If all you ever plan to do is use a bike rack, you will be fine. If you plan to tow, you’re screwed. Without the tow package, you have no factory plug for trailer lights. That means some jag off will be cutting & splicing wires on your new Lexus that will cause you problems at a later date. You also lose the transmission cooler. If you plan to tow at all, I would wait until the package is available or look at a different vehicle.

No, I have a 2016 regular wheelbase. I haven’t understood what Lexus is doing with this stretched model. For some goofy reason they moved the rear wiper down to the bottom of the rear glass, instead of keeping it up inside the rear spoiler. It’s just the two of us, so we saw no reason to have a third seat in any suv. It’s only big enough for a small child, so what’s the point? If I needed 3 rows, I personally would look at a different vehicle. Check your specs VERY carefully on this. If this Lexus doesn’t have what you want/need, look at the Honda Pilot, Acura MDX & VW Atlas.

Good info - thanks! I haven’t kept up past the buzz of the new release. That’s so sad that it plagued will problems. Also look at the Hyundai Santa Fe (Big one) - I think it’s the Touring model.

When I said “...you’re screwed.”, I meant two things will get really complicated & may not work well. It’s your car, you can do anything you want. However, towing anything more than 1,000 lbs will put a strain on the transmission.
1) The tow package includes a transmission cooler. If you tow without the tow package & have transmission issues, Lexus can deny warranty on the transmission. To me, it’s not worth the risk.
2) The tow package includes the trailer wiring plug under the rear cargo floor on the driver’s side. Models without the tow package do not have that plug. I have owned two used vehicles where someone added a trailer hitch & wiring - what a freak’n nightmare. Over time, spliced wires become exposed to the elements, tape falls off, wiring gets brittle & lights begin to not work correctly. Before I purchased my Lexus, I went to two places that install hitches to see if they could wire everything up without the tow package. I came away believing they were all ametures & didn’t want them touching my car with wire cutters & splices.

You can do what you want, but I’m offering the best advice I can give. There are certainly other ways to go about this & there are many reputable shops to do the work, just none in my area that I would trust. My thoughts on this is you are buying an expensive quality vehicle that will hopefully last you for many years. Don’t get in a hurry. Get exactly what you want & need. If Lexus is coming out with what you want in a few months, wait for it. I personally don’t want anyone’s rig job, I want factory engineered & waranted parts, but these are my thoughts & other’s thoughts may differ greatly.