Is the American-Built Lexus TX 350 AWD Better Because It’s Bigger, or Does the Size of the “Lexus Texas” Make It Harder to Love - We Answer

We love the Lexus TX because “TX” means “Texas,” and that’s where the Lexus U.S. division is now headquartered. The name is fitting. We think of the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” when we cast our gaze on the hugeness of the TX. Here’s our unfiltered review. Before we begin, let us reveal that the author is a two-time Lexus owner. Our very positive ownership experiences with those two vehicles, one of which has now been in the family for 15 years and has been driven by two generations of drivers, may influence some of our opinions.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - What Is It?
The Lexus TX is a large, three-row premium SUV. 350 indicates its mid-trim level. AWD means all-wheel drive.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - What’s It Cost?
Our tester had a sticker price of $71,464, including its $1,350 Delivery, Handling, and Processing Fee. Add dealer documentation fees to this number to get your baseline consumer cost before markups or discounts.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - What Powers It? How’s the Fuel Economy?
The LX TX we tested was powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. It was mated to an 8-speed geared transmission. Peak power is 275 hp near redline. There are hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the TX and we would strongly suggest checking out those powertrains when you shop. Our tester had an EPA-Estimated Combined rating of 23 MPG. We observed 24.5 MPG. However, the vehicle requires Premium Fuel, which means its energy cost per mile is very high.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - How’s It Drive?
The LX TX drives quite nicely, as all Lexus vehicles do. It’s certainly not snappy and quick. The powertrain is adequate, but it never impressed us as powerful, smooth, or quiet. We’d absolutely look at a hybrid if we were buying a TX.

Handling is comfortable, but the size negates any sporty feelings. Lexus builds a “Sport Handling” trim. Check that out if you want to use this large SUV for spirited driving.

On the highway, the TX didn't offer any driver aids we would call state of the art or remarkable. There was no equivalent of FSD or Supercruise in our tester, just adaptive cruise control.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - Notable Features
The TX that is not a hybrid has a spare tire. We like that in any SUV or daily driver.

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - Interior and Infotainment
The TX has wireless Android Auto, which we found to work seamlessly. The audio system was unremarkable, which surprised us. Many premium vehicles we test now wow us with amazing audio systems. The front driver’s seat tilt was not ideal for six-footers. Most vehicles can support the driver's upper legs, and this one did not. Another off interior issue is that the outside of my knees was in contact with both the left door card and the right center console edge. In such a huge vehicle, this was a big surprise.

The materials are outstanding. The suede on the passenger side of the dash looked and felt really good. The seats in all second and third row positions are well-sized for adults if you choose to use them that way.

One interior aspect that we did not like was the way the doors are opened. You push on a small button. Passengers we carried could not figure them out intuitively, and when we explained it, they said, “WHY?”

2025 Lexus TX 350 AWD - Conclusion and Alternatives
The Toyota family now has an abundance of great large vehicles from its Lexus and Toyota brands. We would cross-shop the Sienna first, then the Grand Highlander if we were considering a three-row Lexus TX. We also strongly recommend checking out the electrified powertrains if you narrow your selections down to a TX.

2025 Lexus TX Images By John Goreham

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John Goreham is a long-standing member of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.