This seems to be quite a cool ride but being a new model, I hope it doesn't come with much headache on the long run. 👍🏼 Detailed review, even though I expected short clips of the other brands when you did the comparisons.
Excellent review. I agree with your comparison between the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX. I drove them back-to-back and through there are a lot of similarities, the Lexus TX takes the cake. I went with the Lexus TX 350 Premium with added packages. So far, an excellent decision.
Sir, please may I ask, when you drive the Tx, does the fact that the engine is a lower hp play a factor? I mean is the drop in engine power noticeable???
How does the Lexus beat the Toyota aside from the more premium refinement, and more sophisticated technologies? Many people say Lexus is just Toyota but many people buy them. I know for sure it's primarily because of Toyota quality.
Thank you! Fantastic review! My gripes with the 500h is the aggressive, non-adjustable side bolster. I'm really hoping to steer away from those f-sport seats coming from my 2020 RX350, but I guess it's a tradeoff if i want decent power. I don't think I can wait for the 550h+. Also, do you mind taking a look at your mic setup? I'm getting a lot of noise here.
Thanks for such a thorough, thoughtful and informative review! It's great that you drove all 3 types of the engine offerings so you can compare between them. I'm looking for a 3 row suv for my family of 5 and this is one we're considering. It's too bad the 2nd row bench is only available in the 350, otherwise the plug in V6 sounds very enticing.
Thank you for the very informative review David! At first I was convinced that I should get the 550h+ but now you have me considering the 500h. Which would you recommend as a family hauler and for occasional road trips (six hr drives down the coast on the 101 from SF to LA)? How comfy were the seats in the 500h with bolsters vs 550h+?
The TX looks great in dark blue The interior doesn't look like much of an upgrade over Toyota, except some color on the seats I'm glad they gave Lexus buyers a reason to pay a premium over the Highlander, with the V6 engine I wouldn't pay $70k for a 4-banger
Great info. Always look forward to your reviews. I have a question please... how is the TX ride compared to LX600 ride? I have LX600 but I feel the ride is somewhat rough. I wonder if I should trade my LX for a TX. Would appreciate your thoughts please.
Great review; thank you. Do you have any ideas on how they can engineer the ugly and cheap materials out of the vehicle?It doesn’t fell like a Lexus from three years ago.
Hello David.. Thank you for the detailed review of the TX. I am thinking of getting a TX. I was almost set on getting the base model as I thought it has everything I need, but I just took a closer at all the specs and see the the base model comes with "swing valve shock absorbers" and the premium model that is about $3500 more comes with a "gas-pressurized shock absorbers, performance damper". I could not find much information on-line on the difference between the two. Does this make a difference in the driving experience? The premium also comes up a panoramic roof that I dont really need, so I am trying to justify the additional $3500 for this shock absorbers. If it indeed makes the ride a bit softer, it may be worth it?
The 500h is probably considerably lighter, with a smaller engine and smaller electric system and battery, so that should account for its more sporting tossable feel on the road. The Plug-In is surely the heaviest TX, by a margin.
So I heard rumors that the GX550 will also come in a hybrid setup like the Toyota Landcruiser; but that it would be the 4 cylinder hybrid. The fact that the TX550h+ is a v6 hybrid, do you think the GX550h+ will be a 4 cylinder or a 6 cylinder hybrid engine setup?
Test drove three of them, the TX350 is grossly underpowered, the 500 is adequately powered but I am not sold on the EV/Hybrid hype yet. I will say the one thing that stood out about both is how incredibly quiet it is...not sure which one you were in that had a lot of wind now?
So Toyota tells you where they added things. But not where they took things away. Why are there good years and bad years to the Highlander reliability Dave. Get your hands dirty and find the BAD differences BEFORE we buy them, not years down the road when Lazy Dave was measuring car gaps and not reliability gaps. WHAT ARE THE QUALITY DIFFERENCES THAT TOYOTA CHEAPENED their SUV once people got suckered into buying because Lazy Dave measured paint thickness and car panel gaps? That's what you used your MIT degree to do?
Not giving a luxurious interior in a Luxury brand is actually bad on Lexus' part. Why would anyone pay more if they are getting the same in Grand highlander? Bad decision by Lexus.
Wow I love your reviews! I’ve been watching reviews from other RU-vidrs for a decade and you’re actually the best! Friendly, honest and knowledgeable. Thank you!
