Lexus TX (US) review

It’s the Lexus TX, which, in this instance, is a car and not a shorthand for the automaker’s US headquarters. Given its size, though, you’d be forgiven for assuming it wasn’t at least in part inspired by the Lone Star State. Either way, what you’re looking at is the all-new luxury three-row SUV in the Lexus line-up.

Didn’t Lexus have a three-row SUV before?

You’re thinking of the RX L, which was as ergonomic as the Sydney Opera House when it came to accommodating rear passengers. The TX is a direct response to how that vehicle didn’t cut the mustard. It’s worth mentioning that the full-size LX and the new GX are available with third row seating but - as it was with the RX - almost begrudgingly so. The TX’s main thing is that it’s a dedicated family hauler.

So what does this new SUV bring to the table apart from more chairs?

The brief here is “three rows, zero compromise”, meaning that customers get the benefit of passenger capacity with the luxury and dynamics of the Lexus brand. The TX is built on Toyota’s modular GA-K platform that underpins a wide array of Toyota vehicles, including the RX this replaces. As such, the ride is meant to be sportier than normal for a family-sized SUV.

Along with a shapelier body, the TX comes with three powertrain options. The RX’s turbo 2.4-liter I4 carries over, offering to send 275hp and 317 lb ft of torque to the front wheels or all of them in the TX 350. In the TX 500h, the same engine is paired with a parallel hybrid unit that ups output to 366hp and 406lb ft.

The flag-bearer for the TX though is the TX 550h+, which is a plug-in hybrid fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 that totals the output to 404hp.

All models have the benefit of riding on a MacPherson strut front suspension and multilink rear that’s meant to both smooth out the ride (it works a treat on 20- and 22-inch wheels) and enable sharper steering response. There’s also an optional adaptive variable suspension that has real-time adaptive dampers to absorb all the bumps in the road.

A PHEV you say?

Indeed. A 18.1kWh lithium-ion battery fitted under the floor gives the Lexus TX about 33 miles of electric-only range and can fill up at a Level 2 charging station in about three hours. All told, it should score a combined 28mpg.

How does it stack up to the competition?

The Lexus TX dives into a hotly contested segment, given its broad mission statement of being a family-oriented utility vehicle while also brandishing a luxury badge, the latter maybe inviting heavier hitters to the challenge. The Volvo XC90 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, for instance, would be tough to beat in a number of areas like style, technology and overall presence, though neither are hardly a value proposition.

Closer comparisons could be drawn from the Acura MDX, Cadillac XT6, Infiniti QX60 and the Lincoln Aviator. The MDX is the most compelling of those, simply because it looks better, its interior is just as nice, and it’s really quite sweet to drive. The Lincoln is on par with the Lexus’ overall comfort, but there’s no way in hell we’d ever recommend the Cadillac or Infiniti over this.

In fact, the greatest threat to the Lexus TX could come calling from inside its own house in the form of the Toyota Grand Highlander, which may not have a V6 but does everything the Lexus does and for significantly cheaper.

If the Lexus TX is an indicator of anything, it’s that the company is - slowly but surely - paying at least some attention to its customers. It hits its mark as a luxury family vehicle without overachieving anywhere. The dimensions are good and the interior makes use of the extra space. What’s a little weird is how this all-new SUV feels like it has a handful of older elements mixed in with brand new stuff: it’d be nice if this brand-new SUV felt as such.

Anyway, we wouldn’t worry too much about the purported “signature” Lexus dynamics here. While it’s far from lumbering, the TX isn’t fun to drive. Admittedly that’s a high bar for this segment, and it can be forgiven for not reaching beyond its purview.

Ultimately, there’s plenty to like about the Lexus TX but little to love, no matter how dutifully it serves your brood. Doubtless you’ll be happy to have one, but it will be out of mind the instant it’s out of sight.