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Lexus unveils a trio of innovative designs to shake up the luxury SUV landscape, including the all-new Lexus TX three-row SUV.
Triple Lexus SUV
This past week saw Lexus unveil a trio of new and revised SUVs. Foremost among them, the Lexus TX, an all-new three-row luxury SUV built to compete with the likes of the Acura MDX and Mercedes-Benz GLS. The next generation of Lexus GX brings tough new looks and even more rugged performance. Meanwhile, European and Asian markets are treated to the new Lexus NBX, the brand’s latest subcompact crossover. Lexus is known for its slow and steady approach to vehicle evolution, so when changes to occur then tend to be significant, as is the case with these new SUV. We share all the details below.
Three Rows of Luxury: The New TX
The all-new Lexus TX will be the new peak for cabin space among Lexus products. Sure, you could get three rows in the GX or LX, and even the RX, but in all of those, the seating was tight in back, especially once you got to that third row. The TX, based on the same architecture as the Toyota Grand Highlander, aims to correct this deficiency with gobs of interior space, including in the third row.
The Lexus TX updates the brand’s design language with a new take on the love-it-or-hate-it spindle grille. The new “Unified Spindle” is less evocative of the Predator, even if it is no less expansive. Color offerings span from Cloudburst Grey and Matador Red Mica to the abstractly titled Caviar and Incognito (is that black, Lexus? It is, isn’t it?). Wheels come in 20 inches or 22 inches for those TXs with hybrid powertrains.
Speaking of which, the Lexus TX will feature three powertrain options. The base TX350 will be powered by the same 2.4L turbo four-cylinder as the RX and NX making 275 horsepower and paired with an eight-speed automatic. The TX500h has the same 2.4L but adds an electric motor to its six-speed automatic for 366 horsepower, along with rear steering and all-wheel drive. The top of the line is the TX550h+ which is a plug-in hybrid system comprised of a 3.5L V6 and an electric motor good for 406 horsepower.
The interior of the TX is typical of the current Lexus lineup, focusing on comfort, quality, and ease of use. The second row of the TX will have the choice of a pair do captain’s chairs or a bench. Sadly, this does not mean the TX will be able to seat eight as the third row maximized right and left passenger room by nixing a middle seat. Cargo is laudable for a luxury three-row with 20.1 cu.-ft. behind the third row, 57.4 cu.-ft. behind the second row, and a full 97 cu.-ft. will both the second and third rows folded down. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is paired with an even larger 14-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The TX350 and TX550h arrive in the fall while the plug-in hybrid TX550h+ will follow sometime thereafter. The new Lexus TX looks to make the brand more competitive among the large luxury cohort with their signature balance of style and substance.
Rugged Updates to Lexus GX
The TX is not the only big Lexus SUV making news. Toyota’s luxury arm also announced the next generation of the Lexus GX. The updated GX remains a rugged, body-on-frame SUV and leans into that identity with visual updated that emphasizes its toughness. This means a new and unique take on the spindle grille, a blending of the prior design and those of the Toyota 4Runner and RAV4 TRD Off Road. This GX will also be three inches longer and 3.8 inches wider than the prior generation. Towing will top out at a very respectable 8,000 lbs. thanks to the GX’s 3.4L twin-turbo V6 making 349 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The new Lexus GX looks to blend luxury appointments with the rough and reliable spirit of Toyota’s best off roaders.
Mini-Lexus: LBX Debuts Overseas
Though it is not destined for the US currently, we cannot help spotlighting another new Lexus model, a subcompact crossover dubbed the LBX. This diminutive SUV is based on the Toyota Yaris Cross’ architecture and slots just below the Lexus UX. This posh urban runabout is powered by a 1.5L three-cylinder making 134 horsepower which translates to a languid zero to sixty run of 9.2 seconds. But the LBX is not about lap times, it is about getting from point A to point B in comfort and style, both abundant in this newest Lexus.
