Compare the2025 Lexus TXVS 2025 Subaru Ascent

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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

Both the TX and the Ascent 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Warranty

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

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 6th.

Engine

The TX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (275 vs. 260) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 500h’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 106 more horsepower (366 vs. 260) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 550h+’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 144 more horsepower (404 vs. 260) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lexus TX is faster than the Subaru Ascent:

	TX 500h	TX 550h+	Ascent
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	5.3 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	13.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.4 MPH	101.1 MPH	88.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
TX
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the TX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Ascent doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	TX 350	TX 500h/550h+	Ascent
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	15.7 inches	13.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	13.3 inches	13 inches

The TX stops shorter than the Ascent:

	TX	Ascent
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the Ascent (255/55R20 vs. 245/60R18).

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 Ascent Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The TX’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ascent Premium. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

Suspension and Handling

The TX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TX’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Ascent (116.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the TX is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Ascent.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury handles at .85 G’s, while the Ascent Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

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 Ascent doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The TX has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more third row headroom, 1.8 inches more third row legroom and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Ascent.

Cargo Capacity

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

	TX	Ascent
Behind Third Seat	20.2 cubic feet	17.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.4 cubic feet	43.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97 cubic feet	75.6 cubic feet

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the TX’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Ascent doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The TX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent 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 Subaru. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’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 Ascent 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 Ascent does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the TX and the Ascent have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the TX is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Ascent prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The TX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ascent’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the TX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Lexus service department.) The driver of the Ascent can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Ascent 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 Ascent’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 Ascent doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Lexus TX has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport 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 Ascent doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The TX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Ascent.

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 Ascent doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The TX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ascent doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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