The UX is rather an interesting minimal detail.


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The 2020 Lexus UX 250h can make a really powerful first perception. The sharply styled exterior style appears remarkable — primarily in my example’s cadmium orange paint — and the hybrid’s generous gas economic climate claims are really worth a double just take. Nevertheless it’s difficult to slide in love with Lexus’ smallest model. 

Like

  • Classy style, significant-top quality inside products
  • Excellent suite of normal driver aids
  • Android Auto joins Apple CarPlay for 2020 model yr

You should not Like

  • Pretty minimal cargo house, even for a compact
  • Lexus Distant Touch controller isn’t fantastic

Although efficient, the powertrain is a little bit breathless at speed, and there’s surprisingly minimal room for cargo, travellers or vehicle seats in the UX’s cramped cabin. And even with the 2020 model yr tech updates, the littlest Lexus’ cockpit tech can be a little bit confusing to use.

Sharp style

Magnificent and angular, the UX is likely the finest execution of Lexus’ SUV style language and, in my opinion, a single of the finest-searching motor vehicles in its class. The sharply creased sheet metallic plays much better with the UX’s subcompact proportions than people of the much larger RX and NX styles. I specially take pleasure in the chunky, RAV4-esque wheel arches and the three-dimensional style of the taillamps, which protrude a little bit from the overall body like minimal aerodynamic diffusers.


Measuring 177 inches from nose to tail and standing just 60.6 inches tall, the UX isn’t that considerably much larger than the CT 200h that it technically replaces as the entry issue Lexus’ US lineup. The marginally elevated journey peak and all-wheel travel are basically the only attributes of its style that outline the UX as a smaller SUV somewhat than hatchback. To be honest, which is regular in this class. 

That mentioned, even between its Lilliputian peers, the UX’s cabin feels specially claustrophobic. You will find not considerably legroom to be found in the cramped second row and valuable minimal volume for cargo. Between the sharply raked roof and the hybrid’s battery pack, which raises the rear hatch ground, the UX 250h only features seventeen.1 cubic toes of cargo house, about 4.6 cubes significantly less than the non-hybrid. That is complete cargo house with the seats folded flat. That puts the UX hybrid between the worst in its class, with significantly less cargo capacity even than the liftback Hyundai Ioniq

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The UX has a whole lot significantly less cargo capacity than you could possibly consider, significantly less even than some in the same way sized hybrid sedans.


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What’s additional, the significant load ground and smaller hatch opening make it hard to load bulky goods. Squeezing a not-way too-huge 8.twenty five-cubic-foot box in the back again even proves to be a problem. 


The good news is, the front row is reasonably at ease with a fair amount of head- and legroom, as well as supportive seats. The UX’s dashboard functions significant-top quality products that are as satisfying to the eye as they are to the hand. Inspite of a few puzzling style choices for the tech, I genuinely like the Lexus’ cabin aesthetically and ergonomically. 

Lexus Enform with Distant Touch

The dashboard is household to the only true changes for the 2020 model yr. The UX now functions Android Auto smartphone connectivity through USB. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility also carry over from past yr. Like the much larger Lexus RX, Android Auto can make full use of the UX’s optional ten.twenty five-inch ultrawide monitor, filling the exhibit with a split-monitor interface that showcases navigation and audio info at the exact same time.

Outside of the 3rd-party tech, Lexus’ Enform infotainment program with Distant Touch controller is… not fantastic. The console-mounted touchpad is easy more than enough to realize, but can be imprecise and uncomfortable for great picks or when driving. That might be a single cause why Lexus blocks all but the most essential infotainment interactions when the vehicle is in movement, but it also usually means you are unable to have a passenger enter a location for you.

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The addition of Android Auto is a smaller improve that can make a huge advancement to the UX’s tech.


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The UX also features what has to be the most awkwardly positioned volume dial that I’ve ever noticed. You are going to discover it — after some browsing — slotted into the aspect of a palm relaxation aft of the Distant Touch pad along with shortcut buttons for audio resource assortment and radio tuning. The little knob demands various swipes for rapid volume adjustments and can be difficult for travellers to achieve without contorting.

It truly is a minimal ironic that a vehicle called UX has these kinds of very poor person experience (UX) style.

Lexus Protection Suite two.

Fortunately, the UX’s superior driver-aid tech can make a additional solid exhibiting with normal Lexus Protection Suite two. for all styles. That usually means normal ahead-collision warning, computerized crisis braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise management with website traffic jam support, lane-departure warning and really good lane-tracing support — checking all of the packing containers out of the box. The UX also functions normal computerized significant beams and street-indicator detection, which showcases posted speed limitations in the navigation and instrument cluster shows.