David, thank you for this extensive and highly detailed review, evaluation, and driving impression of the Lexus TX. From your analysis of covering so many of the features of the TX, I was able to determine which features mean the most in daily use. I also like the name. When I see TX, I think Texas, where I am from.
David, since you are a car engineer, haven't you taken apart any of these SUV's to see the quality of "engineering" that you say is designed better than others? Your review isn't anything scientific that I can't see from any other car reviewer. Where's the science of the components you say are engineered so well? Where has Toyota cheapened the car? What about the quality of the transmission? How do these components compare to the Grand Highlander? What is it about the V6 that makes it so good instead of just saying it's good? Take the car apart please. You did the easy stuff measuring the paint. Now, get to the grit.
This is the most comprehensive review on the TX that I have ever watched. Great job, David, as always. This car would be my top pick I had a larger family😆
I’m glad you’re not my salesman . I come away wanting every Lexus after your wonderfully intricate description. I feel I’m in the passenger seat . I must admit owning a Lexus your evaluations are spot on , even the exceptional service . Your enjoyment definitely transfers in these enjoyable videos .
I am concerned of having a large car like this with a 4 cylinder engine with Turbo Charger. I can only afford base level. What are your thoughts for LONG-TERM Reliability?
Outstanding review David, as always. The TX seems like the perfect family SUV, except one thing: no moon roof in the 500h+ PHEV?? If in fact that's the case, do you know why? Huge bummer!!
What isn't standard is the traffic jam assist (TJA) for stop and go traffic under 25mph. Where as in Honda and Acura is all included without a subscription like Lexus and Toyota
Thanks David. Another good review. Just a note: not sure if it was just me, but there was some crackling in the audio. Otherwise, very informative and interesting!
Thanks for the Indepth review. I was really concern about the TX being built in the US because most factory work in the US uses the "Good Enough" standard of quality. I will be holding out until the H+ version reviews before making a decision.
David, thank you for your expertise! Which AWD system do you think will handle better in the snow, the traditional AWD on the TX 350 or the Direct4 AWD on the 500H? We live at 7,000' altitude and get a lot of snow.
The top trim TX 550h+ will likely cost $80k. At that price I’d much rather get a GX550 OverTrail+ instead that can go anywhere. But I guess if one wants a mallcrawler this is a good choice
TX looks great but more of the timid compare to all new great looking GX550. I may wait for the hybrid version along with the hype cool down before getting my next Lexus to replace my 12 year old S550. On the GX, I want the 20" wheel over 22".. Larger wheel can get damaged more easier when pot hole is encountered along with higher tire costs.
I absolutely love the way you explain the system, the feel and the differences between both sun's and the way each mood works Thank you for this very useful information.
Always appreciate not just US but some snips of Canadian spec or perspective. Thank you very much David, you might really go for this even over the LX?
By far. The cx90 suspension is incredibly tight and bumpy, and the cabin is noisier. The cx90 phev throttle response is also really weird. The 500h feels linear and powerful right off the line.
Very informative and very beautiful vehicle. Love it , am getting second thoughts, about trading my Toyota Sienna for a Lexus Tx . Thank you for all the information 🙏🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️👏🏻👏🏻
David, I saw on a review that the TX550H+ that the engine kicks on even in EV mode on the Highway. Did you have that experience? I put a deposit on one about a year ago in the GTA and still don't have an idea on when I will be able to actually place the order for it and expect delivery. Disappointing especially given that it has been on sale in the US for about 3-4 months now. I would get the TX500, but I don't want F Sport seats. I am too old to sit in a "Sporty" SUV and will ONLY buy a Hybrid. My wife was the RX450H+ and we LOVE it!!
Hey David, great review. U mentioned GV80 and X5 a lot during ur analysis of this Lexus TX. Wouldn't the better comparison be the x7 and GLS since those have a more comparable third row to the TX since the MDX and the optional third rows of the x5 and gv80 are not made for adults and are not as big size wise as the TX?
How accessible is it to replace the spark plugs? I hope the solid state battery provides 60 miles of range. Will it be adequate to keep it on if I want to sleep in it when I travel? A technician says that hybrid automobiles should not be kept idling.
the problem with the design of Japanese cars is the front wheels are too far back from the front bumper and very close to front doors when compared with Europeans like the range rover you can see the big difference that’s what gives the range rover its elegant look
I got recently Toyota Camry 2020 was 30000 thousand miles on it looks new now in couple months it’s 42000 thousand mile I do Uber in Manhattan things I noticed when little bump it’s making noise like sound ta-tah doors cheap plastic shaking trimmers and windows shaking when it’s open very thin and car making so much noise,sometimes I feel shy for my car when customers in overall I’m not satisfied
You are reviewing a TX 500H which does not come in a V6 plug in hybrid. We bought a TX500H F-sport that only comes turbo-4 with 2 electric motors and a small battery.
