Lexus TX vs Toyota Grand Highlander - 2026 Model Comparison with Specs & Photos

TX VS Toyota Grand Highlander - Lexus Cleveland

If you’re in the market for a three-row SUV that will actually fit adults in the back seat, but isn’t so huge that it won’t fit in the garage, there are a couple of options that manage to hit that sweet spot perfectly: the Lexus TX and the Toyota Grand Highlander. The two are built on the same platform, so strengths like the spacious third row and cargo area are shared by both. But there are still some important differences, and to help you sort out what’s the same and what sets them apart, we’ve put together this guide.

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Lexus TX VS Toyota Grand Highlander - At A Glance


2026 Lexus TX	VS	2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
$58,490	Starting MSRP*	$42,260
275	Standard Horsepower	265
366	Available Horsepower	245, 362
6 or 7	Seats	7 or 8
27 / 28	Best Fuel Economy MPG (city / highway)	37 / 34

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Since the TX and the Grand Highlander are built on the same platform, the dimensions are essentially identical, with what differences there are amounting to a tenth of an inch here or there, nothing anyone would actually notice. Both vehicles come standard with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with the TX version of the engine tuned to produce a bit more power. The Grand Highlander is also offered with a choice of two different hybrid drivetrains, one tuned to maximize fuel economy and the other tuned for performance. The TX offers the same gasoline engine, but sticks to only the much more popular performance-tuned hybrid drivetrain offering. Towing capacity for gasoline and performance hybrid drivetrains on both vehicles is the same: 5,000 pounds. The fuel-saving drivetrain of the Grand Highlander is the only one that’s different, at 3,500 pounds.

Despite the nearly identical interior proportions, the seating configurations for these two vehicles are different. Both are available with a choice of captains’ chairs or a bench for the second row, but the third row in the TX seats two, while the third row in the Grand Highlander seats three. The reason for this is similar to why the only hybrid drivetrain for the TX is the high-performance one: the TX is built for luxury and an engaging experience behind the wheel, while the Grand Highlander is made to be more utilitarian.

Lexus TX VS Toyota Grand Highlander - Equipment

The TX has a higher starting price, so it’s entirely expected that it comes with more standard equipment. Features like heated front seats, a wireless phone charger, rain-sensing wipers, and interior ambient lighting are all offered on the Grand Highlander, but come standard on the TX. But the difference is more than just the TX being a more optioned-up version of the Grand Highlander. Take the stereo, for example. The standard stereo in the Grand Highlander comes with six speakers, while the TX comes with a 12-speaker system. But opting for the upgraded stereo in the Grand Highlander doesn’t just give you the system from the Lexus; it’s an 11-speaker JBL system. That’s a good system, but upgrading the stereo in the TX gives you a 21-speaker Mark Levinson system that is decidedly superior, and you don’t even have to be an audiophile to appreciate the difference. The TX also has a bigger infotainment touchscreen, something that can’t be optioned up in the Grand Highlander. Adaptive headlights are also available for the TX but not the Grand Highlander.

In addition to the expected luxury equipment advantages, the TX is also offered in a choice of two F SPORT trims, which come with a selection of performance-oriented equipment that isn’t available on any trim of the Grand Highlander. Most notable of these is the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which improves both ride comfort and handling.

Lexus TX VS Toyota Grand Highlander - Other Advantages

A couple of the obvious advantages of the TX come from the fact that Lexus is a luxury brand, while Toyota is not. So the TX has a longer warranty, by a year, than the Grand Highlander. The period of included roadside assistance is also longer, four years versus two. The included period for connected services on the TX is three years, versus just one for the Grand Highlander.

A bit less obvious is the fact that, although these two vehicles are both built in the same factory in Indiana, Toyota builds the Grand Highlander for export on a scale that the TX isn’t, so some of the units built in this factory are made for export. That has an impact on your ability to get the trim, color, or even price you’re looking for, a problem not shared by the TX. Let Lexus of Cleveland help you pick out the TX that’s just right for you.