The 2024 Lexus TX 350 is the largest 3-row SUV that the Japanese luxury brand offers. It is based on the equally large & equally new Toyota Grand Highlander. So then the question becomes, is this TX just as good as the Grand Highlander and does it provide the added Lexus luxury that these vehicles are known for?
Performance
Engine – This 2024 TX 350 utilizes the same 2.4L Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as the standard Grand Highlander. In this TX, it produces 275 hp & 317 lb-ft of torque (205 kW & 430 Nm). There is also a TX 500h which uses the same 2.4L engine but with the aid of electric motors. There will also be a plug-in hybrid version of the TX available later in 2024.
Back to the TX 350, this engine has enough power & torque for this 2,145 kg (4,730 lbs) 3-row SUV. It doesn’t feel as though it’s struggling to get up to speed when setting off from a stop nor when the SUV is merging onto a highway. I had the opportunity to load up the TX with passengers during my test with the TX. I noticed that the engine needed to rev about 500 rpms higher than when it was unloaded but otherwise, it still felt as though it had enough power. My only concern is the long term durability of this engine. In the past, putting an engine this small in such a big vehicle was a recipe for disaster. But we do live in the modern times and Lexus/Toyota perhaps figured out how to improve the longevity of such an engine. Only time will tell.
Fuel Economy – On paper, the 2024 Lexus TX 350 can achieve good fuel economy figures. It is rated for 11.5 L/100km (20.5 MPG) in a city and 8.9 L/100km (26.4 MPG) on a highway. Unfortunately, I was not able to achieve these numbers. I only managed to get 12 L/100km (19.6 MPG) during my week with the SUV. Now, I don’t have a heavy foot as I can generally achieve the rated combined fuel economy figures of most vehicles. But this one was much more difficult. Additionally, Lexus recommends premium fuel for the TX 350.
Transmission – Paired with this engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission. I have no major complaints about this transmission as the gear changes are smooth and it reacts quickly enough to a stab of the throttle for a burst of acceleration. The paddle shifters are a tad slow to respond but overall, it’s Ok for a vehicle such as this.
Braking – The brakes on this Lexus TX are equally just as good. The SUV stops in a reasonable amount of distance and the brake pedal is firm but still easy to modulate for smooth stops. There is some nose dive under moderate to heavy braking applications, but it’s not as bad as something like the Ford Bronco.
Handling – Just like the Grand Highlander, the 2024 Lexus TX 350 is an easy 3-row SUV to drive. Whether it’s on highways, city streets, or back country roads, you’ll always feel relaxed from behind the steering wheel. It doesn’t provide a particularly enjoyable driving experience but it does seem to have a bit less body roll through sharper corners than the Grand Highlander did. Again, just an easy to drive large SUV.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – This being a Lexus vehicle, it provides the ride quality that is expected from this Japanese luxury brand. The TX 350 unfortunately does not receive the adaptive dampers of the TX 500h but even so, the standard dampers are tuned to absorb bumps very well. I found myself not swerving to avoid deeper potholes and just driving over them because the ride did not feel jarring as it does in some other luxury SUVs.
Interior Space – Because the new Lexus TX is based on a unibody construction and not a body-on-frame, it offers a lot of space for occupants. At 6’4”, I comfortably fit in the front seats. This SUV also lets you sit really high up with excellent visibility in all directions. It can also be equipped with a rear camera mirror for an unobstructed view out of the back.
In the second row, the TX is available with bench seats that slide and recline 60/40 or it can be optioned with captain’s chairs like this demo vehicle. Just like the bench seats, the captain’s chairs can recline and move individually. There are cupholders in the middle or the tray with the cupholders can be removed entirely for a pass-through. Space in these 2nd row seats is also plentiful for tall adults such as myself.
Getting into the 3rd row is easy thanks to the button that’s on top of the 2nd row seats which allow them to tilt & slide forwards. Space in the 3rd row is tight for someone of my stature but it’s definitely better than most other 3-row SUVs. I’d be Ok to sit back there for shorter trips. The rearmost seats are power reclining, there are USB-C ports on either side and there are large cupholders. But it doesn’t appear that there’s anything to firmly secure a round bottle like the tabs in the cup holders in the front seats.
