of cargo space
Cons
- Meh exterior
- Meh interior
- TX350’s odd brake feel
After more than two decades of waiting for a Lexus-branded three-row SUV in the spirit of the RX, the TX has finally arrived.
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And it’s ... fine.
Joining the GX and LX in the Lexus family of three-row SUVs, the TX is the most affordable of the trio, and it’s a great blend of spaciousness and value. A 275-hp turbo I-4 is standard in the TX350, but there’s also a 366-hp TX500h hybrid as well as a 404-hp TX550h+ plug-in hybrid. So far, so good.
Lexus bases the TX on the new Grand Highlander, a large three-row SUV that slots above the standard-sized Highlander in Toyota’s lineup. And the family resemblance shows. Usually, we have no issue with the Lexus–Toyota connection, as it’s hard to argue with the backing of a company known for high resale value, good reliability, and durability.
Where things go sideways is in a shopping mall parking lot. Park the Lexus side by side with a Toyota Grand Highlander, and the visual similarities are obvious, the same way most can tell an Infiniti QX60 is related to a Nissan Pathfinder. That isn’t a problem for the finely crafted RX, which is better differentiated from its Toyota roots and also enjoys a well-established premium reputation.
Even if you don’t notice the TX’s less artful taillight and side-surface detailing, the three-row SUV’s interior lacks the same luxurious feel of the RX’s. Boring door panels and a general sense of mere adequacy inside don’t create a sumptuous impression.
Still, pricing starts below $60,000, and we appreciate the plethora of choice with three powertrain options. Just watch out for odd brake feel; a few MotorTrend editors described the pedal feel as squishy.
At least getting into the third row isn’t that tough, though the space back there isn’t huge.
The same can be said for many of the TX’s rivals, and some of those value-focused luxury three-rows lack the powertrain variety of the Lexus. The 500h is probably our favorite of the three TX trims, not just for its better seats or quicker acceleration over the base TX350 but also for its slightly superior mpg and driving range.
“The TX500h isn’t fun, but it’s dignified and willing to move without much complaint,” associate editor Alex Leanse said.
That’s about as effusive as we can get here. One tip: Avoid the all-black interior to make things more interesting inside.
Part of what makes the smaller RX great is that you don’t expect it: How can something so well-priced exceed expectations as well as it does?
The TX doesn’t grab us in quite the same way. This family three-row SUV also can’t boast about class-leading safety performance with IIHS, one of two leading organizations that safety-test new cars. Don’t get us wrong, the TX does fine, but one individual score of Acceptable prevents it from earning a top award the way the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, and Infiniti QX60 do.
For now, the long-awaited TX is the Lexus of three-row family SUVs, but it can’t yet be described as the RX of three-row SUVs.
This review was conducted as part of our 2024 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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