Live Thread: 2024 Lexus TX 500h F Sport review

If Toyota’s three-row Grand Highlander leaves you wishing for more luxury, you’re in luck: Lexus also sells it, but gives it a new skin, different insides and calls it the TX. (Or, as some on the internet call it, the Lexus Texas.)

At the time of writing, Lexus offers the TX in six different flavors–three gas-only models, two hybrids and one plug-in hybrid:

Powering the Lexus is a 2.4-liter inline-four plus two electric motors–one integrated into the transmission, the other into the rear axle–that produce a combined 366 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque.

All-wheel drive is standard (so far, only the gas-powered models are available in front-wheel drive), with a six-speed automatic handling gear changes.

Regardless of trim level, all versions of the TX have a towing capacity of 5000 pounds and feature 20 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row. Fold down the third-row seats, however, and you’ll have over 50 cubic feet of space to work with.

On paper, the 500h gets a combined 27 mpg (27 city, 28 highway), which is an improvement over the gas-only model’s combined 23 mpg (20 city, 26 highway).

MSRP for the 500h F Sport Performance Premium is listed at $68,000, with our tester for the week carrying a sticker price of $72,945.

Comments

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
6/17/24 2:41 p.m.

Weird, weird vehicle. Or maybe it's not.

First, it's big. Like, full-size SUV big. Not quite Suburban/Excursion big, but definitely Explorer big. But it's also getting pretty awesome fuel economy thanks to the hybrid system. I've been averaging over 27mpg since Thursday, which seems really strong for such a large vehicle with three real rows. The upside of the bigness is lots of usable and reconfigurable space inside. The squareness and folding seats give it tons of options for hauling stuff. The downside of the bigness seems to be a fairly unusual tendency of a modern car to wallow a bit. Like, mid '90s GM B-Body wallow. It's not exactly offputting—the ride is good enough even though it isn't fully controlled—but it seems out of place in a modern car with modern shocks.

The craziest part is the driver interaction. The seat/wheel/pedal relationship is awesome. The wheel is small, thick and has amazing feedback. There's paddle shifters with exceptional action. It has the driver experience of a world-class GT in a big, slightly wallowy SUV. I mean, it's appreciated, but it also feels a bit unnecessary given the focus of the rest of the vehicle.

Overall, though, I guess I get the appeal of the form factor. If you need something big, but don't need to tow anything more than a couple jet skis or a ATV, there's a lot of appeal in this unibody full-size SUV. It's not going to tow a car, or a horse, though. Unless it's some sort of tiny, poodle-sized horse

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
6/17/24 2:43 p.m.

Oh and I love these modular, reconfigurable cupholders.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
6/17/24 2:45 p.m.

honestly, my biggest complaint is the driver's dash. Maybe it's just my seating position, but there's literally no orientation the car has ever been in where there isn't some sort of glare or reflection on the display.

This picture is as good as i could get it without like putting a towel over the dash.

dculberson MegaDork
6/17/24 2:48 p.m.

You know we're getting jaded when I see "366 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque," and think "that's it?" 27mpg in something that size is impressive.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/17/24 4:02 p.m.

dculberson said:
You know we're getting jaded when I see "366 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft. of torque," and think "that's it?" 27mpg in something that size is impressive.

The plug-in looks to do even better: a combined 29 mpg–plus the added benefit of 33 miles of electric-only range.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/17/24 4:06 p.m.

Just noticed this, too:

Although the 500h weighs nearly 5000 pounds, Lexus says it has a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds.

That's pretty quick for something like this, right?

spacecadet (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
6/17/24 5:55 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

That's quick in anything still combustion powered.

and it's probably something you could replicate since it's not a manual needing some insane rollout or something.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
6/18/24 9:31 a.m.

Pretty sure it’ll outrun my Miata....

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
6/18/24 9:47 a.m.

I need to check if there's a water bottle stuck under the gas pedal because it doesn't feel quite that fast. Although it could have a super logarithmic actuation and backloads a ton of the opening until the final quarter of the travel. I'll floor it when I leave for lunch.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
6/18/24 9:52 a.m.