Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Ascent achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus TX has not been tested.

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

The Subaru Ascent’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Lexus TX does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Ascent	TX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	218
Neck Injury Risk	21%	39.3%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	355 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	12 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	356
Neck Injury Risk	33%	33%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	199 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	384/277 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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:

	Ascent	TX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	71	112
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.8/.1 kN	3.5/1.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.51/.39	.69/.57

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Ascent	TX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	42
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	344
Hip Force	637 lbs.	823 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ascent second among upper midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The TX isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

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

	Ascent	TX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	88.8 MPH

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 (premium recommended for maximum performance). The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 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:

	Ascent	TX
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TX 350 Luxury (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 (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 (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 offers optional 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 exterior PIN entry system. 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 both the Subaru Ascent and the Lexus TX, based on reliability, safety and performance.