We hummed alongside, out of darkness into dawn. The uncommon winter solar burst out of fields of snow, the freeway waking up with weekend vacationers. It was a combat towards the lull of cruising pace, cocooned from January within the new 2024 Lexus TX.
The teenage hockey teammates succumbed within the captain’s chairs behind me, their heads lolled towards one another in teammate telepathy. Behind them, two ginormous hockey luggage of stink sat on high of the folded third row, together with 5 sticks, 4 backpacks, three roll-aboards, and one essential cooler. We might have match one other teammate and her gear, as properly, in complete consolation, proving that Lexus lastly has a correct three-row crossover SUV.
Overlook the discontinued RX-L and its emergency third row. The Lexus LX prices greater than $92,000 and rides on a truck platform, identical as the brand new 2024 Lexus GX that’s geared extra for off-road journey than household responsibility. The TX greatest satisfies the household mission.
Lexus TX sized proper for households
Sharing a platform with the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, the TX has a 116.1-inch wheelbase that interprets to a few roomy rows of seats and 20.1 cubic ft of house behind the third row. That’s sufficient to suit one hockey goalie bag or all of the duffle luggage for the beginning basketball staff, excluding the motive force. It specs out to 57.4 cubic ft with the third row flat. The third row splits 50:50, and all however the base TX has power-folding third-row seats.
Every of the seven seats is straightforward to entry. That is key in rousing youngsters at 5 a.m. or hustling grade schoolers in again. Each TX has second-row seats that tilt and slide ahead with the push of a button on the seat high. The Grand Highlander has a extra cumbersome lever and latch system. Extensive door openings assist, however the wide-shouldered (or wide-hipped) may choose stepping over the small console between the second-row captain’s chairs to entry the third row.
My TX 350 tester in high Luxurious trim had the captain’s chairs with six seats. At 5-foot-8, I match within the third row simply, however wanted the seat in entrance of me moved out of its deepest place for extra toeroom. The 6-footer in entrance of me had loads of legroom with our adjustment, however he had a scrape with the headliner shifting to the third row, so save the primary two rows for the taller hominids.
The one issue with ingress and egress is an odd one to confess. Like different Lexus autos and in contrast to the Grand Highlander, the TX makes use of digital pushbutton door handles. They work fantastic, even within the chilly, and there are emergency releases if it’s an issue. However the doorways had been unusually heavy. A number of instances, my passengers and I shut our doorways solely to seek out it hadn’t shut. A soft-close characteristic can be welcome.
Lexus TX turbo-4 is sufficient
One other means the TX deviates from the Grand Highlander is in its powertrain choices. The Grand Highlander lacks a plug-in hybrid choice, in contrast to the TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid. The TX 550+ reigns as the facility and effectivity king with a 3.5-liter V-6 paired with three electrical motors in normal all-wheel drive. The system churns out 404 hp, and it could journey 33 miles on electrical energy alone; in any other case it will get 29 mpg mixed. At slightly below $80,000, it’s additionally the worth king.
The TX 500h hybrid pairs a 2.4-liter turbo-4 with a motor powering the rear wheels and normal all-wheel drive. It makes 366 hp, will get 27 mpg mixed, and prices greater than $70,000. It’s much like the Hybrid Max supplied within the Grand Highlander.
I examined the bottom TX 350 and its 2.4-liter turbo-4 that makes 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. It’s the identical engine used within the smaller RX and even smaller NX, but it surely didn’t really feel underpowered in my travels round city and on the highway. Some drivers may choose the facility increase of the 500h, and I think the turbo-4 may pressure beneath a max towing capability of 5,000 kilos, but it surely hauled our 700-pound ass round with out challenge.
Our collective weight might have been one purpose we fell properly in need of the EPA-rated 23 mpg mixed with all-wheel drive: we acquired 19.4 mpg at 64 mph over 176 miles.
The 8-speed computerized flicked via the gears virtually imperceptibly beneath reasonable throttle, and mashing the pedal at an on-ramp was met with longer gears earlier than the shift. The true Lexus attraction of the TX was how hushed the big three-row was when cruising, because it muted highway and wind noise to a distant rustle. Off throttle, it was as quiet as an EV. Poke the throttle and also you’re poking a beehive of turbo-4 buzz.
The daylight appeared to make the potholes develop in actual time between the Chicago burbs and Madison, like some time-warped dystopia; the TX and its MacPherson entrance struts and multilink rear suspension smothered them properly.
Lexus says there’s extra physique rigidity than the Grand Highlander, as a result of addition of a rear ground brace, twin hood locks, a cowl brace, and aluminum and metal hybrid instrument panel reinforcements. It felt stable and insulated from the highway all through, and the cabin was soporific in the absolute best methods, as the kids might attest.
One criticism of the facility supply within the TX was extra about how Lexus buries the 5 drive modes within the touchscreen. It’s fantastic at startup, however calling upon a distinct mode whereas driving if you want it takes too many presses to satisfy the demand of the second.
Is the Lexus TX value $10,000 greater than the Grand Highlander?
Toyota pits the Grand Highlander as a premium providing in its three-row vary. However Lexus is its luxurious model, regardless of its large cow-catcher grille. It comes with 20-inch alloys as a substitute of the 18s on the Grand Highlander
The bottom TX 350 begins at $55,000, together with vacation spot, which is about $10,000 greater than the bottom Grand Highlander. Similar because the TX, the Grand Highlander XLE has heated entrance seats with energy changes, artificial leather-based upholstery, a wi-fi smartphone charger, wi-fi smartphone connectivity on a big touchscreen (12.3 inches on the Grand Highlander, 14.0 inches on the TX), and 7 USB ports. Functionally, they’re related, with seven seats as well.
Then there’s all of the Lexus choices.
2024 Lexus TX 500h F Sport
2024 Lexus TX 350 Premium
Step up from the bottom trim over the Premium ($3,400 extra), to the highest Luxurious grade for $60,950 and the Lexus distinction shines a lot better than the stitching on the seats and the wooden and leather-based sprint supplies. It has power-folding third-row seats, a heated steering wheel, headlight washers, and different gear, however the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up show nonetheless prices additional.
Lexus expects you to buy the premium engine choices to get the premium options. Factoring in normal all-wheel drive, the 500h hybrid prices about $10,000 greater than a equally outfitted TX 350, and the PHEV comes solely in high Luxurious trim, at a worth of $78,050, however a minimum of the 12.3-inch instrument cluster is included on all of the hybrids.
The TX 350 I examined had the $2,150 Expertise Bundle with the big digital cluster and head-up show, all-wheel drive, and one other $4,000 in choices to $69,044.
The TX base and Luxurious tester are as far more than a Grand Highlander as they’re lower than a Lexus LX. The world’s largest automaker is aware of a factor or two about methods to worth its viewers. Is it value it?
The kids would say completely. All I can say is the TX ought to promote very properly for Lexus.
