Lexus used to offer several models that were unique to Lexus in North America, like the IS, GS, RX, and range-topping LS. Nowadays, with the exception of the IS sport sedan and LC 500 halo car, everything Lexus sells has a direct Toyota counterpart. In the case of the 2026 Lexus TX 350 we’re looking at, it’s corporate cousin is the full-size, three-row Toyota Grand Highlander – which is already quite nice. Are there enough differences between the two to justify the Lexus’ existence?
Wrap-up:
The Executive package creates a sweet spot with all the luxury stuff you want, with a basic powertrain and a comfy drive
Executive Features
This 2026 Lexus TX 350 features the 6-seat Executive package that adds a long list of features for about $11k on top of the $70k base price. This includes second row captain’s chairs, powered leather seats, panoramic moonroof, 22-inch wheels, 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system, ambient lighting, digital rear-view mirror, adaptive high-beam lighting, cornering headlights, head-up display, and it keeps going.
Exterior & Interior Impressions
The exterior design for the 2026 Lexus TX 350 is quite clean and inoffensive, which should keep Lexus faithful quite happy – even if I personally feel it’s a little pedestrian. While other Lexus’ have seen more use of dramatic shapes, Lexus played it safe and let the imposing, blocky body of the Grand Highlander do the talking. The wheels on this Executive model and the Matador Red paint go a long way towards breathing life into it.
Wins:
Excellent ride, nice cabin, tons of space
The interior of this Lexus is a much nicer place to be in compared to its Toyota counterpart, especially with it’s two-tone Peppercorn leather. High quality materials are found throughout, but I wouldn’t call it class-leading, as a BMW X5 or Genesis GV80 provides a more luxurious ambience. The overall interior design is similar what you’d find in most current Lexus products, save for the configurable centre console with removable cupholders, which is new to me and quite thoughtful.
Accommodation & Technology
With the shared platform from the extra-large Toyota Grand Highlander, the 2026 Lexus TX 350 has no problems fitting six or seven occupants. The Grand Highlander can seat up to eight passengers, but the TX 350 prioritizes comfort, so squeezing as many people in is not the top priority. Cargo space behind the third row is 572 litres. Drop the third row and that jumps to 1,625 litres of usable cargo space, and for max capacity, fold the second-row captain’s chairs for a whopping 2,747 litres of usable space.
The 14-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster are slick in operation and generally quite easy to live with. Conversely, I did not enjoy the (optional!) capacitive steering wheel controls, which range from being too sensitive to inconsistent, and numerous owners have complained that they are quite distracting. After a week behind the wheel, I was left frustrated and just reached over to the infotainment screen to scroll through songs and menus. Thankfully, the Mark Levinson sound system was excellent and helped make up for it.
Powertrain & Efficiency
All TX 350s are powered by a 2.4-Litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, that produces 275 horsepower and 317 foot-pounds of torque. It’s far from quick, but it’s quick enough for modern traffic, and the engine is relatively smooth and soft spoken, save for the rather un-Lexus racket it makes when pushed. If you want a hybrid and/or more muscle, you’ll have to step up to the TX 500h.
Whiffs:
Capricious capacitive steering wheel controls, bland styling
The 8-speed automatic transmission also helps motivate this large sport utility vehicle with ease and respectable efficiency for how big it is; I averaged 12.5L/100km in my week with it. Premium fuel is recommended, which does sting a bit, especially right now.
Driving & Ride Comfort
While the base powerplant does a fine job, it’s the impressive ride that made me love this 2026 Lexus TX 350. With 22-inch wheels and low-profile winter tires, most people would expect a stiff and noisy ride. Thankfully, that was not the case here. The ride was super smooth, and only the worst Toronto potholes and railway tracks managed to break through and disturb the quiet cabin. Comfort and a luxurious ride is the name of the game for the Lexus TX 350. Wind noise is almost non-existent, and as mentioned earlier, the only auditory intrusion I encountered was the engine under hard acceleration.
Wrap it up
The TX 350 is a good offering from Lexus, offering the big size of the range-topping big-truck LX SUV without the big-truck drawbacks, or pricing. It is comfortable, well appointed, easy to drive, commodious, and reasonably fuel efficient. The Executive package’s added feature set and style elevates it to a unique position, as there is nothing else you can buy that’s this nice and this spacious for its price tag of $81,461.
A BMW may drive better, and a Genesis may feel more luxurious, but you’ll pay a princely sum for them with this much seating. 2026 Lexus TX 350’s strongest competition may come from within, as Toyota’s own Grand Highlander offers fewer frills, but the same spacious package for a lot less. Whether or not the extra spend for Lexus luxury is up to you.
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Staff Writer
An experienced detailer and diehard car guy, Jon brings a creative eye to his new vehicle road tests. Aside from writing, Jon spends most of his time tinkering with new detailing products and experimenting with ceramic coatings.
Current Toy: ’13 650i Gran Coupé
Editor-in-Chief
Nathan is an eccentric car enthusiast who likes driver-focused cars and thoughtful design. He can't stand listening to people reminisce about the "good ole days" of cars because he started doing it before it was cool, and is also definitely not a hipster doofus.