My illustration also functions the optional park support with computerized rear cross-website traffic braking ($595), the upgraded triple-beam LED headlamps ($1,660) and a full-color head-up exhibit ($five hundred). Other creature comforts incorporating to the bottom line: a heated steering wheel, all-weather floormats and a few additional odds and ends.

Hybrid Synergy Drive overall performance

The Lexus UX 250h functions a model of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive with normal all-wheel travel. Matching a two.-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with an electrical motor sends a complete of 181 horsepower (and an unspecified amount of torque) to the crossover’s front wheels. In the meantime, a focused seven-hp electrical motor-generator on the rear axle splits forty pound-toes of torque in between the rear wheels on demand from customers at speeds up to forty five mph. This is basically the exact same small-drag AWD-e setup you are going to discover in the up to date Prius.

The UX functions Usual, Activity and Eco travel modes, available through stubby stalks over the instrument cluster, and a constrained EV travel method button on the center console. Although the hybrid can technically slip into EV procedure at up to 71 mph, these kinds of speeds are only genuinely attainable when coasting downhill. In exercise, the EV method is for creeping in and out of driveways or close to parking a lot.

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A pair of travel method assortment stalks protruding from the instrument cluster hood is an odd element, but a good homage to the exotic Lexus LFA.


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Close to city, the UX 250h feels quite superior with good thrust off the line and a responsive accelerator backed up by electrified torque. The UX’s suspension and steering are taut, which can make the tall hatchback sense reasonably nimble close to urban obstacles. You are going to have to have that nimbleness to dodge potholes the UX’s marginally way too-company suspension can be punishing over tough patches of street.

At larger speeds, sad to say, the UX’s hybrid powertrain appears to be to operate out of juice. Freeway passes and merges deficiency the oomph that you sense close to city, while spirited driving — in which you’d want to capitalize on the responsive steering and suspension — are met with wheezy, laggy acceleration. The optional F Activity trim might demonstrate to be additional fun with its activity-tuned suspension and paddle shifters but, without any extra ability, I doubt it. This isn’t a sports vehicle it’s an eco vehicle with sporty leanings.

The UX hybrid is quite superior at remaining an eco vehicle, returning an EPA estimated 39 miles for each gallon put together, 38 highway mpg and up to forty one mpg in the metropolis. That is not bad for an all-wheel travel hybrid SUV, fundamentally matching the Ford Escape AWD Hybrid and Toyota’s personal RAV4 Hybrid AWD. Expand your net to contain front-pushed styles, though, and the Kia Niro’s 49 put together and fifty one metropolis mpg blow quite considerably almost everything else in this class away in advance of the plug-ins sign up for the fray.

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The UX’s hybrid all-wheel travel program is comparable to (but additional effective than) the Toyota Prius AWD-e.


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Pricing and competitors

The 2020 Lexus UX 250h is out there in foundation ($34,five hundred), F Activity ($36,five hundred) and Luxury ($39,seven hundred) trim stages. The foundation model nets you most of the creature comforts and the Lexus Protection Suite two. systems with a few extra selections, there isn’t genuinely a have to have to go over and above that. F Activity styles function some suspension and chassis tweaks, additional intense styling and paddle shifters. Lastly, the prime Luxury trim rolls in creature comforts like memory seats, steering wheel and mirrors, a ability moonroof and enhanced audio. As examined, my Luxury model with top quality paint, triple-beam LED headlamps, HUD, parking support and other functions rolls out at $forty four,seven hundred like a $1,025 location charge.

The UX is an odd minimal bird. Its precarious harmony of design, deluxe appointment and efficiency will come at the expense of any true utility. Toyota’s personal RAV4 Hybrid is additional effective, additional roomy and similarly efficient for considerably significantly less funds. Honda’s CR-V Hybrid, despite its quirks, is a additional partaking travel. The frumpy-searching Kia Niro is much and away the most efficient SUV I can consider of without a plug. And still, people aren’t “luxury SUVs” like the UX none features the prime-stop creature comforts or top quality of products that Lexus does. 

Some folks with a minimal extra money trying to find a fashionable urban runabout that stands apart from the group might discover the UX 250h to be exactly what they’re searching for. For most, I consider, the tech annoyances, the cargo house compromises and the luxury tax might not be expenditures they’re eager to spend.