Lexus has expanded its SUV line with the all-new TX, a three-row model that shares its dimensions and many mechanical bits with the new Toyota Grand Highlander, although the Lexus is more plush and luxurious. The TX takes over for the previous RX L, which didn’t offer a truly functional third row. This new Lexus benefits from a boxy shape and added length over the latest RX, enabling spacious accommodations for all three rows, along with tremendous cargo-toting abilities when the third row is folded down.
The TX is essentially a Grand Highlander that went to finishing school, being more cultured and better mannered. It’s quieter and more refined, with a nicer interior. Of note: We tested both the TX350 and TX500h F Sport hybrid, and the hybrid outscored the regular version by quite a large margin. That’s in part due to the TX350’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which caused one of our drivers to comment, “The four-cylinder powertrain can feel abrupt and unrefined. Audi, BMW, and Volvo can make a good turbo-four in a big SUV, but Lexus still seems to struggle if there isn’t a hybrid component to it.”
Yet, others felt the goodness of the TX’s overall package outweighed the powertrain deficiencies. “I’m a big fan of this TX,” said a tester. “It’s roomy, comfortable, and easy to live with. It may not have the most exciting powertrain, but it gets the job done, and I enjoyed hauling the whole family around in it.”
It’s worth noting that, while the TX350 is a pretty good-driving vehicle, several other luxury three-row SUVs have higher road-test scores, including the Audi Q7, BMW X7, and Infiniti QX60.
We bought a Lexus TX350 Premium AWD—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review.
The TX is the first Lexus to be manufactured at Toyota’s assembly plant in Indiana.
The TX350’s 275-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers strong midrange torque. But the power delivery feels uneven at times; if you aren't gentle with the gas pedal taking off from a stop it can come on more abruptly than you expect. Plus, the engine sounds a bit growly and unappealing at lower speeds, and then gets quite loud if it rises above 3,000 rpm when accelerating hard. (This is similar to what we found with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus RX350, both of which share this powertrain). The eight-speed automatic transmission isn’t the smoothest, either, delivering some rough shifts.
To make matters worse, the 8.1 seconds the TX350 needed in the run from 0 to 60 mph is on the slow side for the segment. In terms of fuel economy, we measured 21 mpg overall on premium fuel, which is on the higher end for the class, but below the 24 mpg the TX500h managed.
The TX350 feels slightly sharper going through corners than the Grand Highlander upon which it’s based. The steering is nicely weighted and body roll stays controlled during regular driving. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t feel all that rewarding when the road turns twisty, with the body leaning over considerably through corners. It proved secure during our at-the-limit track exercises, but overall it doesn’t possess the agility of some other luxury SUVs.
The suspension does a commendable job making the ride feel comfortable most of the time, though it falls short of being plush. Partly due to the large 20-inch tires our tested Premium model was equipped with, there are times that some road imperfections punch through in a more pronounced way than you might expect. In terms of cabin noise, the TX350 isn’t as hushed as the best in the class, although it still manages to treat occupants to a low-drama environment. The most frequent complaint centered on the TX’s gravelly-sounding four-cylinder engine
The TX350 Premium’s cabin is a nice place to spend several hours—either as the driver or a passenger. It has lots of padded areas, contrasting stitching on the door and center armrests, nicely-lined bins, and tight panel gaps. It’s a notch above the Grand Highlander, but it’s not quite up to the level of an Audi Q7 in terms of the quality of the materials or the presentation.
The TX350’s wide front seats are firm and comfortable and likely to suit a range of body types. The seatback’s side bolsters do a good job holding you in place through corners. There’s generous headroom along with well-cushioned armrests, and the sides of the wide center console are also padded slightly, though that area can still hem in the driver’s right knee.
Second-row passengers are treated to tons of space, with plenty of headroom and the ability to tuck your feet under the front seats, plus good knee room. But the seats have a very flat shape, with little in the way of side bolstering to help give you support or keep you in place during turns. There’s more space in the third row than in most midsized models, with enough room for average-sized adults—not a given in this class. Still, it’s not really comfortable, as the bottom cushion is situated low to the floor and delivers hardly any under-leg support.
The 14-inch infotainment touchscreen is easy to use, and its generous size helps with readability and for making selections while driving. But we don’t love that this setup consolidates media and climate controls into a single screen, or that some relatively simple tasks require multiple steps. As we’ve seen in other Lexus models, the TX’s stubby electronic gear selector is odd to learn and annoying to use, with a confusing pathway and diagram for how to shift between Reverse and Drive. And, the electronic interior door buttons respond slowly and will be difficult to find for new passengers.
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorcycle detection, along with automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.