We generally like our managing editor, Nick. He is nice, he has an infectious smile, he knows a lot about cars, but he is also a little opinionated. He may sometimes be controversial or just plain wrong, but this updated 2025 Lexus UX 300h F-Sport proves that, for once, he is right. [Wait, what? —Ed.]
As Nick eluded to in his review, last year’s Lexus UX looked good inside and out and drove well enough, but the big problem was that the Toyota Prius is just as good-looking, more powerful, and cost much less. Well, for the 2025 model year, the UX receives a refresh that seems to improve on pretty much everything: it did not get any cheaper, but there are now more features, Lexus squeezed out 15 more horsepower, and you can even pick Copper Crest as one of the new colour choices. I was a little disappointed this particular tester was not finished in that gorgeous colour.
We have always been a fan of the UX’s youthful and trendy look. Lexus’ signature ‘spindle grille’ does not look overstyled for once, and the whole exterior design fits into the company’s design language perfectly. At just under 4.5 metres long, the UX is actually 10 centimetres shorter than the Toyota Prius and 16.5 cm shorter than the NX. We prefer to think of the UX 300h as more of a lifted hatchback rather than a compact SUV.
While the exterior carries over unchanged from last year, the cabin receives a subtle update in the way of a new, more compact shifter we have seen in other Toyota and Lexus models. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is now standard on the Luxury and F-Sport trim, and we appreciate the rest of the clean dashboard design. Material quality and fit-and-finish are noticeably better than most of the UX’s mainstream competitors, but its small footprint overall means tighter interior space. The front row is actually relatively roomy and the seats are comfortable, but rear-seat legroom is tight. Cargo volume is rated at 487 litres with the seats up, which is far from generous for a crossover, but the UX makes up for that with a wide opening.
The infotainment is fairly easy to use. The eight-inch screen atop the dashboard is easily reached, most features can be accessed within a tap or two, and it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. Our tester had the upgraded 10-speaker stereo system with surprisingly impressive sound quality, as well as optional wireless charging to keep the devices going.
Though it may not seem like much, the UX’s bump to 196 horsepower — 15 more than last year, and now on par with the Prius — makes it quite responsive on city streets. The electric motors are quick to spin the front wheels as soon as you engage the throttle, and the UX’s AWD system only sends power to the rear wheels when needed. Honestly, the extra power was not noticeable — you only really feel its limit when you are attempting to overtake at highway speeds — but the UX 300h’s brisk acceleration will be appreciated by those who spend the most time around town or in stop-and-go traffic.
There is not much to write about the UX’s handling, other than the fact that it is really easy to drive. Steering requires little effort, there is good visibility all around, and the compact size makes the UX a breeze to park and manoeuvre. The suspension setup offers a good balance between comfort and sporty handling as well; considering we averaged 5.7 L/100 km and that it accepts regular-grade gasoline, the UX a solid commuter.
Another key upgrade to the UX for 2025 is the new and improved Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 package of driver and safety assists. This includes automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection and braking, collision mitigation, and an updated version of Lexus’ Proactive Driving Assistant. This system provides extra steering or braking input around certain obstacles and in certain conditions; for 2025, Lexus engineers improved the system’s ability to engage and work its magic. We like that it’s now standard on all UX models.
The 2025 UX 300h starts at $43,605 for the base Premium trim, and climbs all the way up to our F-Sport 2 tester’s $51,344 price tag. Add another $1,038 for our tester’s optional Cloudburst Grey paint job, and the total works out to $52,382 as-tested. Provided you can keep it under $50,000, we think the UX is a really attractive option, as it undercuts most other premium hybrid crossovers on the market, and its interior appointments are a few steps above most other mainstream brands.
So, the new-and-improved 2025 Lexus UX 300h F-Sport might have done the impossible: it rights its predecessors wrongs, and made our dear managing editor happy. If it pleases the whiniest baby on the team, we think this little Lexus will do pretty well with the general public.
