2025 BMW X7 vs 2026 Lexus TX

The 2025 BMW X7, with its imposing presence, was designed to appeal to luxury SUV buyers seeking a bold statement. Despite not being as large as some of its competitors, the X7's design, especially after its 2023 facelift, was distinctive with its stacked quad headlights and illuminated grille. The vehicle's exterior was further enhanced by large wheels and sporty design elements, particularly in models equipped with the M Sport Package. Inside, the X7 offered a mix of luxurious and sporty touches, though some features seemed more like optional extras rather than standard luxury. The interior design was simple yet elegant, but the combination of materials sometimes felt mismatched, detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2026 Lexus TX, meanwhile, offered a variety of packages tailored to different powertrains, with the TX 350 and TX 500h hybrid providing distinct options. The exterior retained a large grille reminiscent of older designs, complemented by sharp bi-LED headlights and a sleek rear LED light bar. The interior of the TX was spacious, with three colour options and ambient lighting adding warmth. However, the material quality was not quite up to luxury standards, with some basic plastics present. The redesigned door handles were a unique touch, though they seemed unnecessary. Overall, the TX aimed to provide a comfortable and functional experience, though it fell short in some areas of luxury refinement.

The 2025 BMW X7 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the xDrive40i, which featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine producing 375 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. This model could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds. The M60i xDrive variant boasted a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds. For those seeking even more performance, the Alpina XB7 delivered 631 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, reaching 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds. The X7's sophisticated chassis technology, including rear-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension, contributed to its nimble handling and comfortable ride, making it a versatile choice for both city driving and spirited back-road adventures.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered two main powertrains: the TX 350 with a 275-horsepower 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the TX 500h hybrid, which combined a gasoline engine with electric motors to produce 366 horsepower. The TX 350 featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid used a six-speed automatic. Both models came with all-wheel drive systems, with the TX 500h utilizing Lexus's Direct4 AWD for enhanced torque distribution. The TX provided Normal, Eco, and Sport drive modes, with Sport mode offering increased throttle sensitivity. While not designed as a sports car, the TX 500h's adaptive suspension and rear steering improved handling, making it a comfortable and capable choice for everyday driving.

The 2025 BMW X7 offered flexible seating configurations, with options for six or seven seats. It provided ample headroom across all rows, surpassing some competitors in this regard. Cargo space was generous, with 1,376 litres available behind the second row and 2,560 litres with the second and third rows folded. However, the space behind the third row was limited to 362 litres. The X7's split tailgate was a practical feature, aiding in loading and unloading, while its towing capacity of 3,400 kilograms was competitive but not class-leading.

The 2026 Lexus TX excelled in interior space, with a spacious third row that included a recline function and ample headroom. The second row featured captain's chairs with a removable centre console, though folding the seats flat required a specific sequence of lever adjustments. The front seats were roomy but could benefit from more thigh support. The TX offered excellent cargo space, with 572 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third row folded, and a total of 2,747 litres with all rear seats down. The TX's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, suitable for most needs.

The 2025 BMW X7 featured a Curved Display setup with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen, providing an attractive and user-friendly interface. BMW's iDrive infotainment system, based on version 8.5, was intuitive, with a rotary controller and shortcut buttons. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though voice recognition was occasionally problematic. Additional features included digital-key functionality and augmented reality navigation, though gesture control was more of a novelty than a practical feature.

The 2026 Lexus TX's technology was a mixed bag. The 14-inch touchscreen was responsive, but some features lacked refinement, such as the inability to manually input satellite radio stations. Steering wheel controls were multifunctional but confusing, with functions displayed on the gauge cluster or head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though connectivity issues occasionally arose. The TX offered a range of subscription-based features, including a voice assistant and digital key. The backup camera provided clear visuals, and the Advanced Park system could handle parking duties. With seven USB ports and wireless charging, the TX ensured devices stayed powered.

The 2025 BMW X7 included standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, park assist, and lane-keep assist. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and BMW's hands-free Highway Assistant were part of the Advanced Driver Assistance package. While the Highway Assistant offered useful functionality, it wasn't as advanced as Cadillac's Super Cruise. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.

The 2026 Lexus TX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane tracing assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and Proactive Driving Assist. While the adaptive cruise control worked well, setting it up was complicated. The TX received a five-star crash safety rating from the NHTSA and mixed ratings from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" score for the driver's side small overlap front crash test and "Good" for the passenger's side.