The TX 500h F-Sport was a genuine surprise
For years, Lexus has been the go-to brand for anyone wanting a luxurious, comfortable, and monumentally reliable vehicle to get from A to B with zero fuss. It’s a recipe that has worked wonders. But excitement? Driving pleasure? That was often left to the Germans. The 2025 Lexus TX 500h F SPORT Performance arrives to tear up that old script. Designed from the ground up for North American families who need space but refuse to resign themselves to a life of automotive boredom, my first impression after a week behind the wheel was one of genuine surprise. This thing is an impressive performance machine, far sportier than I anticipated, yet it delivers this capability without sacrificing the comfort and brilliant hybrid execution you expect from Lexus. It’s a fascinating, and mostly successful, balancing act.
The magic, or rather the meticulous engineering, behind the TX 500h’s personality lies in a powertrain that uses hybrid technology for horsepower, not just hypermiling. At its heart is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Alone, this would be adequate (and is the sole motor in the TX 350). But Lexus pairs it with two electric motors, one up front and a more potent one at the back, forming a rear “eAxle.” The entire system conspires to produce a very healthy 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.
That power is sent through a six-speed automatic transmission. While rivals boast about eight or ten gears, the choice of six is deliberate. It provides crisp, defined shifts that connect you to the driving experience, avoiding the disconnected, rubber-band feel of a continuously variable transmission (CVT), common in other hybrids.
The real genius is in the chassis and drivetrain. The TX 500h comes standard with two key pieces of tech. First is the DIRECT4 all-wheel-drive system, which can send up to 80% of the power to the rear wheels. Why does this matter? When you accelerate out of a corner, it creates a rear-wheel drive feel, pushing the SUV through the turn with authority and reducing the tendency to plow straight ahead. Second is Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS). At low speeds, like in a parking garage, the rear wheels turn slightly opposite the fronts, magically shrinking the turning circle. At highway speeds, they turn in the same direction, making lane changes feel incredibly stable and direct. Add in the F SPORT-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which adjusts damping force in milliseconds, and you have a chassis that is far more sophisticated than its family-friendly shape suggests. Stopping power is handled by beefy ventilated discs at all four corners, with impressive six-piston calipers up front to haul the nearly 5,000-pound SUV to a halt with confidence.
The driving experience
This is where all that engineering theory gets a real-world report card, and the TX 500h passes with flying colors. The performance was a genuine shock. That combination of turbocharged gasoline engine and instant electric torque delivers incredible power delivery. From a standstill, there’s no lag, just a smooth, muscular shove that pushes you back in your seat. It feels strong, linear, and far quicker than a three-row SUV has any right to.
The handling is another revelation. In a tight corner, you can feel the DIRECT4 system working its magic, sending power to the rear and rotating the vehicle with an eagerness that defies its size. The Dynamic Rear Steering makes it feel remarkably agile, nimble in a way that reminds you more of a sport sedan than a family bus. The steering itself is precise, offering excellent feedback from the road without being nervous or twitchy. The TX 500h really does encourage you to take the scenic, winding road home.
What’s truly remarkable, though, is how Lexus achieves this dynamic driving experience without sacrificing its core identity. The ride is exceptionally comfortable. In Comfort mode, the adaptive suspension soaks up bumps and broken pavement with ease. The cabin is whisper-quiet, with fantastic isolation from the outside world. It has that bank-vault solidity and silence that makes it feel like a true luxury vehicle, capable of devouring hundreds of highway miles without fatiguing the driver or passengers. This dual personality, a comfortable cruiser that can transform into an athletic performer, is the TX 500h’s greatest trick.
Lexus
It looks…fine
Let’s be frank: the exterior styling is where the TX 500h plays it safe. From a distance, it looks like your average family SUV. The overall silhouette is well-proportioned but lacks the dramatic flair or head-turning presence of some rivals. It’s a design that prioritizes function and aerodynamic efficiency over outright visual drama. However, the F SPORT Performance trim does its best to inject some attitude. The massive “Unified Spindle” grille is rendered in an aggressive mesh, flanked by sleek LED headlights. The standard 22-inch wheels have a complex, technical design and fill the wheel wells nicely, giving the vehicle an assertive stance.
Interior design, tech, and ergonomics
The interior is a fair blend of high-quality materials, modern technology, and thoughtful ergonomics. The fit and finish are solid, with luxury touch points everywhere, from the soft leather on the heavily bolstered F SPORT seats to the cool touch of the aluminum trim. Those seats are a highlight, offering a perfect mix of comfort for long trips and support for spirited driving. Finding the ideal driving position is easy, and visibility is excellent for a vehicle of this size.
The centerpiece of the dashboard is a 14-inch touchscreen. The system is responsive, intuitive, and a massive leap forward from older Lexus interfaces. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and work flawlessly. One of my favorite little touches is the ability to configure the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a huge, central tachometer, a nod to the vehicle’s sporting intentions.
Pricing and fuel economy
The 2025 Lexus TX 500h F SPORT Performance starts around $70,010, which is on par with the competition for Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. That said, it does manage to compete with, and in some areas surpass, its German rivals.
Fuel economy is impressive, rated at 27 MPG combined by the EPA, a remarkable figure for a 366-horsepower, three-row SUV. The real trump card is space. There are 20.2 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, which is more than enough for a family’s weekly grocery run or several carry-on bags. Fold the third row down, and that expands to a massive 57.4 cubic feet. Need to haul something huge? Fold both back rows, and you’re looking at a cavernous 97 cubic feet of space.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Lexus TX 500h F SPORT Performance is a brilliantly executed family SUV that successfully charts a new course for the brand. Its greatest strength is its incredible duality. It is, without question, a supremely comfortable, quiet, and spacious SUV with a beautifully crafted interior and all the space you could ever need. At the same time, it’s a genuinely fun-to-drive performance machine with surprising agility and potent, satisfying acceleration. Its only significant weakness might be its conservative styling, which some might find too plain for a vehicle with such a dynamic soul.
About the author
Kyle Edward
Editor-in-Chief, Autoblog