Lexus Quietly Drops Its Three-Row PHEV SUV After Just Three Years

If you're after a premium three-row SUV with plug-in hybrid power, your options have just been reduced by one after Lexus quietly discontinued the TX 550h+. The Lexus build configurator no longer shows the TX 550h+ Luxury AWD PHEV, which was previously available for $81,060 (including destination). First introduced in 2023, this delivered 404 horsepower and could run on all-electric power for an estimated 33 miles, but if you're disappointed, don't be; the change seems to be temporary, with the site saying, "This isn't goodbye. Production of the TX 550h+ will pause after the 2026 model year, and plans are already underway to support its upcoming return."

Lexus TX Still Exists, Just Not with Plug-In Power

While we wait for news of a 2027 Lexus TX PHEV, online buyers are being directed to remaining inventory, and those who want a new Lexus three-row can still get the base four-cylinder TX 350 with 275 hp for $57,190. On the other end of the scale is the TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury AWD, which has a parallel hybrid system accompanying the four-cylinder for a combined total of 366 hp. If you're not a badge snob, the Toyota Grand Highlander shares the TX's GA-K platform, though it currently doesn't offer a PHEV option either. That's not necessarily a bad thing for the average buyer, however, as numerous studies have shown that plug-in hybrids are far less efficient than conventional counterparts if they're not plugged in overnight and their batteries replenished daily. The complexity of a PHEV can also cause more problems. But if you're adamant about plugging in, there are numerous alternatives.

Lexus TX PHEV Departs: These SUVs Fill the Gap

Direct rivals to the outgoing Lexus TX PHEV include the Volvo XC90 Recharge, which is more powerful at 455 combined horsepower. It also manages 32 miles of EV range, one fewer than the TX. On the downside, the third row in the Scandinavian SUV is less spacious and is only practical for kids. Next up is the BMW X5 xDrive50e, which can do 39 miles on a charge, but that doesn't even have a third row. BMW's three-row SUV, the X7, doesn't come in a PHEV format, only being offered as a 48-volt mild hybrid. If space and practicality are your focus and you don't mind a less upmarket badge, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV seats one more than the seven-seat TX, and its rear-biased all-wheel-drive system means sprightly handling. Of course, it's not as fancy inside, and it can only go 26 miles on electric power, but it's not that far off either.

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