Lexus TX Drops 550h+ PHEV for the 2027 Model Year

2027 Lexus TX Lineup Drops the 550h+ Plug-In Hybrid

On October 16, Lexus announced that the Lexus TX lineup for the 2027 model year will no longer include the 550h+ plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the United States. The change leaves two powertrain options: the TX 350 with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and the TX 500h with a 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid system. Although the plug-in hybrid is being discontinued, Lexus is introducing selected feature revisions for the remaining models. These include adjustments to brake-related functions on the TX 350 and a change to the all-wheel-drive badging on the TX 500h. The announcement changes the range of available powertrains without indicating that the entire SUV lineup is being discontinued.

Platform Shared With the Toyota Grand Highlander

Introduced three years ago, the TX remains in its first generation and uses Toyota's Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform. The same architecture underpins the Toyota Grand Highlander, establishing a technical connection between the two SUVs. Both vehicles are built at the Princeton Plant in Indiana, according to the source article. For the 2027 model year, the key change is the removal of the plug-in hybrid version from the TX range, rather than a reported change to the vehicle's underlying platform. The shared architecture and manufacturing location provide important context for understanding the model's engineering and production background, while the announced revisions focus on powertrain availability and selected equipment details.

TX 350 Retains Its Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine

The TX 350 will continue with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, offered in front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations. This engine produces 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Its listed technologies include a center injection system, lightweight spherical lipless pistons, and a continuously variable-capacity oil pump. Lexus also specifies a wide-spread, close-ratio eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission with an updated shift-control program intended to support smooth acceleration. For 2027, the TX 350 models receive minor revisions to vacuum brake-booster tuning and the brake-hold feature. These changes are equipment and calibration updates; the announcement does not identify a revised engine output figure for this powertrain.

TX 500h Combines Turbocharging and Hybrid Power

The TX 500h uses a 2.4-liter turbocharged parallel-hybrid system rated at 366 total system horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Its powertrain pairs the engine and hybrid components with a six-speed automatic transmission, an integrated Power Control Unit, and a 64-kW motor. At the rear, a 76-kW eAxle combines an inverter and motor to supply power to the rear wheels, with a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery included in the system. The TX 500h is available exclusively in F SPORT Performance Premium and F SPORT Performance Luxury configurations. Together, these specifications distinguish the hybrid model from the TX 350's conventional turbocharged engine and eight-speed transmission.

All-Wheel Drive Badging and Dynamic Rear Steering

For the 2027 model year, the TX 500h will carry AWD badges in place of the “DIRECT4” badges used on the 2026 model. The announcement identifies this as a badging change and does not describe it as a replacement of the hybrid system or a change to the vehicle's overall power output. The TX 500h also combines all-wheel drive with Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS), a feature associated with its driving configuration. Lexus lists the system's total output at 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. No new acceleration times, fuel-economy figures, battery-capacity details, or other revised performance measurements were provided in the source announcement.

What Changes and What Remains for 2027

The principal lineup change is the discontinuation of the TX 550h+ PHEV in the United States, leaving the TX 350 and TX 500h as the two stated powertrain choices. The TX 350 retains its 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, with revisions to brake-booster tuning and brake hold. The TX 500h continues with its turbocharged parallel-hybrid system, six-speed automatic transmission, rear eAxle, and NiMH battery, while its exterior badging changes from DIRECT4 to AWD. Its available trims remain F SPORT Performance Premium and F SPORT Performance Luxury. The announcement does not specify pricing changes or provide a reason for removing the plug-in hybrid from the 2027 range.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The removal of the TX 550h+ narrows the range of electrified powertrains offered in this SUV lineup in the United States, while the TX 500h preserves a hybrid option with a stated combined output of 366 horsepower. For shoppers comparing powertrain types, the practical decision will center on the remaining turbocharged gasoline and parallel-hybrid configurations rather than a plug-in hybrid version of this model. The limited brake and badging revisions also indicate that the announced 2027 changes focus on specific equipment and lineup adjustments, not a new generation. Further conclusions about pricing, customer demand, or the longer-term direction of Lexus electrification cannot be established from the announcement alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Lexus TX 550h+ being discontinued for 2027?
Lexus announced on October 16 that the TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid will not be offered in the 2027 TX lineup in the United States. The supplied announcement does not explain the reason for the discontinuation, so it would be inaccurate to attribute the decision to sales, costs, customer demand, or regulatory changes. The stated result is a lineup with two powertrain options: the turbocharged TX 350 and the turbocharged parallel-hybrid TX 500h. No replacement plug-in hybrid model is identified in the source material.

Which powertrains will be available in the 2027 TX lineup?
The 2027 lineup will offer the TX 350 with a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and the TX 500h with a 2.4-liter turbocharged parallel-hybrid system. The TX 350 is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the TX 500h combines hybrid power with all-wheel drive and Dynamic Rear Steering. The discontinued TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid is not included among the announced 2027 options. The source does not identify any additional powertrain choices for this model year.

How much horsepower and torque does the TX 350 produce?
The TX 350's 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine produces 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, according to the supplied announcement. Its listed technologies include a center injection system, lightweight spherical lipless pistons, and a continuously variable-capacity oil pump. Power is delivered through an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission with a revised shift-control program intended to support smooth acceleration. The announcement does not state a different engine output for the 2027 model year, although it does identify minor brake-system tuning and brake-hold revisions.

What are the TX 500h's hybrid-system output and key components?
The TX 500h's 2.4-liter turbocharged parallel-hybrid system produces 366 total system horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Its listed components include a six-speed automatic transmission, an integrated Power Control Unit, and a 64-kW motor. A 76-kW rear eAxle combines an inverter and motor to provide power to the rear wheels, and the system includes a nickel-metal hydride battery. These details describe the configuration provided in the announcement. The source does not supply updated fuel-economy figures, battery capacity, or acceleration times for the 2027 model.

What updates distinguish the 2027 models from the 2026 versions?
The announced revisions include changes to vacuum brake-booster tuning and the brake-hold feature on TX 350 models, along with a badge change on the TX 500h. The hybrid model will use AWD badges instead of the DIRECT4 badges fitted to the 2026 version. The announcement does not describe these revisions as a major redesign or a new generation. It also does not identify changes to the stated engine outputs, transmission specifications, or hybrid-system component ratings. The main lineup adjustment is the removal of the TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid.

Which TX 500h trims will be available for 2027?
The TX 500h will be offered exclusively in F SPORT Performance Premium and F SPORT Performance Luxury configurations, according to the supplied article. Both are associated with the stated 2.4-liter turbocharged parallel-hybrid system, which delivers 366 total system horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The model also combines all-wheel drive with Dynamic Rear Steering. The announcement does not provide trim-level pricing, a full equipment comparison, or a detailed list of standard and optional features, so those details cannot be confirmed from the source material alone.