2024 Lexus TX vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, although sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path. Its sloping roofline gave it a "crossover coupe" appearance, a design choice previously reserved for more upscale vehicles like the BMW X4 and X6. While this design might have slightly compromised rear visibility, it was deemed acceptable. The front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with thin daytime running lights above and real headlights positioned vertically beside the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from its siblings, the Envision and Encore GX, which adopted similar styling as part of their mid-cycle refreshes.

The Envista's interior, while similar to the Trax, offered a more streamlined look with softer materials, though some textures felt artificial. The ST grade featured black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels, with 19-inch wheels as an option. The top-tier Avenir trim boasted bright exterior trim and standard 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Avenir offered leather seats and an eight-way power driver's seat, while the ST had blue contrast stitching. Overall, the Envista's cabin was a step up from the Trax, aligning with its entry-level status.

The 2024 Lexus TX, based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, distinguished itself as a luxury SUV. Its upscale appearance, especially with the Luxury trim's 22-inch silver-finished wheels, set it apart from the Grand Highlander's more utilitarian look. The TX's styling was more conservative than other Lexus models, appealing to those who found previous designs too bold. The TX lineup included the TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid, with prices ranging from $55,050 to $69,350. The TX 350, likely the most popular variant, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with FWD or AWD options.

Our test model, the TX 350 with Luxury trim, included a Convenience Package, Technology Package, and a 21-speaker surround-sound audio system, bringing the MSRP to $67,869. The Luxury trim added premium interior features, though the dark Peppercorn interior felt too dim even with a panoramic sunroof. Despite this, the TX 350's interior was luxurious enough to bear the Lexus badge.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and FWD. This setup, shared with the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an AWD option, differentiating it from the Encore GX. The Envista's suspension, featuring a MacPherson strut front setup and a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension on models with 19-inch wheels, provided a comfortable ride. During testing, the Envista handled bumps well but felt unsettled on imperfect straightaways. Despite this, it offered a quieter and more laid-back driving experience compared to the Trax.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of eight seconds for the FWD model and 7.8 seconds for the AWD version. The TX 350's performance was adequate, with a noticeable torque swell aiding acceleration. The EPA rated the TX 350 FWD at 23 mpg combined, though testing showed an average of 20.4 mpg. AWD, available for an additional $1,600, offered slightly quicker acceleration and improved traction. The TX 350's suspension balanced road feel and comfort, with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. However, the brake pedal felt too soft, though it was easy to modulate for smooth stops.

The 2024 Buick Envista, 14.2 inches longer than the Buick Encore, offered increased interior space due to its extended wheelbase. Rear-seat legroom grew by three inches, and shoulder room increased by two inches in both rows. However, the coupe-like design reduced headroom, particularly in the second row. The seats were comfortable for the price point, and the car-like driving position provided good visibility. Cargo space was limited, with 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 42 cubic feet with them folded, less than the Trax and the old Encore.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs. The TX 350 Luxury model featured premium upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row bench seat was standard, with captain's chairs as an option. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, a significant improvement over the RX L and GX. However, sliding the second-row seat forward to accommodate third-row passengers reduced comfort for those in the second row. The TX offered 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97 cubic feet with both rear rows down, surpassing other Lexus SUVs.

The 2024 Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The interface was user-friendly, with retained buttons and knobs for climate and audio controls. However, the center stack's tilt toward the driver made controls less accessible for passengers. While the Envista lacked advanced tech options like a head-up display, it offered a competitive feature set for its price range.

The 2024 Lexus TX, equipped with the optional Technology Package, featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a surround-view camera, and semi-autonomous parking assist. However, the unmarked steering wheel controls and head-up display visibility issues with polarized sunglasses were drawbacks. The Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen, offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital assistant, and cloud-based navigation. The TX also included free 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect, along with Wi-Fi and Remote Connect features. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist, mirroring the Chevy Trax's offerings.

The 2024 Lexus TX came with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist, part of LSS+ 3.0, offered braking and steering assistance but was not always transparent in operation. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system. Optional features included parking sensors with automatic braking and traffic jam assist, which provided hands-free driving at low speeds on approved highways.