The Lexus UX was introduced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and hit the streets for the 2019 model year. the UX is the smallest crossover they offer and is based on the TNGA-C platform which it shares with the current Toyota Prius, Corolla and CH-R. While other manufacturers are moving more and more towards complete electrification, Lexus holds steadfast in the hybrid-electric philosophy. We spent a week with this 2022 Lexus UX 250h Luxury to see how the most affordable Lexus offering holds up.
First impressions are important, and the UX delivers. The design language is unmistakably Lexus with the signature hourglass grille and sharp body contours. This model can easily be mistaken for its bigger brother, the NX and that’s definitely not a bad thing as both models look fresh.
Even though our test car was finished in a rather plain Eminent White Pearl paint job, it’s nice to see that Lexus is offering customers the option to be bold with some great colourways such as Cadmium Orange and my personal favourite, Nori Green Pearl. Along with the unique styling, this will surely attract the younger market. We also are pleased to see that Lexus has opted to paint the body cladding on the UX in comparison to models such as the Mazda CX-30 leaving bare plastic.
Although the UX is offered with a variety of propulsion options in other parts of the world including a fully electric option called the UX 300e, for the Canadian market we are left with just one option for the 2022 model year, the gas-electric hybrid. Although the hybrid system is quite rudimentary in terms of execution featuring a nickel-metal hydride battery, it is tried and true technology you can rely on without question for years to come. The combo is good for 181 horsepower, and even though it isn’t exactly what you’d call quick, it’s refined and easy to live with.
A major benefit of the technology being previous-generation is that Lexus has had a lot of time to iron out all the kinks. When driving the UX 250h, power delivery is effortless and the standard all-wheel-drive system works well, sending power to the rear wheels when required. The transition between EV and hybrid mode is absolutely seamless although it audibly reminds you when the engine does kick in as it sounds rather agricultural.
What we did appreciate was the UX’s road manners. Steering albeit a bit numb was light and the suspension tuning is comfortable while still transmitting a good amount of information from the road. Brake feel is also fairly good and doesn’t feel dull like many regenerative systems tend to. If you want to, there is a full EV mode, but we found it to be more of a gimmick than something you can actually use. Overall, the relatively small size and the driving characteristics make the UX a fun fuel-efficient city commuter.
Lexus Canada rates fuel economy for the 2022 Lexus UX 250h at 5.7L/100km city and 6.2L/100km highway, for a combined figure of 6.0L/100km. In our mostly highway commute with occasional city driving, we were averaging 8.0L/100km, and although that figure is a far cry from the estimated numbers, we can attribute a lot of that to the frigid late-winter ambient temperatures. The fuel tank is a measly 40 liters, however when it does come time to fill up, you’ll be pleased to see that the UX accepts regular 87-octane fuel.
Stepping inside, it becomes obvious what sets the UX apart from the competitors. Where some of the German offerings have a plain black single-tier dash design, Lexus has experimented with a multi-level dash and on this Luxury package tester, have covered it in material inspired by handmade Japanese paper known as “Washi”. We found details such as the Lexus LFA supercar inspired drive mode control exceptional. Other than the unique materials, and overall premium feel, the fit and finish is as you’d expect from a Lexus product – superb.
The seats were also very supportive and generally all touch points were soft touch and made the interior feel like it belongs to a much more expensive vehicle. The front seats are heated and ventilated however, it should be noted the buttons to control these functions are a little too small and with gloves on are too difficult to push. The rear seats are split-folding and increase the cargo capacity from the standard 487-liters, which is substantially larger than the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA 250.
As standard, infotainment is displayed on a seven-inch screen, which matches the GLA’s touchscreen and is a little smaller than the 8.8-inch display on the BMW. Our tester was equipped with the Luxury package which means an upgrade to a 10-inch unit, and even though the resolution and quality of the display are top-notch, it truly feels like it means nothing as the only way you can interact with the unit is through a frustrating controller.
Navigating using the Lexus Remote Touch controller feels like an unusual form of torture and results in more distractions and less time focusing on the road. We would really like to see this ditched in favour of a touchscreen or at the very least have both options present. German rivals seem to have a better method for interacting with their respective systems however, one thing neither of them have is Android Auto connectivity, whereas the UX offers this as well as Apple CarPlay. Our tester was also equipped with the optional eight speaker audio setup.
All Lexus UX 250h’s will come outfitted with Lexus Safety System + (LSS+ 2.0), a suite that consists of pre-collision braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, radar cruise, lane tracing assist which we found to work rather poorly and just ended up bobbing back and forth from lane marking to lane marking, and auto high beams. Our review unit kitted out with the Luxury package also adds wireless charging, an excellent head-up display, and a parking assist system among other features.
At this point, you’re probably wondering what all of this is going to cost. The UX 250h has an entry fee of $40,750. There are a total of five trim levels you can choose from, with one of them being standard and three of them being some degree of F-Sport. The last trim level left is the one we have – Luxury for $5,300. As tested, we’re looking at $46,050 which is right in the ball park of the rivals in this competitive segment.
We found that the 2022 Lexus UX 250h Luxury does something that is difficult in a hotly contested segment – stand out. With an interior that impresses and unique styling and colour choices, the UX is a great option for buyers looking to enter the luxury car market and require a little bit of extra space for a family or hobbies. Even though the German rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X2, and Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 handily beat out the UX on power and the technology front, the UX still manages to feel premium and distinctive.
