Compare the2026 Toyota HighlanderVS 2025 Lexus TX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Highlander. But it costs extra on the TX.

The Toyota Highlander’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Lexus TX does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Highlander and the TX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Highlander	TX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	38.2%	39.3%
Neck Stress	347 lbs.	355 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	356
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	33%
Neck Stress	179 lbs.	199 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the TX:

	Highlander	TX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	102	112
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	2 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	19 cm	21 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	3.5/1.3 kN	3.5/1.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.52/.4	.69/.57
Tibia forces R/L	1.1/1.1 kN	1.3/2.2 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Highlander	TX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	17 inches
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	664 lbs.	823 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the TX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Highlander is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Highlander	TX
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.1 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	4.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	90 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better mileage than the TX running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Highlander
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
TX
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Highlander stops shorter than the TX:

	Highlander	TX
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the TX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 550h+ Luxury (8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander is 8.2 inches shorter than the TX, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the TX can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander has .4 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room and .2 inches more rear hip room than the TX.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Highlander Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Highlander and the Lexus TX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Lexus TX by over three to one during 2024.