In short, the RX rides a touch smoother — feeling more luxurious — and offers more cabin space. But the RX is a little sportier and more economical (both in terms of purchase price and fuel economy).

Crowded powertrain lineup aside, the TX is the first Lexus SUV you'll want to buy for its third row. Lexus could have cleared that low bar by building virtually anything not based on a truck platform and calling it a day, but instead it turned out a thoughtfully designed, quiet, and roomy hauler blending a luxury badge with mainstream practicality better than anything else in the segment.

The TX, which starts at $55,050 and rises to over $76,000 for a loaded TX500h, is a few thousand dollars more expensive than luxury SUV rivals including the Acura MDX, Cadillac XT6, and Infiniti QX60. (It's worth mentioning, too, that the Grand Highlander offers a similar package for thousands less, though admittedly without the prestigious badge.)

But the Lexus has plenty of tricks up its sleeve to increase its appeal. Compared with those familiar three-row models, the TX has a generous list of standard and optional equipment, lots of interior space, and myriad powertrain choices to sweeten the deal. We don't think it will have any problem establishing itself as a major player in this important segment, just as the RX did decades ago.