Land Rover Range Rover vs Lexus TX

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover was a testament to understated luxury, maintaining its classic design lineage while offering multiple configurations. Buyers had the choice between standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter available with a third row of seats. The trim levels—SE, Autobiography, and SV—were not universally available across all body styles, adding a layer of exclusivity to certain configurations. The exterior design, though not drastically different from its predecessor, featured updated headlights and taillights, contributing to its timeless appeal. The Range Rover's minimalist exterior detailing and distinctive features like the vertical trim piece and angled rear roof pillar made it instantly recognizable, exuding a subtle high-end status without the ostentation of some of its luxury SUV counterparts.

Inside, the Range Rover's interior mirrored its exterior's simplicity, with a focus on minimalism that was both stark and sophisticated. The dashboard was largely bare, save for a touchscreen, an engine start button, and a shifter, yet the design showcased a meticulous attention to detail. The long-wheelbase SE test car, however, had an excess of plastic for a vehicle in its price range. Despite this, the Range Rover's interior was a harmonious blend of elegance and functionality, offering a serene environment that complemented its luxurious exterior.

The 2026 Lexus TX presented a modern take on luxury with a variety of packages tailored to different powertrains. The TX 350 came standard with the Luxury package, while higher trims like the Ultra Luxury, Executive, and F Sport 3 packages offered additional features. The TX 500h hybrid variant started with the F Sport Performance 2 package, emphasizing performance with options for towing capability. The exterior design retained a large grille reminiscent of the older spindle grille shape, complemented by sharp bi-LED headlights and a full-width rear LED light bar. The interior offered three colour options and ambient lighting, though the material quality fell short of luxury standards, with an abundance of basic plastic.

Lexus introduced innovative door handles that reacted to pressure rather than traditional mechanical levers, a feature that was more novel than necessary. The interior was spacious, with a third row that accommodated adults comfortably, each seat equipped with its own cupholder and USB-C port. The front seats, while roomy, lacked sufficient thigh support, and the centre console's dual-opening lid limited accessibility. Despite these quirks, the TX offered excellent cargo space and practical features like a one-touch button for third-row access, making it a versatile choice for families seeking a blend of luxury and functionality.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. The entry-level engine was a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six with a mild hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid variant of this engine produced 543 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The V8 option, sourced from BMW, was a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre engine, generating 523 hp and 553 lb-ft in SE and Autobiography models, and 606 hp and 553 lb-ft in the SV model. The SV could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 260 km/h in short-wheelbase form. Despite its size, the Range Rover excelled in comfort and refinement, offering a smooth ride even on 23-inch wheels. Its off-road capabilities were bolstered by features like a two-speed transfer case, Terrain Response drive modes, and height-adjustable air suspension, making it a formidable yet luxurious off-roader.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered two main powertrains: a 275-horsepower 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the TX 350, and a hybrid system in the TX 500h that boosted output to 366 hp. The gas model featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid used a six-speed automatic, a welcome alternative to the typical CVT in electrified vehicles. The TX 350 came with full-time AWD, while the TX 500h utilized Lexus's Direct4 AWD system for dynamic torque distribution. Drive modes included Normal, Eco, and Sport, with Sport mode enhancing throttle response for a more engaging drive. The TX 500h further improved handling with adaptive suspension and rear steering, though it was not designed to be a sports car. Overall, the TX prioritized comfort and practicality over performance, making it a suitable choice for those seeking a balanced driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover offered versatile seating configurations, with three-row models accommodating seven passengers and two-row models seating five. The long-wheelbase version without a third row boasted an impressive 1,220 millimetres of second-row legroom, unmatched in its class. Even with the third row, legroom remained competitive, comparable to the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Cargo space was limited with all seats in place, offering 212 litres, but expanded to 857 litres with the third row folded and 2,050 litres with both rear rows down. The split tailgate and air suspension facilitated easy loading and unloading, while the Range Rover's towing capacity of 3,720 kilograms was on par with its segment rivals.

The 2026 Lexus TX excelled in interior space, with three-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats as standard. The third row was spacious, featuring a recline function and ample headroom, making it comfortable for adults. Access to the third row was simplified by a one-touch button, though folding the second row flat required a specific sequence of lever adjustments. The front seats were roomy but lacked thigh support, and the centre console's dual-opening lid was somewhat restrictive. Cargo space was generous, with 572 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third row folded and 2,747 litres with all rear seats down. The TX's towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms was respectable, catering to families with moderate towing needs.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen as standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 35-speaker Meridian audio system with active noise cancellation enhanced the listening experience in Autobiography and SV models. The Pivi Pro infotainment system, while improved, suffered from a lack of physical controls, making it less intuitive to use. The natural-language voice recognition system helped mitigate this issue, allowing for easy control of functions like satellite radio and temperature settings. However, the absence of phone-as-a-key connectivity and the discontinued Activity Key were notable omissions in the Range Rover's tech offerings.

The 2026 Lexus TX came equipped with a 14-inch colour touchscreen that was responsive and user-friendly, though some features lacked refinement. The steering wheel housed multi-functional buttons that controlled adaptive cruise control and volume, but their operation was not intuitive. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though connectivity issues occasionally arose. A subscription was required for in-dash navigation and other features like a digital key and remote start. The back-up camera offered a clear view, with an available bird’s-eye view for added convenience. The Advanced Park system could handle parking duties autonomously, and the rear-camera mirror provided an unobstructed rear view. With seven USB ports and wireless charging, the TX ensured devices remained powered on the go.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover came with a suite of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. While these features performed as expected, the camera view did not always activate automatically, requiring manual intervention. The overly sensitive parking aids also added complexity to parking maneuvers. At the time of writing, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable.

The 2026 Lexus TX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering features like forward collision warning, lane tracing assist, and traffic sign recognition. Proactive Driving Assist, which applied brakes or steering when necessary, was a feature some drivers preferred to disable due to its unpredictability. Once set up, the adaptive cruise control worked well, though it was occasionally abrupt in stop-and-go traffic. The NHTSA awarded the TX a five-star crash safety rating, while the IIHS gave it an "Acceptable" rating for the small overlap front crash test on the driver’s side and a "Good" rating for the passenger’s side.