The Lexus TX has always been a three-row SUV that could always be relied upon for all kinds of things. When it appeared, it was giving Lexus buyers a three-row entry that could convincingly compete with some of the segment’s best.
But with the TX getting no major updates whatsoever for 2026, is this gamble by Lexus a wise move in a segment where rapid evolution and changing equipment content can easily leave a slow-footed SUV behind?
TX is mostly unchanged inside and out
Lexus chose to not tinker with the exterior styling too much, and for better or for worse, we think its the right call. The TX is still a handsome SUV, and while its Grand Highlander roots can be glaringly obvious when viewed from certain angles. The vivid red paint on our 550h+ tester helped add more depth and the upright stance helped give it a meaner persona.
The lone weak spot however continues to be the rear end. It’s still too cluttered looking for our tastes, and it also clashes with the front end and its macho man motif that its trying to achieve. Despite its role as the “performance” SUV in the family, the 550h+ is more subtle and does not get some of the racier elements an F-Sport model would get. Our tester also came newly standard with a panoramic sunroof which is standard issue on all TX 550h+ models this year.
Slip inside the TX 550h+ and you’ll find a cabin that continues to be handsome and upscale. Our tester had semi-aniline leather accents and the heated and ventilated front seats offered good amounts of support and comfort. A 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system continues to be standard, and the system also comes bundled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row gets captain’s chairs standard and they too get plenty of space, amenities, and charging ports. The third-row can fit adults in a pinch, but it’s best left either for children or folded down to help boost cargo room.
Performance with no strings attached
Performance for the 2026 Lexus TX 55h+ continues to come from a 3.5-liter V6 thats paired with electric motors and a hybrid system. The setup here continues to make 404 combined horsepower. This strong pwoer allowed our tester to have commendable acceleration off the line with Lexus saying the TX can make the sprint to 60 mph in the six second range. The 550h+ can also go 33 miles on pure electricity before the gas engine kicks back in.
Handling in the TX is roughly what you would expect from something in its segment with the steering being light, and the chassis and suspension preferring to be on the comfort side of things versus being an outright corner carver. Fuel mileage will partly depend on how often the battery pack is recharged but if the electric mode becomes unavailable, the gasoline engine delivers fuel economy in the high 20s. It also doesn’t hurt either that the 550h+ can tow up to 5,000 lbs when asked to do so.
How much?
Pricing for the 2026 Lexus TX 550h+ starts at $79,510 before options and fees. Our tester arrived with a whole host of optional extras and these extras (along with those pesky fees.) helped push our tester to a final as-tested price of $85,639. Some of the notable options included the $895 convinence package, the $2,390 Technology Package and even the $420 crossbars.
This pricing continues to allow it to be a strong contender in the luxury SUV wars but as mentioned at the start of all this, the TX also feels a bit behind when it comes to some of the updates that its rivals got for the new model year. As such, we look forward to seeing what some of its other scheduled updates will bring to the SUV especially with the all-electric TZ slated to appear soon. This EV also has three-rows of seats and while it’s based on the bigger Highlander EV, it might also cut into the TX’s sales territory a bit.
Leave a Reply