2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2026 Lexus TX

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate, leaving our crew less than thrilled. Despite the uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its World War II military heritage, remained fundamentally appealing. The vehicle's rugged charm and capability to traverse almost any terrain at any time contributed to its popularity, even though it lacked the sophistication of many modern cars. The interior, while functional, was not particularly luxurious, focusing more on practicality with features like a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and grey fabric dashboard trim.

The 2026 Lexus TX, on the other hand, offered a more refined aesthetic with its large grille, sharp bi-LED headlights, and rear LED lighting. The interior provided three colour options and ambient lighting, though the material quality fell short of luxury standards. The redesigned door handles, which reacted to pressure rather than pulling out, were a peculiar choice, and the overall cabin could have benefited from more attention to detail. Despite these quirks, the TX's spacious third row and thoughtful features like a one-touch button for easy third-row access made it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering a marginally more fuel-efficient option with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it a capable off-road vehicle, though its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, and the steering felt disconnected, but the vehicle's off-road prowess was undeniable.

The 2026 Lexus TX 350 came with a 275-horsepower 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the TX 500h hybrid boosted output to 366 hp. The gas model featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the hybrid included a six-speed automatic. The TX 350's full-time AWD and the TX 500h's Direct4 AWD system provided excellent traction. Drive modes like Normal, Eco, and Sport allowed for a customizable driving experience, with Sport mode offering increased throttle sensitivity. The TX 500h's adaptive suspension and rear steering enhanced handling, making it a more refined ride compared to the Wrangler.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging, though the front seats were comfortable and supportive. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery and heated front seats added to the comfort, but rear-seat legroom was limited, and storage space was surprisingly scarce. The cargo area, while reasonable, was difficult to access due to the tailgate and rear window design. Folding the back seat down expanded the cargo hold to 2,050 litres, providing ample space for larger items.

The 2026 Lexus TX excelled in interior space, with three-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and a spacious third row with a recline function. The second row offered captain's chairs with a removable centre console, and a one-touch button facilitated easy third-row access. The front seats were roomy, though they could have used more thigh support. The TX's cargo space was impressive, with 572 litres available with all seats in place, expanding to 2,747 litres with the rear seats folded. The available kick sensor in the liftgate and power-folding third row added convenience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The system was user-friendly, with minimal glare even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and passive entry, while the Safety Group option included rear parking sensors.

The 2026 Lexus TX's 14-inch touchscreen was responsive, but some features lacked polish, such as the inability to manually input satellite radio stations. The steering wheel's multi-functional buttons were confusing, and the infotainment system occasionally switched from satellite radio to Apple CarPlay without reason. Despite these issues, the TX offered advanced features like a bird’s-eye view camera, Advanced Park system, and seven USB ports with wireless charging.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard, a significant safety upgrade. Optional ADAS features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available, but forward collision warning required the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA, with a Good rating for side-impact protection from the IIHS.

The 2026 Lexus TX came standard with Safety System+ 3.0, including forward collision warning, lane tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. The adaptive cruise control worked well, though setting it up was confusing. The TX received a five-star crash safety rating from the NHTSA and an Acceptable rating in the IIHS's small overlap front crash test.