2024 Lexus TX 350 AWD - Bottom Line Review

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER NAMED TEXAS: So goes the play on the euphemism, despite the greater overall size of the 49th state in the Union.

A drive along all 784 miles of U.S. Highway 83, from Mexico to Oklahoma borders, illustrates how any vehicle sized less than jumbo is at least one size too small for the Lone Star State. One hapless Lexus Americas exec and large brood in tow, traveling that same continuum of ribbon in the company's Radiance X[Cross]over L, would confirm it upon return to the corporate digs in Plano.

The RX 350L, as reviewed by Roadblazing.com, exposed the limitations of enlarging an iconic rolling jelly bean for seven aboard. This year the Japanese luxury automaker rectifies that oversight, shifting from spherical parabola to cubic rectangle, in introducing the 2024 Lexus TX 350 three-row full size crossover utility vehicle.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WHAT: 2024 Lexus TX 350 Luxe AWD three row, full size crossover sport utility vehicle. This AU10 first generation three row full size luxury crossover utility vehicle succeeds the Lexus RX 350L mid size three-row flop and is the upmarket sibling to the also new AS10 Toyota Grand Highlander. The all new Lexus TX is built on the modular TNGA GA-K platform. It shares wheelbase with Toyota's S235 Crown sportback and XU70 Toyota Highlander three row SUV.

Standard Power: 2487 cc turbocharged, dual VVT-i DOHC 24V start-stop idle Dynamic Force T24A-FTS I-4 cylinder gasoline engine: 275 hp/ 317 lb-ft @ 1700 r.p.m.

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2024 Roadblazing.com}

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S):To distance the new Lexus TX 350 AWD from the dud that was the RX 350L, the parabola shape has been ditched for a proper square box SUV profile. Even the traditional dark oval set badge has been supplanted by a raised brushed metal logo outline atop the lateral cowl above the grille. Along with body colored lateral slats, the now "demi" spindle grille, is easily the most palatable of the design to date.

• Similarly grand efforts were made to garner exterior distinction from donor cousin, Toyota Grand Highlander. There is a more sloped hood, the wrap around LED headlights are wider with an outboard pointed inverted lateral "L", and a more pronounced front fascia corner fold fang. Door mount hockey stick wing mirrors with lateral chrome strike and the coke bottle body with lower inboard creasing, tandem creased wheel arch tops and the pillars down to the prominent D pillar kink all reprise the Grand Highlander . However, where the TX dons a splash of chrome atop the greenhouse line, and is thoroughly fully body color matched on all panels, the GH sports fully darkened upper window frames and darkened wheel arch & rocker panel cladding. Moreover, it is assumed Lexus customers prefer their roofs to "float" hence the TX's fully darkened "D" pillar.
• In the aft area, the two closely related crossovers bear variations on the same theme of slight bump Kammback lifgate, with license plate bowl included. The extra coin charged for the Lexus' Three Row crossover buys a fully spanning wrap-around LED raceway tail lamp array, with matter metallic "LEXUS" lettering above. Suspected as symbolizing the available full range of hybrid electrification, the Lexus TX 350 buries the exhaust tailpipes under the bumper cover, skipping the Grand Highlander's dual exposed polished tips.

WHY: The compromised Radiance X [Cross]over L [ong] bows out for the capacious big as T [exas] X [Cross]over.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Autumn 2023

WHERE: Lexus new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Princeton, Indiana, U.S.A.

WHERE TO: on-demand "all-weather"drive, w/ rear wheel decoupling, e-varies front/ rear traction from nominal 100/0% to maximum 20/80%, ABS torque vectoring; 8"-inches clearance = Inclement weather beater & dirt road, light mud treader; -1 No Off-Road or torque split lock modes

HOW ROADWORTHY: In non-hybrid trim, tested TX 350 is powered by the same punchy but soul-less turbocharged 2.5L four-banger found in the recently tested Lexus RX 350. Once smartly off the line, the well of low engine speed torque is disappointed by that same sublime but less than snappy automatic, which for the sake of admirable efficiency, hunts for the highest possible gear. -1 Difficulty in sensing position detents with the new corporate toggle shift lever becomes maddening when searching for Neutral in a tunnel car wash.

