2025 Lexus TX 350 F Sport Handling AWD – Review by David Colman +VIDEO

The first “Born in America” Lexus SUV

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

These days, the first question you might have about that new vehicle you're considering is not what it costs but where it's built. Prospective buyers for the new-for-2025 F SPORT version of the Lexus TX 350 will be gratified to learn that it's the first-ever Lexus SUV built in the USA. Toyota's Motor Manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, constructs this stylish upper-end SUV, which retails for $69,430. That 'back home again in Indiana' origin could end up saving you a wad of tariff loot.

At its lofty seventy grand price point, the TX 350 F is, to be sure, a costly investment. Recently, Consumer Reports compared it to Kia's $50,000 Telluride in a feature called "The Better Deal." CR found the TX to be "a bit basic for the money" and awarded their Better Deal to Kia's Telluride. That finding prompted me to do a little comparison test of my own. Several years back, I had recommended the purchase of a Telluride to a close friend who has been quite happy with his Kia ever since.

So I asked him to examine the TX 350 and let me know what he thought of it. His first observation was that its massive size and blocky stance "looked really solid." Opening the driver's door, he was impressed by the vast expanse of the TX's 14-inch touchscreen. He observed that the third row bench of the Lexus was easier to access than his Kia's, and offered much more living space as well. He was also taken by the TX's full cockpit-length Panorama Glass Roof. But as far as paying an extra twenty grand for this Lexus? His jury was still out.

What he didn't have the opportunity to assess was the TX 350 F SPORT's enhanced handling. Now you might be thinking, what could Lexus possibly do to convert this 6,010 lb tank of an SUV into a trustworthy back road companion? The answer is: A bevy of F SPORT specific modifications which upgrade performance and justify inclusion of the word "Handling" in Lexus's descriptive name of this vehicle. The redesign of the Handling TX starts out with special modifications to the (Global Architecture) GA-K platform to arrive at a near optimal front/rear weight distribution of 54/46. The body shell is stiffened with short pitch spot welds at crucial junctures and the application of body adhesives at optimal locations.

The F Sport pairs a MacPherson strut front suspension with a multi-link rear suspension. Unlike other TX models, this one boasts wider front and rear track dimensions that aid in stability. Also featured on this model is an Advanced Variable Suspension (AVS) design which utilizes linear solenoid type actuators to modify shock absorber damping on all four wheels. This AVS genie provides virtually instant adjustment of the suspension to ever changing driving requirements and road conditions. To keep the F Sport pinned to the pavement, Lexus replaces the 20" x 8" wheels of the stock TX with matte black 22" x 9" FSPORT alloys mounting 255/45R22 Continental CrossContact M&S rubber (TW 680).

Our test Lexus benefited from a rather subtle coat of "Nightfall Mica" paint, which helped minimize the daunting size of the vehicle. The front fenders and hood are fabricated from aluminum, and lifting the hood - normally a painful procedure on such a tall SUV - takes a mere flick of the wrist on the TX 350. Lexus has also thoughtfully provided a pair of hydraulic struts to assist you - a nicety rarely found on Toyota branded trucks and SUVs. The gentrification continues inside the cockpit. $1,160 installs a Mark Levinson Premium Audio System, and a Technology Package consisting of a panoramic view monitor and advanced park with remote control will set you back an additional $1,280. I don't know about you, but I would prefer to park my 3-ton TX using my eyes on the mirror, my hands on the wheel, and my feet on the pedals, rather than opting for an RC operation using a keyfob remote.

Our test TX 350 F Sport was equipped with the base motor available in the TX model range. Its 275 hp and 317 lb.-ft. of torque proved adequate in most respects, posting a 7.9-second 0-60 mph run, and a 15.4-second ET in the quarter mile at 93 mph. This turbo 4 drives all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox, a combo which tops out at 113 mph. But if this were my purchase, I would bump up to the available 2.4L Parallel Hybrid version, which boosts output to 366 hp, and torque to 406 lb.-ft. This uprated engine connects to all four wheels through a 6-speed automatic, and is available only as an "F Sport Performance Premium" or "F Sport Performance Luxury" model.

2025 LEXUS TX 350 F SPORT HANDLING AWD

• ENGINE: 2.4 liter inline 4, turbocharged and intercooled, DOHC 16-valve inline 4
• HORSEPOWER: 275hp@6000rpm
• TORQUE: 317lb.-ft.@1700rpm
• FUEL CONSUMPTION: 20MPG City/26MPG Highway
• PRICE AS TESTED: $69,430

HYPES: TX Stands For Texas-Sized Rolling Real Estate

GRIPES: Automate the Manually Operated 2nd Row Seat Fold Routine.

STAR RATING: 8 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman