2026 Lexus TX Review

Finding a truly family-friendly vehicle isn’t easy — especially if you happen to have a flair for the fancy.

There aren’t any luxury minivans out there, at least not in this market, and whether or not they’d sell particularly well in this part of the world remains to be seen. That’s left families with little choice but to turn to big and bulky SUVs, or slightly more compromised crossovers to do the job. But the 2026 Lexus TX manages to find a happy medium, with sizable dimensions inside and out that happen to be built wrapped in the packaging of a crossover.

Design: 7.5/10

While the TX is dimensionally (and mechanically) similar to the Toyota Grand Highlander, it features a few more angles and stylish accents to help it look more suitable for a luxury brand. It garnered plenty of gawking from the parents in my neighbourhood, and even some approving nods from friends.

The Matador Red paint pictured here is new for 2026 and helps the TX stand out, as do the upgraded 22-inch wheels that make up part of the optional Executive 7-Passenger package ($11,006). That kit also adds more exterior LED lighting and other handy tech features.

Inside, designers did just enough to mask the TX’s family-hauling intentions. While there are some easy-to-clean materials low in the cabin, meaning parents can still clean off dirt transferred from muddy boots or shoes, it’s joined by semi-aniline leather upholstery up top. The brown leather seen here looks gorgeous in the right light, and is partially trimmed with a microsuede-like material, adding an extra touch of class.

Safety: 7/10

Lexus packs its usual safety and driver assistance systems here: lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also adds bicycle, motorcycle, and pedestrian detection for the pre-collision system, and can even warn you about oncoming traffic when turning.

There’s also a driver-facing camera that can tell when you’re not paying attention to the road ahead, and will nag you with an alert to stop driving distracted. It’s oftentimes a bit aggressive and can be a bit annoying, though not enough to warrant being turned off. This one was also equipped with a camera-based rearview mirror, which provides a video feed of what’s happening behind the vehicle — perfect for when it’s loaded with people or stuff (or both).

Equipment: 7.5/10

Beyond the safety tech, this Lexus is loaded with features. For example, there are heated front and second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. In addition to the digital instrument screen, there’s also a head-up display included with the Executive 7-Passenger package, and a 21-speaker stereo. The infotainment system also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

User Friendliness: 7/10

Because of the excellent support of Android Auto, little time during this test was spent fiddling with the built-in Lexus infotainment interface, but the 14-inch touchscreen responded well to inputs. However, the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel aren’t as impressive, with vague labels and a corresponding cursor in the head-up display that can be tricky to use.

Everyday Usability: 9/10

Loading this Lexus’s seats throughout this week-long test meant there were almost always four adults and three children in varying configurations of child seats. While my wife and I sat up front, my toddler sat in a rear-facing convertible seat in the second row.

With another family in tow, their toddler sat in a front-facing convertible car seat in the other outbound position with one adult between them, while an infant seat and another parent occupied the third row. It took some practice to load up for our excursions every day, but we got it down to a science, and even the rear seats were comfortable enough for adult occupants.

Behind the third row, there’s 572 L of cargo room — enough for a full-size folded stroller and a fully featured umbrella-style stroller. If you’re willing to sacrifice seats for more cargo room, the third row features a power folding function that helps expand the space to 1,625 L. There’s a moderate amount of towing capacity too, with the Lexus TX 350 rated to tow 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).

Comfort: 8/10

The TX soaked up most hits from the potholes or highway expansion joints during this test, even when loaded with people. There’s plenty of headroom inside, and second-row legroom is good, too. The only criticism is the excess wind noise, but beyond that the TX is cooperative and comfortable for daily excursions.

Power: 6/10

Under the hood of the Lexus TX 350 is a turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder engine that makes 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. With more than 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) of metal to move, the little four-cylinder was pushed to its limit. The power is sent to all four wheels via an all-wheel-drive system, and it uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The TX 350 isn’t particularly quick, and though it’s able to eventually get up to speed with traffic, its powertrain felt more mundane than a luxury nameplate might suggest. Shoppers who like the size and style of this crossover might want to consider the more powerfulTX 500h, which delivers better fuel efficiency along with 366 hp.

Driving Dynamics: 7/10

Despite being a bit on the slow side, the TX 350 never felt clumsy or too large to drive. I had no issues cruising on the highway and finding room for this three-row in packed traffic. Parking is perhaps the only hurdle to get used to, though it has light steering that helps you make quick and easy adjustments at low speed.

Efficiency: 6/10

With a week's worth of hauling a full load of passengers and cargo, I didn’t get anywhere near the expected 10.3 L/100 km in combined driving conditions that’s claimed by Lexus, and instead saw figures that hovered around the 12.0 L/100 km mark. (For reference, the TX 350 is advertised to return 11.5 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 L/100 km on the highway.) But then it isn’t out of the question that the average TX spends its life loaded with payload like this, which makes the more efficient TX 500h hybrid that much more appealing.

Value: 8/10

Expect to spend at least $72,060 for the 2026 Lexus TX 350. That’s inclusive of freight ($2,205) but before tax. This tester included the $11,006 Executive 7-Passenger package, which brought the pre-tax total $83,066, which doesn’t cover dealer fees and other add-ons. Alternatives around that price point are the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, though it's worth pointing out that both of those vehicles start at the $80,000 mark and only get more expensive from there.

The Verdict

I didn’t expect the 2026 Lexus TX 350 to be this family-friendly, but it impressed me with its passenger and cargo room. And it provides all that useful space while also being comfortable to drive and loaded with equipment.

However, shoppers in need of a fully loaded family-friendly crossover may be tempted by the gas-powered Toyota Grand Highlander, which is very similar to the Lexus TX 350 in many ways and costs about $10,000 less. But the TX is just about the best pick for families with a more luxury-leaning lifestyle.