Paradoxically, TX 350 drives tidier than it dimensions suggest. Without the kind of power to induce much understeer, the selected soft spring rates, which allow a bit of lean, obviate any pogo effect. Damping absorbs impacts fairly gently, with nary any shudder. Steering wind is imbued with expected premium vehicle heft. However, there is too much attendant isolation. Ample size vented rotors at all corners, with twin piston front binders, are graced with shorter than typical brake pedal travel, but dive on hard stopping is noticeable.

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2024 Roadblazing.com}

HOW FAR:22 combined miles per gallon rated, 498 miles maximum range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 7 Occupant seating^{(6 occupant on tested model w/ 2nd Row Captain's chairs)} ; Snug sloped headroom owing to optional panorama roof; Nominal to maximum cargo volume increases two fold from predecessor RX 350L.

2024 Lexus TX 350 AWD Vital Size Stats

_{Manufacturer Provided Specifications @2024 Roadblazing.com}

HOW USEFUL: √ Power liftgate^{(avail. Approach Activation)}; √ Power release fold & slide 2nd Row captain's chair seats; √ Power cargo bay 50:50% split folding + tilting 3rd Row seat backs; √ Cup holders x 6^{(modular, removable)}, Bottle holders (doors) x 8; √ Deep center armrest bin w/ power, connectivity + reciprocal lateral fold lid; √ 2nd Row center armrest storage & power ports

Available (included on test vehicle): roof rack cross bars

HOW SAFE:10 airbags; IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus ; Rear camera; First Aid Kid x 1^{(cargo bay)}

STANDARD Lexus Safety System 3.0 Plus = √ Pedestrian & cyclist detection braking; √ Forward collision avoidance braking; √ Left turn oncoming traffic warning, braking; √ Oncoming traffic warning; √ Lane Departure Warning, Keep Assist, Trace; √ Full adaptive cruise control w/ variable curve speed reduction; √ Safe Exit Assist, traffic side warning (no lockout); √ Automatic High beam LED headlamps; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers

Optional:^{(included on tested 2024 Lexus TX 350 Lux)} √ Blind spot & Rear Cross-traffic warning; √ Traffic Jam assist; √ Active parallel + perpendicular park assist; √ 360^o Surround camera + Perimeter scan; √ Fore and aft sonar audible park warning; √ Digital rear view mirror; √ 10.0" inch multi-mode Heads Up Display (HUD) + road sign detection; √ Triple beam LED headlights; √ Dash cam; √ Windshield wiper de-icer; √ Steering adaptive headlights; √ Headlamp washers

• View Outwards: +1 FORE sloping hood, door mount wing mirrors; -1 SIDE looming over shoulder blindspots; +/- REAR: short backlight mitigated by digital rearview mirror.

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: Releasing doors for entering the 2024 Lexus TX 350 AWD Lux merely requires a light grab of the handles, with nary a tug, sets the tone for a nearly effortless cabin occupant situating. Exiting by exuding a gentle push on interior latch release levers is no less cool. Matching dash and door leather & leatherette panel layers interlock expertly for a curved cowl. Simulated brushed metallic accented switches & rotary knobs match their precision operation. Configurable instrumentation occupies a traditional recessed cavity, yet is set in a unified gloss black panel spanning from driver's door to the outer edge of a handsomely blended large landscape infotainment + climate display which dramatically reduces secondary controls. Haptic panel steering wheel spoke controls make multi-tasking on the go second nature.

