Gallery
Pros
Cons
Now in its second year on the market, the Lexus TX provides this premium Japanese brand a legitimate player in the luxury three-row crossover segment.
Yes, the body-on-frame GX has a third set of seats, as does the larger LX, but neither of those hits the bullseye for family hauling. Based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, the Lexus TX lays on the posh and delivers all you’d want in a crossover this size: a roomy cabin, comfortable ride, and lots of modern amenities.
Styling: 7/10
Lexus has reinterpretted its iconic spindle grille for use on the TX, with a modern twist that incorporates thick body-coloured horizontal slats. It’s a cool look but would stand out better with a lighter shade of paint, as this tester’s dark blue hides the drama. While the big Lexus hardly stands out in the sea of boxy vehicles its size, it presents a stately presence that plays to its premium positioning. The F Sport 3 trim tested here gets black rocker panels and 22-inch wheels, up from the standard 20-inch alloys.
The TX’s cabin doesn’t particularly wow with its design, going for understatement versus panache; there isn’t the level of detail and craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from Lexus here. Nonetheless, the interior is well put together and all the touch points and controls have a premium feel. Upping the game in this tester is the perforated faux-leather upholstery finished in a light colour that brightens the cabin and adds an upscale ambience.
Power: 7/10
The TX 350 runs with a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder kicking out 275 hp and a robust 317 lb-ft of torque at 1,700 rpm. It’s hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels through an electronically controlled system. Power delivery is adequate if not exactly spritely, but for most buyers this four-cylinder will be just fine. It does get a bit gravelly when putting your foot in it, but that is the case with just about any turbocharged four-cylinder like this. Lexus also offers two hybrid versions of the TX.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
The Lexus TX 350 is one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles in this segment, posting an impressive rating of 10.3 L/100 km combined on premium-grade fuel. My week of gentle driving, with a good portion of it spent on the highway, netted a heartwarming 9.6 L/100 km.
Driving Feel: 8/10
For such a large crossover, the TX feels decently agile, showing quick steering response and manageable in-town manoeuvrability. The F Sport 3 trim gets adaptive damping along with specially tuned anti-roll bars. In normal mode there’s a bit of body float, but nothing alarming; it’s comfy in a Lexus way. Calling up sport mode tightens body control but also dials in a jittery ride that your passengers probably won’t appreciate. The TX is happiest doing what it does best: carrying people in quiet comfort, not playing an athletic wannabe.
Comfort: 8.5/10
Overall, the Lexus TX 350 in F Sport 3 trim delivers a smooth, quiet ride, with the only caveat coming from those 22-inch wheels that thump over harsh impacts. When the four-cylinder engine isn’t straining under load, the cabin is Lexus calm, helped by its standard noise cancellation.
The eight-way front seats with two-way lumbar support are comfy and well contoured, as are the heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs. Second-row passengers also get side sunshades and climate controls.
Comparatively speaking, the third row is reasonably roomy for two adults (you could cram three kids in there if need be), and access isn’t bad thanks to the large rear door opening and one-touch easy sliding captain’s chairs.
Practicality: 8.5/10
There’s a useful 572 L of cargo space behind the third row — enough for a few small suitcases or a big grocery shop. The third row is power folding, and it takes its time. Doing that opens up 1,625 L of space, which proved plenty of room for my impulse buy of a set of 18-inch BBS wheels for my 2001 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Flipping down the second-row captain’s chairs increases load capacity to 2,747 L.
Standard is a foot activated tailgate that, like most, is frustratingly hit and miss. If you want to look like an idiot, stand behind your luxury SUV with an armful of groceries and wave your foot under the bumper for several seconds to no avail. Then put said groceries down and use the key fob. (Ask me how I know.)
Equipped as this tester was, the Lexus TX 350 is rated to pull 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).
User-Friendliness: 8/10
The TX’s infotainment is reasonably easy to navigate thanks to its 14-inch central touchscreen with large touchpoints and a lower section dedicated to climate control. We also appreciate the big rotary controls for cabin temperature. The mode button for summoning the sport setting is buried in the menu system, suggesting Lexus is as enthusiastic about this selection as I am. The “Hey, Lexus” voice prompts snap the obedient system to attention — one that accurately selects radio stations, changes HVAC settings, and inputs navigation destinations, among other duties.
Features: 9/10
As the top tier TX 350, the version tested here comes with all the goodies — adaptive damping, a limited-slip rear differential, 22-inch wheels, head-up display, surround-view cameras, camera-based rearview mirror, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, rear sunshades, tri-zone climate control, an excellent 21-speaker stereo, tow hitch, and more. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless, and the TX comes with a three-year trial of smartphone-accessed remote connect compatibility.
Safety: 8.5/10
As expected, the TX is armed with all the safety and driver-assist systems Lexus has to offer, some of which include driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and the semi-autonomous traffic jam assist. Other items include steering-responsive headlights, a rear seat reminder, auto-levelling headlights, and a windshield wiper de-icer.
Value: 8/10
In the world of premium crossovers this size, the Lexus TX 350 delivers good value when looking at competition from Europe, although it’s closely priced compared to its rivals from Japan and North America; for instance, the top level Lincoln Aviator Reserve with its smooth — albeit thirstier — twin-turbocharged V6 ($80,595). That compares to $81,791 before freight ($2,205) and tax for this top trim, although the base version is substantially cheaper at $69,015.
The Verdict
This is an important vehicle for Lexus, being its first offering to target the heart of the burgeoning crossover market. The fact that the 2025 Lexus TX 350 is based on the accomplished Toyota Grand Highlander is a good thing. That it doesn’t exhibit quite the design panache and unassailable sense of quality of other Lexus products probably won’t hurt it too much, as the TX hits all the marks when it comes to comfort, features, and family-friendly functionality.
