Ask most modern car shoppers what they want and the list is pretty straightforward. Most shoppers want SUVs, luxury features, and good fuel economy figures. Few three-row SUVs match this short list as well as the 2025 Lexus TX 500h. Shoppers wanting a three-row, family-friendly Lexus used to be stuck with the RX-L, which was a larger version of the RX. With the TX Hybrid, shoppers now have a dedicated three-row luxury SUV from Lexus to explore.
What the 2025 Lexus TX 500h Gets Right
There’s no shortage of three-row luxury SUVs on sale, but limiting the class to hybrids shrinks the number of available options. Leave it to Toyota, the leader of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, to offer a luxury hybrid in a small segment.
The family-oriented 2025 Lexus TX 500h delivers the roomy and upscale experience that most shoppers have come to expect from the Japanese luxury brand in a package that has three rows of seats. That last bit may not seem important, but some competitors only seat up to five people.
Seating For Up To Six
The 2025 Lexus TX 500h comes with three rows of seats as standard equipment, giving it an edge over competitors like the BMW X5 Hybrid and Mercedes-Benz GLE Hybrid. The TX 500h maxes out at seating for up to six people, which is the ideal amount for a midsize SUV of this size. Additionally, with 33.5 inches of third-row legroom, the TX 500h has one of the roomier third rows in the segment.
Loads Of Cargo Space
In addition to having roomy seats, the 2025 Lexus TX 500h has an impressive amount of cargo space for the segment. The SUV has 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 97 cubic feet of total cargo space. Room behind the third row is limited, but the TX 500h’s total cargo capacity is admirable.
Performance And Fuel Economy
In a strange twist, Toyota and Lexus have started to use hybrid engines to improve performance and fuel economy instead of just focusing on the latter. The 2025 Lexus TX 500h features a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with dual electric motors. Output is rated at 366 horsepower, which is 91 horsepower more than the gas-powered TX.
The TX 500h feels peppy in a straight line and is rated at up to 27 mpg combined. That gas-powered TX with front-wheel drive can get up to 23 mpg combined. More performance and better fuel economy figures make the TX 500h a more well-rounded package than the gas-powered TX.
What the 2025 Lexus TX 500h Gets Wrong
For a brand like Lexus that made a name with its plush cabins and lavish ride quality, the 2025 Lexus TX 500h leaves a lot of space to its rivals in these two categories. Elsewhere, shoppers could also find fault with the TX’s design, interior controls, and handling capability.
Stiff Ride
The 2025 Lexus TX 500h that I drove was the F Sport Performance Luxury trim. Being the F Sport model, the TX 500h comes equipped with F Sport adaptive suspension, performance dampers, and 22-inch F Sport wheels. These features result in a ride that feels jarring over rough roads and unsettled on tarmac with consistent ruts. It’s far from what people have come to expect from a Lexus.
Some Questionable Interior Materials
A similar thing can be said of the 2025 Lexus TX 500h’s cabin. Lexus is up there in my books for having luxurious cabins, but the TX 500h left me wanting more. The cabin doesn’t have the same rich and warm design as some of the brand’s other vehicles. If you were to put the Lexus TX side by side with some other midsize SUVs, you’d find that some feel more special.
What’s The Point Of The F Sport?
Lexus dug itself into a hole with the TX 500h. For the 2025 model year, the TX 500h is only available as an F Sport model with the sporty suspension and large wheels. I can only imagine that Lexus’ goal was to make a sporty hybrid that separates itself from the gas-powered TX. The problem with that is that it opens the door to comparison to the likes of the BMW X5 Hybrid and Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. In a segment with those two, the TX 500h feels outgunned and outclassed. The idea of a three-row SUV with a hybrid engine that handles like a sports sedan does not appeal to or make sense to me.
Verdict
The 2025 Lexus TX 500h feels like a new-age Lexus. It delivers good performance, while being relatively efficient, has a roomy cabin, comes loaded with tech, and has an aggressive design. The qualities are appealing ones for families in need of a three-row SUV with a hybrid engine. On the flip side, the TX 500h’s stiff ride, lack of physical controls, and disappointing interior materials make it a tough sell over the great gas-powered TX. Don’t forget, there’s also the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, which does a lot of the same things for a lot less.
