Reasons Why The 2026 Lexus TX 500h Is The Modern Day People Hauler
With the introduction of the minivan, many families were adding them to their driveways to haul large families. That was until the popularity of SUVs started replacing them. They still didn’t seem to completely replace them as people haulers since the ergonomics weren’t quite there to fit as many as a minivan could. Thankfully that has changed in modern SUVs and the 2026 Lexus TX has been a recent model that I believe has become the modern day people hauler. Lets discuss some of the things I think the TX does better than a minivan option.
Starting with the exterior, minivans don’t really get the points in the cool factor department. Luckily the Lexus TX will definitely gain you some cool points, specially in the F Sport trim. The Celestial Silver metallic color had an incredible sparkle in the sun. The 22-in- split five-spoke alloy wheels added a sporty and luxurious look with the dark gray and black finish. It’s not only about other’s looking at you, you also have to be able to see others. The auto-leveling Bi-LED headlamps and LED fog lamps made sure you can safely see were you’re going. Living in a more rural area, I appreciate the corner lights activating in the direction that I was turning into.
Under the hood, we get performance that surpasses any minivan out there. Sporting a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder hybrid engine, you’ll get 366 net combined horsepower. That is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the 500 models have AWD. That’s a drivetrain that will get you 0-60 in only 6.1 seconds to make sure you’re not late to anything! Having the F Sport tuned suspension will make the ride sporty for the twisty roads, but still be able to give you the comfort you and your passengers expect. If you decide to behave with the throttle, you’ll be rewarded with an impressive 27 combined, 27 city, and 28 highway MPG. If you’re needing to haul the family boat or even race car, the TX can tow up to 5,000-lbs.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the interior of the Lexus TX is where things shine. I want to first discuss the tech offerings that we get to experience. Starting with the door, you’ll get buttons on the outside and inside to get it open. With having a 90-year old father, I can see this being the easier option to get the door open. It’s also great for younger kids that have a tendency of yanking on door handles to get the door open. I’m all about data specially when you’re on a road-trip, and the TX is set up well to provide it. The gauge cluster is customizable to offer things like your MPGs, tire pressure, temps, boost level, and more. Add in the HUD and you’ll always know what’s going on with the TX on long road trips. The TX isn’t the smallest of SUVs so thankfully you get the Panoramic View Monitor camera system to see all around when you’re needing to park. You also get the digital rearview mirror option so you can see what’s behind the TX, and not have to fight seeing through your passenger’s heads or loaded cargo, for visibility. To complete the tech, at the center of everything is the 14-inch touchscreen display. I connected my iPhone wirelessly to blast my music through the incredibly loud and clear Mark Levinson 21-speaker system. If you want to connect, you’ll have a surprising 3 USB-C ports up front, 2 for the middle row, and 2 in the third row.
Regarding the point of space and comfort, the Lexus TX outperforms many minivans I’ve driven. The leather-trimmed F Sport seats offered heated and ventilated options on both front and second rows. One of my favorite things about the TX, was the ability to fold and unfold the third row via the infotainment screen. You’ll also be able to use the button in the cargo area to also raise and lower the power third-row. Another favorite of the TX is the removable cupholders in both the front and the middle row. It’s a small detail but when you’re on a road trip and space is crucial, you may want a bigger opening instead of smaller sections for cups.
I’m a part of multiple dad Facebook groups and often see posts asking for a vehicle that can hold large families. I can’t say I was surprised to see the Lexus TX or the Toyota variant of the Grand Highlander get recommended. Being a better looking, better performing, better tech, and equally spacious offering, the Lexus TX has definitely taken the title of the people hauler from the current minivan offerings.