√ Perforated semi-aniline leather Rows 1, 2, 3 seating, heated & cooled Rows 1 & 2; √ Power 10-way + 4-way lumbar front seats, w/ 3 position memory driver's memory; √ Power folding wing mirrors; √ Heated leather power tilt, telescoping steering wheel with spoke integrated redundant controls; √ 7.0" inch 3-D gauge cluster Multi-Function display w/ F-Sport G-Forces graph; √ 3-Zone automatic climate control; √ Keyless entry, push buttton ignition; √ Full express power windows x 4; √ 2nd Row + cargo bay privacy window tint; √ 2nd Row door manual sun shades; √ Panorama moonroof

• + 1 Generous steering wheel reach adjustment; Wide center armrest; Generous steering wheel reach adjustment; F-Sport enhanced shoulder & torso seat bolstering, lumbar support + cushioning; Adjacent front center console dual cupholders; NuLuxe seat covering = could fool almost anyone as leather
• -1 Narrow front seat cushions

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Lexus Interface 14.0" inch infotainment display bottom virtual climate controls overlay, twin rotary climate adjust knobs, with integrated temperature displays; √ 10.0" inch Heads Up Display includes dual function left media / right cruise controls, w/ forward vehicle into lane movement, navigation and road sign recognition display; √ Soft touch power ventral exterior door handle, interior door button Digital Latch actuation; √ Digital rear view mirror.

Details Done Right: √ Contrasting stitched seat & soft panel surfaces; √ Sueded seat panels; √ Turned aluminum door accents; √ Center stack to console contrast saddle padding; √ Tight grained plastic panels; √ Precision rotating control dials; √ Soft close power windows; √ Cabin pillar & ceiling velour fabric; √ Dense pile carpeting, including 3rd Row outboard walls; √ Foot well & door panel 64 color, 11 theme ambient lighting;

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Simulated matte metallic accents; Non-carpeted cargo bay walls

HOW CONNECTED: √ Lexus Interface center dashtop tablet 14.0" -inch portrait HD LCD capacitive touch infotainment screen; √ Adaptive voice command interaction & Bluetooth hands-free communications; √ GPS Cloud based Navigation w/ real time re-routing, √ Google POI, OTA updates; √ Lexus Interface wireless device apps = Apple Music, Amazon Music, Amazon Alexa, Doppler weather, Traffic Updates; √ 400 watt, 10- speaker, 8-channel DSP Pioneer streaming audio, HD-Radio; Siri Eyes; USB-C x 7, 12V x 1.^{(cargo bay)}

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: Lexus Human Machine Interface infotainment designed to be very voice interactive via "Hey Lexus" wake-up phrase hence more streamlined (vs. previous Lexus Enform architecture); √ Google browser search; √ Driver profiles x 5, personalized operation, comfort convenience & infotainment settings, portable (to other equipped Lexus Interface equipped vehicles); √ Driver digital key card (via wireless device app)

Audibly Speaking: 21 speaker, 1800 Watts, 12 channels Mark Levinson, Clari-Fi audiophile audio = soothing timbre, powerful low frequency without thumping, accurate imaging.

• +/- No more CD player or Lexus Media Display remote mouse or touchpad control
• -1 Infotainment screen exclusive audio switches; Touch screen could benefit from absent haptics feedback;

BY SUBSCRIPTION:

√ Sirius XM satellite radio (1 year trial); √ Safety & remote connect (1 year trial); √ Digital Key & Drive Connect (3 years trial); √ AT&T 4G LTE Wi-Fi (2GB trial)

HOW MUCH: $69,044 = 2024 Lexus TX 350 AWD Lux^{($56,400 TX 350 front drive)}

WHAT'S MISSING: Getting accustomed to touch action steering wheel spoke and HUD controls, the joystick shift lever, and the soft touch door latch actuators.

ANY COMPETITION: Acura MDX: +1 sweet sounding V-6 engine, dense nap carpet; Volvo XC90 B5 : +1 OMG thrones, some nearly bespoke materials