Compare the2024 Lexus TXVS 2024 Buick Enclave

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lexus TX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lexus TX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Lexus TX has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The TX has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the TX and Enclave have rear cross-traffic warning, but the TX Premium/Luxury has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Enclave’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The TX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the TX and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus TX is safer than the Enclave:

The TX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the TX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The TX’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Enclave runs out after 100,000 miles.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Buick is ranked 12th.

The TX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The TX 500h’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 56 more horsepower (366 vs. 310) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The TX 550h+’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 94 more horsepower (404 vs. 310) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Buick Enclave:

On the EPA test cycle the TX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Enclave:

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Enclave can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the TX 500h/550h+’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The TX has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Enclave. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus TX higher (7 out of 10) than the Buick Enclave (6). This means the TX produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Enclave every 15,000 miles.

The TX 550h+ has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Enclave doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the TX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

The TX stops much shorter than the Enclave:

The TX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The TX’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Enclave. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Enclave.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury 4dr Sport Utility handles at .85 G’s, while the Enclave Essence pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the TX’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Enclave’s (38 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the TX 550h+ Luxury 4dr Sport Utility has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (7.7 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the TX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Enclave (8 vs. 7.5 inches).

The TX has .4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the TX’s middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave’s third row seats don’t recline.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the TX. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The TX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the TX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Buick is ranked fifth.

The TX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The TX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The TX’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The TX Luxury/F Sport has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Enclave doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the TX Luxury/F Sport has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Enclave doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the TX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The TX Premium/Luxury has standard front air conditioned seats and the TX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Enclave doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.