Compare the2026 Lexus TXVS 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the TX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Parking Support Brake, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the TX and the Grand 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 Grand 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 Grand 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 Grand Highlander ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The TX has more powerful engines than the Grand Highlander:

	Horsepower	Torque
TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	404 HP
Grand Highlander Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	245 HP
Grand Highlander 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	265 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	362 HP	400 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Grand Highlander turbo 4 cyl.:

	TX	Grand Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	86.9 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the TX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Grand Highlander:

			MPGe
TX
	AWD	550h+ Electric Motors	81 city/70 hwy
Grand Highlander
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	37 city/34 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/32 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/27 hwy
		LE/XLE 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		Limited/Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

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

			MPG
TX
	AWD	3.5 V6 Hybrid	29 city/28 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
Grand Highlander
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/27 hwy
		LE/XLE 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		Limited/Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

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

Both the TX and the Grand Highlander have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All TXs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Grand Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

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

	TX 500h/550h+	Grand Highlander
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.3 inches

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 Grand Highlander are solid, not vented.

The TX stops much shorter than the Grand Highlander:

	TX	Grand Highlander
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	187 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

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

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 Grand Highlander’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury handles at .85 G’s, while the Grand Highlander Platinum pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Grand Highlander XLE AWD (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the TX 500h’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Grand Highlander’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The TX’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Grand Highlander’s (38 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

While the Grand Highlander Hybrid can only tow 3500, any TX can tow a minimum of 5000 pounds.

The TX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Grand 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 second in service department satisfaction. With a 42% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

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 Grand 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 Grand Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Grand 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 Grand 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 Grand Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade.

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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade.

The Lexus TX has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Highlander XLE/Limited/Nightshade/Platinum.

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 Grand Highlander XLE/Limited/Nightshade/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 Grand Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.