Why The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid’s Rich Cousin From Lexus Is Worth The Premium

If you’re in the market for an SUV that can haul up to eight people in comfort, one of the best choices you’ve got is the Toyota Grand Highlander. Grander and bigger than the Highlander, this three-row SUV is not built on a body-on-frame construction and is instead your typical unibody crossover SUV. As a result, there’s excellent interior space utilization out of this behemoth of an SUV with similar levels of practicality to a minivan.

But, what if you wanted something just as big, but even more luxurious? Well, you don’t have a lot of three-row luxury SUV options that can match the space of the Grand Highlander. If you want to match its space whilst carrying a premium badge, you’d have to step up to a full-size body-on-frame SUV like a Cadillac Escalade. Thankfully, a three-row luxury SUV that’s mechanically related to the Grand Highlander exists, and it comes from the house of Lexus. Take a look at why this three-row luxury hybrid SUV is worth the splurge over the Grand Highlander, as well as its space advantage over similarly-priced three-row luxury crossover SUVs.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Lexus and other authoritative sources.

Why The Lexus TX Hybrid Is Worth The Premium

The Lexus TX’s role is to finally provide the Japanese luxury brand with a legitimate three-row crossover SUV offering. Sure, you have the Lexus GX and LX as your three-row luxury SUV options from this brand, but not everyone wants a cumbersome body-on-frame SUV. Let’s be honest, for most use cases, the most extreme off-road scenario an SUV will most likely face will be a light off-road trail into a campsite or a farm, so for most families, a unibody luxury crossover SUV that’s easy to drive on paved roads will fit their needs best.

A Spacious Three-Row SUV

Coming to the name, ‘TX’ stands for Touring Crossover. Before the TX, the previous generation RX L was the brand’s three-row luxury crossover SUV offering, but it wasn’t a sales success. Despite the lengthened wheelbase over the standard RX, its third row was more of an afterthought, so only a few customers found it useful.

The new TX, on the other hand, finally gives Lexus a legitimate three-row luxury crossover SUV that can actually sit an adult, even in the third row. In fact, as you’ll see here, its third row is the absolute most spacious among its rivals, which include the Acura MDX, Volvo XC90, and Audi Q7. The BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS are at different price points altogether, while the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator are rivals to the Lexus LX.

The TXh Is Luxurious

But the main reason why you’d prefer the TX Hybrid over the Grand Highlander if you’ve got the room to splurge is its luxurious interior and better tech features. The Grand Highlander, to its credit, is pretty nice for its price already, but if you want the finest materials such as semi-aniline leather, real wood and aluminum trims, as well as a cutting-edge infotainment system with a sublime Mark Levinson surround sound system, then the Lexus TX is a three-row luxury SUV that’s worth the splurge.

Furthermore, don’t go thinking that the TX is merely a Grand Highlander in a tailored suit. The TX shares the same TNGA-K platform as the Grand Highlander (and a plethora of Toyota and Lexus vehicles as well), but it also brings to the table a host of mechanical differences such as an available Adaptive Variable Suspension, increased weld points, and more sound insulation. If you can also afford it, the range-topping TX 550h+ V-6 plug-in hybrid is the most refined and luxurious way to own a three-row Lexus crossover SUV, which as you’ll see later, offers copious amounts of power and refinement that’s very much worth the nearly $80,000 asking price.

What The Lexus TX Offers

If you’re in the market for a three-row luxury SUV, then we’re absolutely sure that you indeed want to make a statement. Thankfully, that’s exactly what the Lexus TX offers in spades, thanks to its bold and boxy exterior and supremely well-trimmed interior.

Bold Exterior Statement

While you can tell that the TX shares the basic proportions of the

The Best Features You Will Get With The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
, Lexus has done a commendable job in giving this three-row SUV its own identity. Starting with the front fascia, the Spindle Grille has now evolved into what Lexus calls their Spindle Body. Since it’s now body-colored, the grille blends with the rest of the car’s bodywork. It’s part of a unified approach to design in order for its models, whether electrified or not, to have a family resemblance.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance gains a more aggressive fascia, sportier 22-inch alloy wheels, and fewer chrome trimmings. Lower variants come with smaller 20-inch wheels, but are upgradeable to 22-inch wheels on higher variants and when opting for the TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid.

Cozy Interior That’s A Bit Somber

In typical Lexus fashion, the interior of the TX is indeed luxurious and well-trimmed. While the interior is finished in typical Lexus levels of build quality, the color choices we think are very somber. Even the rest of the interior doesn’t come with a lot of contrasting colors from the door panels or stitching details. Thankfully, the features you get for the price are pretty good, with stuff like ventilated front and rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a plethora of USB charging ports available as standard or on higher trims.

As for tech features, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is standard, and so is a 14-inch Lexus Interface infotainment system. The two screens work well in terms of their functionality, though the steering wheel buttons don’t have labels. In order to know their functions, you have to put your fingers on these buttons and their functions will be revealed on the head-up display. A Mark Levinson surround sound system is also available on higher trims, and based on experience with a plethora of Lexus vehicles, this sound system is one of the best in the industry.

Driving The Lexus TX

The Lexus TX is available in three powertrain choices–one pure internal combustion engine (ICE) variant and two hybrid variants. We immediately recommend opting for the hybrid versions because the standard 2.4-liter turbo engine can feel tepid when fully loaded. The two hybrid versions available aren’t just more efficient, but they’re also very powerful. Our friends from our sister site CarBuzz were able to drive a range-topping TX 550h+, and this is indeed the powertrain to go for.

Go Hybrid Or Go Home

The two hybrid options on offer are the TX 500h F Sport Performance, which is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder parallel hybrid system that produces 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This is mated to a six-speed automatic with two electric motors driving each rear wheel and one that’s also mounted along with the six-speed automatic. Based on this powertrain combination, this version of the TX is for those who value a bit of sportiness out of their three-row luxury SUV.

On the other hand, the TX 550h+ is a plug-in hybrid that combines a creamy 3.5-liter V-6 with a 179-horsepower electric motor. It’s a series-parallel hybrid, which therefore means it uses an e-CVT. This is also the most powerful version of the TX, having a total system output of 406 horsepower, but in typical Toyota and Lexus fashion, they don’t reveal the system torque figures of its series-parallel hybrids. This is also the smoothest of all the drivetrains based on the CarBuzz team’s experience, thanks to the creamy smoothness of the V-6 and the lack of any shift points from the e-CVT.

And You’ll Have A Serene Drive

While both hybrids have the ability to remain silent at city speeds, it’s the TX 550h+ that truly takes the cake for refinement and quietness. That’s because the electric motors are strong enough to motivate this TX on its own for most of your city drives. It’s only when you need to overtake or cruise at higher speeds that the V-6 kicks in to life. Even then, you can’t tell when the V-6 engine fires up–indeed a testament to Toyota and Lexus’ hybrid expertise. The relaxed drivetrain is also matched with a quiet cabin and a supple ride. Handling isn’t its strongest suit, but it’s reasonably well-versed to tackle corners for its size.

Speaking of relaxed, you’ll experience quietness for up to 33 miles according to the EPA, thanks to its 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery. Even with the gas engine running, the TX 550h+ is claimed to do 27 MPG combined, which is excellent for a three-row luxury SUV. Where the serenity is somewhat spoiled is whenever you accelerate hard. No shift points in the e-CVT means you’ll hear that V-6 sings at a constant RPM until you let go of the throttle pedal. Apart from that, you’ll enjoy the TX’s mostly relaxed and serene driving experience.