Compare the2024 Lexus TXVS 2024 Toyota Highlander

Both the TX and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Highlander’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 Toyota covers the Highlander. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Highlander ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The TX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Highlander’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

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

The TX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (275 vs. 265) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 310) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 500h’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (366 vs. 265) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 310) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 550h+’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 139 more horsepower (404 vs. 265) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder Hybrid 6-speed Auto running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Highlander AWD (27 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Highlander 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 Highlander doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the TX 500h/550h+’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander:

The TX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Highlander are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the Highlander (255/55R20 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Highlander LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The TX’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 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 Highlander LE/XLE. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TX’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Highlander (116.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the TX is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander.

The TX F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TX has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (153 vs. 141.8).

The TX has .2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 5.5 inches more third row legroom, .1 inches more third row hip room and 2.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

The TX’s cargo area provides more volume than the Highlander.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the TX Premium/Luxury’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The TX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 49% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The TX Premium/Luxury’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The TX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Highlander doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Highlander’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 Highlander doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The TX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus TX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.