It took me a while to notice this one major accommodation during my 2026 Lexus TX review. The water bottle you choose says a lot about your personality. For years, I used a stainless steel model that was slim and fit perfectly in most cup holders in cars. Times have changed, and I often spot massive Yeti water bottles and, of course, the ubiquitous Stanley cup.
Lexus has taken these trends seriously in the 2026 Lexus TX. The cup holders are much wider and can accommodate both Yeti models and the Stanley quite easily. The design change points to a larger trend with automakers — listening to customers and what they are actually requesting.
The importance of user experience in car design
You can imagine how this worked. In another life long ago, I led a usability team that tested user interfaces, products, and customer experiences. My team then tweaked the experience and even changed product designs to match what we were seeing. The interesting part of that job was that we could tell when something was wrong after the first five customers or so.
In one case, we had customers use a point of sale interface, and even though we had around 20 people go through a mock-up check-out lane, we knew right away that the software was causing confusion. I can only assume Lexus designers also monitored multiple drivers test out cars and try to fit their massive Yeti water bottle in the cup holder, only to realize it doesn’t fit.
I’m sure it was frustrating to notice how, time and time again, the car didn’t match what customers were actually using and their preferences. Water bottles used to be slim, but not anymore. I don’t know if Lexus actually experienced this but I’ve noticed when passengers have jumped into cars I’ve been testing that they have to hold the water bottle.
Beyond cup holders: Tech and handling improvements
Is it the end of the world? Not really. But after testing the Lexus TX for a week, I came to realize it is a product of good design — they have listened to customers about cup holders and much more. The user interface is now easier than ever to use as well, not relying solely on a physical dial you have to twist and turn to click options on the screen. In fact, the Lexus TX works with Apple CarPlay so you can use a more familiar interface.
You would think minor adjustments like this are not that important, but the truth is that they show Lexus is listening, adjusting, and designing with the driver in mind (and the passengers).
I also noticed the Lexus TX handling is tighter and more responsive. Some Lexus models I’ve tested have used a “soft” driving mechanic, presumably because it makes the steering more forgiving. In the TX, it’s far more responsive. The TX is even fun to drive, which is saying something for a vehicle that is not really meant to be a performance SUV by any means.
What else is Lexus accommodating?
The question that came to mind for me as I was doing my 2026 Lexus TX review was — what else has Lexus changed to accommodate the driver? That is part of the fun of car testing as you learn about the minor and major adjustments for vehicles over a long span of time. The larger cup holders might not be the most impressive design innovation ever, but it shows the driver is helping to determine which trends are important enough to make changes and improve the overall experience.