2024 Lexus TX350 AWD First Test: Cruiser, Not a Bruiser

We came away with some mixed emotions after testing the FWD version of the 2024 Lexus TX350, which is the TX with the base gas powertrain. The luxury three-row SUV is a solid family hauler that delivers plenty of excellent standard and available features and commendable efficiency. But the vehicle we had was also a preproduction model, so there were some refinement issues that weren’t representative of the finished product.

For TX round two, Lexus sent us a production AWD Luxury model, the gas-only engine’s top grade. Like the FWD, it features a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four that develops 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Is the AWD better than the FWD? How does it square against a competitor like the Acura MDX?

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Fancy Aims

Big screens and upscale materials are attractive common threads among 2024 TXs. Graphics were, again, sharp and legible on both the standard 14.0-inch touchscreen and available 12.3-inch gauge cluster screen that comes with the $2,150 Technology package. That package also comes with a 360-degree camera, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and Advanced Park self-parking.

Our tester featured optional $680 semi-aniline leather-trimmed seats and heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs. The general interior and seating material were accented with pleasantly soft Alcantara that’s also found in RX models. Lexus also optioned this test car with the $1,160 21-speaker Mark Levinson high-end audio—a system that’s both powerful and clear.

The interior presentation aims for fancy but comes up short in some ways. The touchscreen housing isn’t the most elegant-looking thing, clashing somewhat with dash flow, and our TX emitted an annoying squeak—a sound we surmised came from plastic panels rubbing against each other in the front part of the cabin. Some of the infotainment features require a subscription, but most users should be able to get by just fine using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which connected without fail post setup.

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Spaces for People and Things

There is some cool and clever use of space here. Rear vents are integrated into the headliner rather than in the back of a center console. Up front, the wireless charging pad in the center console is mounted on a retractable bin lid; the console also offers storage underneath, though only on the front passenger side, and the area isn’t very large. It’s appreciated, nonetheless. Cupholders throughout are removable to free up more space. The stubby, unobtrusive shifter is the same you’ll find in the Prius and Crown.

Compared to the current MDX, which is 4.8 inches shorter in length, the TX offers more cargo capacity in every seating configuration. There’s also more headroom and legroom than the Acura in all three rows. The third row receives high marks for cushy armrests, low-profile seat tracks, USB-C ports, and powered seat-back adjustment, but it’s still a squeeze back there for bigger adults.

Is the AWD Quicker Than the FWD?

Both TXs produce the same output and come with identical eight-speed automatics, but our AWD carries around an additional 128 pounds over the FWD example we tested. That makes for a marginally slower TX AWD in a straight line. The FWD can reach 60 mph in 7.7 seconds: 0.3 second faster than the AWD tested here.

Against a similarly powerful but much lighter 2022 Acura MDX SH-AWD A-Spec, it’s not even a contest. Our test team launched one to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. The TX’s output should be adequate for most, and Sport mode even holds gears longer, but little about this powertrain’s performance qualifies in our book as sporty.

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Driving the TX350 AWD

You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking otherwise, but any traction advantages the AWD model might have don’t show up in testing. The TX AWD and FWD essentially finish tied in our lateral acceleration and racetrack-in-a-bottle figure-eight handling test. Sporty the TX is not, exhibiting poor body control—lots of roll in corners, dive after sudden stops—and a confused transmission at its limits. However, it does have the MDX SH-AWD A-Spec's figure-eight time of 28.6 seconds at an average of 0.60 g beat.

Braking was notably uneven. Pedal feel was squishy, and bite was at times hard to gauge. Hard stops unleashed weird feedback, and the vehicle swerved left and right on panic stops. But it pulled off a 60–0-mph stop in just 124 feet, 4 feet less than the FWD and 6 feet more than the MDX’s best.

A biggish three-row SUV doing poorly at the track surprises no one. This TX showed us it was more for everyday roads, anyway. Its suspension responded well to potholes and pavement imperfections, providing a comfortable and serene experience. Its chassis could be better composed, but it otherwise soaks up bumps nicely. And—surprise, surprise—the TX has the tiniest bit of trail and sand chops.

We give a thumbs-up to the TX350 AWD’s adaptive cruise control and lane keeping and centering systems—very set it-and-forget it. There’s no assisted lane change among the SUV’s driver assists, however, which seems like a missed opportunity for this luxury vehicle.

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What Kind of Mileage Does the TX350 AWD Get?

Fuel economy is similar for AWD (20/26 mpg city/highway) and FWD (21/27 mpg) 2024 models—so similar they get about the same range, 409 miles. Either way, the TX’s 2.4-liter turbo-four is more efficient than the same-year MDX’s V-6s. The 3.5-liter engine in most of the lineup returns 19/25 mpg city/highway, while the 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder in the Type S is rated for 17/21 mpg. Hybrid options are available for the Lexus, too, for even greater efficiency, but they come with a commensurate upcharge.

The Bottom Line

The 2024 TX350 AWD comes with a $1,600 premium over the FWD model. The test vehicle adds another $6,494 in options to include everything we’ve mentioned, plus an $895 Convenience package, $100 Cold Area package, and another $1,509 in accessories. If it were our money, we’d probably ditch the cold pack and accessories to pocket the $1,609, bringing that as-tested price down to $67,435. That’s roughly midway between the price of the 2024 MDX Advance and Type S models at the top of Acura’s range.

We do not dislike the TX. We’re glad the brand finally has a real, midsize three-row (and not a stretched RX). As a luxury model, it checks off boxes of a generous feature set and nicer interior materials. For a gas three-row SUV, it gets respectable fuel economy like the FWD does. Its ride is cushy, and the cabin is functional. Either model would be a great option for families.

But the TX is also something of a safe choice that doesn’t break any new ground. It looks very much like some other current Lexus SUVs, especially inside, and it may not be luxurious enough to compete with models from European brands. We found nothing memorable about its performance, save for an annoying build quality issue. For a three-row, the TX gets close to luxury, but it will take something more for this newcomer to stand out in its competitive set.