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W HEN THE NEW LEXUS TX 500h F Sport arrived in my driveway for a week's test, I was struck with its appearance. e brand's bold spindle grille, a subject of controversy among critics, had succumbed to tailored horizontal slats. Its color, a battleship gray that Lexus labels "Incognito," seemed to beckon me to drive to a local U.S. Navy base. I resisted the urge. Since styling resides squarely in the eyes of the beholder, I leave my personal fashion judgements out, but the TX designer obviously didn't visit the chrome department. Whether or not you like the conventional surfacing, you might be smitten by the utility the TX offers. at's because this big Lexus is designed to haul people and belongings on paved roads, the utility real owners most often covet. If you hanker for your big rig to crawl around in the wild, the GX and LX models are just the ticket. But you'll pay at the gas pump for that prowess. Just like its rivals, Lexus has created a robust offering of utility vehicles covering nearly all size and price points, from the compact UX to the line-topping LX. e new Lexus TX models start at a pretty modest base price of $53,700 MSRP for the front-wheel- drive 350 version. e top trim TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid version carries a $76,700 base price and offers 33 miles of EV driving along with V6 power. Our test Lexus TX 500h was a nice balance of performance and fuel economy, although the window sticker managed to creep to $78,254 with added equipment. It seems like Lexus might toss in the illuminated door sills at $460 and the side puddle logo lamps for another $175, but perhaps I'm quibbling. Adding the F Sport badge to a hybrid may seem tongue-in-cheek, but the reality is that it offers reasonably sporty performance from detour transportation PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LEXUS e Family Lexus SUV e new TX 500h is designed for luxury touring BY BRIAN DOUGLAS ranchandcoast.com 94 JUNE 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE