2025 Kia Telluride vs 2026 Lexus TX

Nearly every mainstream car company offers at least one family-friendly, midsize three-row SUV. Kia has three, and the Telluride is the largest of its gas-powered models. (The electric-only EV9 is slightly larger). The Telluride debuted in 2020 to critical acclaim and commercial success. Since then, it has received several updates but not a redesign. We took a 2025 Kia Telluride on a nearly 2,000-kilometre family road trip and remain impressed with this stylish and capable Kia.

Verdict: Aging technology caused some irritation during a five-day road trip in the 2025 Kia Telluride. Otherwise, it was perfectly suited to long-distance travel whether rolling down a highway, roaming a major city, or romping down trails.

You may not have heard much about the Lexus TX, the company’s full-size three-row SUV. Introduced for the 2024 model year, it’s still a young’un compared to its competition, but it’s made its mark by offering a spacious interior and two different powertrains, wrapped in a stylish package.

In Lexus’s seven-model SUV lineup, the TX slots just below the GX and LX—two body-on-frame models focused on off-roading. In Canada, you can snag a gas-powered TX or one with a hybrid powertrain. (Note the test unit for this review, the 550h+ plug-in hybrid, is not yet available in Canada. Lexus plans to sell it here, but not in time for the 2026 model year).

Verdict: The 2026 Lexus TX is a great option for large families that need a spacious third row, but some of the technology comes with a steep learning curve.