Further behind the seats the 2024 Lexus TX 350 has 572 L (20.2 cu-ft) with all rows of seats up, 1,625 L (57.4 cu-ft) with the power folding 3rd row seats down, and 2,747 L (97 cu-ft) with the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded. There is also a spare tire underneath the trunk floor and the TX has a standard power liftgate.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Like many Lexus vehicles, the 2024 TX 350 is a quiet SUV. Despite its large physical size, there are no wind noises to be heard when driving down a highway. Road noise from the tires is also well subdued with minimal intrusion into the cabin. This is more impressive given the fact that this demo vehicle had winter tires equipped which are generally louder than all-season tires. And finally, the engine is evident when setting off from a stop but it’s not too intrusive and its noises are non-existent when cruising.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Lexus TX 350 starts at $68,750 CAD ($55,050 USD). This demo vehicle was fully loaded and came with the Executive 6-passenger option. It has an as equipped price of $80,250 CAD ($68,325 USD).
Gadgets – As is to be expected from a luxury SUV, the 2024 Lexus TX is brimmed with convenience features. From heated & ventilated front & 2nd row captain’s chairs, 10-way power adjustable front seats, 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, to a head-up display, a large panoramic sunroof, advanced parking function, surround view cameras with an invisible car view, 3-zone automatic climate control, wireless phone charging pad, a massive 14” touchscreen and the rear camera mirror I mentioned earlier. This 3-row SUV has everything you and your family would ever need from a luxury vehicle.
The infotainment system is Lexus’ latest iteration which is much easier to navigate through than the previous generation that is still found in the Lexus IS for example. This new system has a well laid out menu structure with crisp new graphics. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity. The only negative I have about this new infotainment system is that the built-in navigation is subscription based. But if you do decide to pay for the subscription, the built in navigation is reminiscent of Google Maps. It looks similar and has a similar function.
Interior Design – Much of the interior of the new Lexus TX takes inspiration from the updated Lexus RX. It has a similar digital driver display, similar infotainment touchscreen placement with dials for temperature controls, and it has a similar gear selector. The only unique design is the use of suede across the lower portion of the dashboard. It’s a nice look and Lexus should have continued to use it throughout more of the interior. Overall, it’s a simple design but it won’t really wow you like a Mercedes interior would.
Exterior Design – The 2024 Lexus TX has an identical overall shape as the Toyota Grand Highlander. But the Lexus designers did incorporate some Lexus design language with the sharp LED daytime running lights, massive spindle grille, large 22” wheels, and full-length rear light bar. Personally, I think this Lexus TX has a more noticeable design than the Grand Highlander but I’m not sold on the grille. The horizontal bars look odd and it may have looked a bit better if it had a diamond pattern like the one on the RX.
Safety – The 2024 Lexus TX 350 is not missing anything when it comes to safety & driver aids. It is equipped with standard Lexus Safety System 3.0+ which includes nearly all safety aids that consumers expect to be included with any new vehicle. The only optional driver aids are lane change assist, front cross traffic alert, traffic jam assist, and the advanced park function.
Warranty – With this being a Lexus/Toyota product, it stands to reason that it should last for a really long time. But as I mentioned earlier, it is a small engine in a big SUV. However, this 2024 Lexus TX 350 is covered by a 4 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and a 6 year / 110,000 km powertrain warranty. So that should give consumers some peace of mind for a little while. Plus, it’s 2 extra years and 30,000 km more powertrain warranty than what you get from the German rivals.
Conclusion – In the end, this new Lexus TX is just like the Toyota Grand Highlander. It’s spacious, it’s easy to drive, and most importantly, it’s comfortable with that added bit of Lexus luxury. At $80,000 CAD as this one is equipped, it is expensive. However, even at this price, it’s less expensive than the X7, GLS, Escalade, Navigator, and even the GMC Yukon. It’s also more spacious than the similarly priced Audi Q7 and Acura MDX. So overall, it’s in a bubble all its own. More spacious than its similarly priced competitors and less expensive than the German & American luxury brands.
Thank you to Lexus Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Lexus.ca
2024 Lexus TX 350 Gallery
