Auto review: 2024 Lexus TX 350: Is too much of a good thing even possible?

The owner of a Florida eatery once responded to a complaint about his jumbo wings with a clever advertisement: “Customers are complaining our wings are too big!”

Truth be told, some prefer medium-sized wings, but he saw it as a compliment and sales pitch.

To that point, Lexus interior designers may enjoy a buyer’s comment that his midsize 2024 TX 350 may actually be too roomy — “almost too many cupholders and too much space,” he said.

Maximizing cabin space and comfort was a prime focus on the three-row TX 350, an all-new midsize-luxury SUV which replaces the RX 350-L. The third row accommodates even six-footers comfortably, something the RX couldn’t do. Cargo space is mammoth with 97 cubic feet of total volume, just a few cubes shy of Toyota’s Sienna minivan.

And, even with all seats in use, there’s room for all seven passengers to bring a carry-on suitcase.

Assembled at the Princeton, Indiana Toyota plant, the TX 350 is built on the same platform as the also-new Toyota Grand Highlander. The TX has a strong stance, 20-inch multi-spoke alloys with dark gray finish, and the brand’s latest spindle grille, which regulates air flow. There’s LED lighting up front, and an LED blade tail lamp across the rear.

Three models are available in the TX line, with the powertrains marking the key distinctions. The TX 500h F Sport Performance is a hybrid that offers more power and better fuel economy; The top-line TX 550+ is a plug-in hybrid, the most powerful with 404 horsepower, and can go 33 miles on electric alone.

But the TX 350 is expected to be the sales leader with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder that rounds up 275 horses and 317 pound-feet of torque.

An eight-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) delivers power to either the front wheels or all four with the optional all-wheel-drive system ($1,600). The AWD is front-biased but can send as much as 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels as needed.

The 350 is not fast or sporty, but it does have adequate early torque and gets to 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds. The ride is stiffer than some foes (think Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60) but that improves road feel and handling.

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