Lexus TX Introduced to Include Two Hybrids - with a Twist

A NEW ERA OF THREE-ROW LUXURY: THE FIRST-EVER LEXUS TX - Lexus USA Newsroom

The Lexus TX has been introduced for the North American market as the TX 350 which carries the ubiquitous 2.4L Turbocharged I4, the TX 500h F Sport Performance with the 2.4L Turbo Parallel Hybrid and the TX 550h+ with a first ever, venerable 3.5L V6 based plug-in hybrid capable of 33 miles. Both the TX 500h and TX 550h+ come with DIRECT4 while the TX 500h adds Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS).

The TX 550h+ is the only TX model to hit 30 mpg combined as well as offer 33 miles of AER according to manufacturer estimates. It is also the most powerful model at 406 hp (302.8 kW) besting the TX 500h by 40 hp (29.8 kW) over its 366 hp (272.9 kW).

The TX is exactly the same size as the Grand Highlander with slightly less cargo area. Behind the 3rd row, it offers 20.1 cu ft versus the Grand Highlander's 29.7 cu ft, 57.4 cu ft with the 3rd row folded vs GH's 62.1 cu ft, and 97 cu ft vs GH's 98 cu ft behind the front seats. Depending on trim levels, can seat 6 or 7 passengers (not confirmed). All TX models will be assembled in Indiana, making the TX 550h+ the first plug-in made in the US.


The third row looks like it seats 2, but apparently the 2nd row with a bench seat in place of the Captain's chairs can seat 3.

 

Updates and official manufacturer specs for the Lexus TX 500h and TX 550h+.
2024 Lexus TX 500h+ - Lexus USA Newsroom

The Grand Highlander built on the exact same line as the TX, shares 2 of the same powertrains with the TX. I will say this, if you spring for the Hybrid MAX powertrain in the Grand Highlander, you are definitely within TX territory, albeit gas-only. If you want the same hybrid powertrain in the TX you'll have to spring for about $11,000 more and you'll lose a seat. The TX 500h F Sport Performance and TX 550h+ PHEV only seat 6 adults. Apparently Lexus thinks if you want a TX with a hybrid powertrain you probably aren't hauling 3 or 4 rugrats but business associates. If you spring for the PHEV version of the TX, expect about a $19,000 jump over the Grand Highlander with the Hybrid MAX.

	Vehicle	Drive Train	Total HP	Efficiency
1	Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid	2.5L NA Hybrid	245	34 mpg
2	Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Limited	2.4L Turbo Hybrid	362	27 mpg
3	Lexus TX 500h F Sport Performance	2.4L Turbo Hybrid	366	27 mpg
4	Lexus TX 550h+	3.5L NA Plug-in Hybrid	404	29 mpg

Seems like you might have everything getting the TX 550h+, but it does have one drawback, seating and price aside. It comes with just a 14.5 gallon fuel tank as opposed to the 17.2 gallons found in the other aforementioned hybrids so you end up with slightly less range, about 10 miles less even with the 33 miles AER.

 

Quirks of the new Lexus TX 550h+ are revealed in this review by the Car Care Nut.

He actually has the TX 350 and talks about the TX 550h+ which can make it hard to follow. If you can forgive his occasional hiccups, like the heat pump in the other plug-in hybrids operates down to -14ºF (-25.6ºC) - it doesn't, the heat pump stops being efficient around 14ºF (-10ºC) and the engine will come on about 3 or 4º above or below that depending on circumstances, the review has a surprise.

First off the TX 550h+ does not have the gas injected heat pump found in every other Toyota and Lexus plug-in. To be fair, Lexus does not advertise the TX 550h+ as having the heat pump. At about the 6:30 mark he explains the TX 550h+ uses a coolant heater which uses battery power to heat up the battery coolant, if needed, to provide heat. Has a positive effect of allowing heat in EV mode when down in the negative region. Has a very negative effect of sucking battery power. He explains this is why it gets only 33 miles EV range. IMHO the fact that the TX 550h+ is rather boxy and weighs 5,357 lbs (2,430 kg) probably has some effect as well. Also the 33 miles EV range probably does not take into account cold weather. I've been trying to find other sources to verify this and I suspect the heater actually is using battery waste heat and heating that coolant since the heating system is tied into the battery coolant for cooling as well.

I looked through the owners manual for the Lexus TX 550h+ and found the manual to be a copy and paste of other manuals. For instance the TX 550h+ apparently comes with leg radiant heaters found as options in the RZ and bZ4X and the electrical only heating system operates only down to 14ºF (-10ºC). If you build a TX 550h+ on line or download the brochure it says nothing about leg radiant heaters or limits on EV heat.
Brochure: https://www.lexus.com/content/dam/lexus/documents/brochures/models/2024/MY24-LEXUS-TX-Brochure.pdf
Owners Manual: Manual | My Lexus

Starting price is a cough inducing $78,050 for the TX 550h+ and comes in 5 colors: Nightfall Mica, Caviar, Wind Chill Pearl, Celestial Silver Metallic, and Cloudburst Gray. You'll have to find someone else to verify the heater operation

This review from Green Car Reports agrees with the Car Care Nut that the TX 350 and TX 500h sound buzzier with the turbo 2.4L 4-cylinger. They both agree the V6 sounds much better in the TX 550h+ and gets better gas mileage, which I suspect will be used quite a bit.
Review: 2024 Lexus TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid is the lone star of TX

 

Lexus is still giving out only Manufacturer estimates for the TX, no EPA yet on web site, brochure or specifications. I'm assuming they use some sort of derived EPA cycles as Lexus and Toyota estimates are typically more pessimistic than EPA. Not being sold in Europe at all or Japan so no alternative estimates like WLTP.
From the Brochure:

35 Projected EPA-estimated MPG ratings determined by manufacturer. EPA estimates not available at time of publishing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive. See http://www.fueleconomy.gov.