Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 2024 Lexus TX

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The TX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the TX.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the TX:

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The TX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Ascent has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 350’s standard fuel tank (19.3 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The Ascent stops much shorter than the TX:

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TX 350 Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 550h+ Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (8.7 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility (8.7 vs. 8 inches).

The Ascent is 6.3 inches shorter than the TX, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the TX can only carry up to 7.

The Ascent has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear hip room, 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room and .2 inches more third row hip room than the TX.

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The TX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Ascent’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Lexus TX by over seven to one during 2023.