No four-cylinder turbo for me I want a NA V6 or V8 so I will be looking elsewhere. The idea that we are cleaning the environment with these ridiculous mandates is insane. We try to clean while China, India and many other burn coals and they can hardly breath in their cities. I guess the looney tune left wingers think that the smog is just going to stay in those countries? I see the need to try to get to cleaner air and environment but we are not going to do it overnight and folks like me who don't want electric or other will buy older and just keep them running longer. California has gone to great lengths to clean their air and it looks to me like it still is smoggy. The Energy Policy Institute of Chicago released a report last year that showed some California counties were more polluted than they were in 1970. In 2020, more than half of California counties experienced their worst air pollution since 1998, according to the report. Take off the rose-colored glasses what you are doing does not work.
Thank you so much for the very detailed and interesting video for the TX. One question. Does the main light have Dynamic High Beam? it is called in many different names by different manufacturers. Ex: ADB (Adaptive Driving Beam) by Jaguar, BladeScan Adaptive High Beam System (AHS) by Lexus, LED array Adaptive High Beam by Toyota. It is not an automatic high beam OR low beam. It is on high beam all the time EXCEPT for the preceding or oncoming traffic where it would be low beam. Does ANY Toyota or Lexus Model in the US have this feature? If not, when would it be available on what model/s ? Thank you
I really enjoy your thoughtful analysis. The Lexus TX gives more space and ease of use than its Toyota Gr Highlander cousin. Many in the segment try to put 3 in the last row but Lexus only puts 2 back there. This is a big vehicle and longer wheelbase compared to the RXL model they used as a stop gap. I think it fits the bill for a large family on trips and also just around town. It should be popular in the South where bigger is better...
Looked at the new TX 500h at my dealership. The good: much nicer finishes than they look on all the videos. Super comfortable seats and the leather and soft touch area were like butter. The bad; too much black gloss where it really didn’t have to exist and the exterior panel alignment was disappointing. Some edges didn’t line up and actually some corners of panels stuck out. Gonna have to wait a couple of years before considering buying one of these. I also felt the exterior design wasn’t as impressive as some competitors. The steering wheel could have been a standout - looked similar to all their other cars. Could have been a standout for 100K+ price tag.
A similarly priced volvo will be 4k more expensive abd have tighter seating. However, the xc90 also let's you add air suspension and massage seats for more money. Finally, the xc90 recharge us 4.5s 0-60 which is really good.
With this being made in the US, is there an IRS tax credit available with its purchase? Also, can the 500h be put in electric only mode like the 500h+?
yep-- can't argue against you switching one of your GX's to this. It really has the space and quiet that is good for the soul and body. Re-sale i assume will be very good, though i'm not smart re that. But re-sale generally of TMC cars has been so good in the past decade or more & increasingly so, that it's an easy bet. The exterior design is to me, too much of difference to the RX styling, i.e. it's like two different brands, and i think this and the grand Highlander could have used a bit of nuance to the boxy shape. Not happy about that.
@AutomotivePress , hi David, where you pkace mazda cx 90 phev, is it worth getti g how do you compare cx 90 with grand highlander ot tx phev , being less expensive than tx?
Great video, as always. I currently have a Sienna XSE (because it's the best-looking trim). I am totally satisfied with the “adequate power” of the 2.5 hybrid system. I guess I'm cheap and the 36 MPG is a key factor for me. The room and versatility is hard to beat. I occasionally crave a bit more luxury. We don't have any kids but 2 seventy pound German Shepherds. I look forward to more videos. And maybe an refresh on Sienna with TSS 3.0
I here ya. I have an 06 Odyssey with under 116kmiles that I only drive once a week to keep her young. If I need to haul 5 to 8 people I can use her. I don't get the great fuel economy or the awesome electric car experience that you get when driving the van. I get that when I drive my Prius!
In terms of reliability, and power which one would you recommend TX350 or GX550? Do you think a 4-cylinder engine of TX350 would have not enough power? Thank you.
