2024 Lexus UX 250h overview

This may quickly be one of many rarest Lexus UX fashions ever supplied in Australia.

Earlier this 12 months Lexus Australia introduced simply 250 examples of the Lexus UX 250 h F Sport Design Particular Version are coming Down Below.

This limited-edition UX variant is predicated on the entry-level Luxurious and comes with a spread of options that make it seem like an F Sport. A few of these options embrace a body-coloured wheel arches, F Sport badging and 18-inch alloy wheels with run-flat tyres.

There’s additionally black roof rails, aspect mirror caps, in addition to a contrast-painted roof. The latter of those options is a primary for the UX.

The Lexus UX has been round for a couple of years now – it launched domestically in 2018 – and pioneered series-parallel hybrid expertise within the premium small SUV phase.

A variety of European rivals has since launched mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric powertrains.

Does the Lexus UX nonetheless type as a lovely small SUV providing? Learn alongside to search out out.

How does the Lexus UX fare vs its rivals?

View an in depth breakdown of the Lexus UX towards equally sized automobiles.

Lexus

UX

How a lot does the Lexus UX 250h price?

The 2024 Lexus UX vary begins from $46,085 earlier than on-road prices for the UX 200 Luxurious.

The UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version on take a look at right here is round $12,500 dearer than the entry-level variant at $58,620 earlier than on-road prices. Our tester was completed in Sonic Chrome metallic which provides an additional $1750, bringing the full to $60,370 earlier than on-roads.

By way of rivals, the Lexus UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version is priced equally to the next:

All costs are earlier than on-road prices.

2024 Lexus UX pricing:

• Lexus UX 200 Luxurious: $46,085
• Lexus UX 250h Luxurious + Enhancement Pack 2: $54,320
• Lexus UX 200 Sports activities Luxurious: $56,850
• Lexus UX 200 F Sport: $57,495
• Lexus UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version: $58,620
• Lexus UX 250h Sports activities Luxurious: $61,350
• Lexus UX 250h F Sport: $61,995
• Lexus UX 250h Sports activities Luxurious AWD: $65,850
• Lexus UX 250h F Sport AWD: $66,495
• Lexus UX 300e Luxurious: $79,990
• Lexus UX 300e Sports activities Luxurious: $87,665

Costs are earlier than on-road prices

What’s the Lexus UX 250h like on the within?

Strolling as much as the Lexus UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version and unlocking it gives you with a well-known sound that’s shared throughout plenty of Lexus and Toyota fashions. If , .

Thanks partly to the raised experience peak, ingress and egress within the UX is tremendous simple as you don’t must step up or down.

The UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version comes as customary with NuLuxe upholstery which is actually Lexus-speak for synthetic leather-based. It’s actually mushy and feels divine, no less than to me. It may be had in both Black or White Ash, with our tester that includes the previous.

Along with the seats feeling mushy to the contact, the driving force’s seat is tremendous snug with loads of aspect bolstering to carry you in place. I appreciated the quantity of thigh adjustment there was as properly.

Forward of the driving force is a thick, squidgy leather-wrapped steering wheel that’s much like just about each different Lexus mannequin from the previous few years. The one distinction this steering wheel has when in comparison with an ES, for instance, is it misses out on the picket accents.

The steering wheel push buttons have a barely spongey motion which when pushed don’t really feel very exact. For instance, it’s a must to push the quantity buttons in a selected spot for it to really register, which is usually a little irritating.

Behind the steering wheel is the place you begin see this particular version is actually a dressed-up base mannequin because it receives the fundamental 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, as an alternative of the bigger and extra subtle 8.0-inch unit.

This 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster appears to be like dated and a little bit low-resolution. It additionally misses out on the cool transferring round factor that correct F Sport variant receives.

Your entire left-hand aspect of this digital instrument cluster appears to be like prefer it has been taken instantly from every other low-end Toyota. This isn’t actually becoming in a Lexus that’s $60,000.

On the flip aspect, the brand new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is among the up to date Lexus UX’s finest options.

This new unit could be very high-resolution and has heaps of processing energy. This implies the infotainment system begins up shortly if you begin the automobile, and new content material hundreds snappily.

The brand new infotainment system now helps wi-fi Apple CarPlay, whereas Android Auto remains to be solely obtainable in wired type.

All through my time with the tester I completely used wi-fi Apple CarPlay, which labored flawlessly other than one journey house the place it simply outright refused to acknowledge that my cellphone was related.

To maintain my cellphone battery topped up whereas utilizing wi-fi CarPlay there’s fortunately a wi-fi cellphone charger that I used to be shocked to see truly cost my cellphone. Quite a lot of automobiles I drive with wi-fi chargers normally cost my cellphone correctly because the charging coils don’t align correctly.

If you must cost your cellphone extra reliably there are additionally two USB-C ports that positioned close to the wi-fi cellphone charger.

The UX’s infotainment system comes customary with satellite tv for pc navigation which felt simply as simple to make use of as Google Maps on a cellphone. Looking for factors of curiosity was tremendous easy, in contrast to some automobile’s inbuilt navigation methods.

I respect the UX has a row of bodily buttons for the local weather controls. This makes it very easy to shortly change the temperature, or whether or not the air is coming from the skin or recirculating.

One thing that could be a little irritating, nevertheless, is though there’s a button for the place the air is pointing, for instance, the one technique to see what it’s set to is on the touchscreen. It additionally doesn’t show this info when you’re utilizing smartphone mirroring.

Across the cabin there are many mushy plastics and supplies. The door armrests, in addition to the centre console are wrapped in a brilliant mushy and spongey materials. You don’t must look too far although to search out tougher plastics.

I actually like how there may be minimal shiny piano black across the cabin of this specific UX. What’s there as an alternative are matte darkish gray plastics that don’t present close to as many fingerprints, or get as noticeably scratched or grubby as shortly.

In addition to the instrument cluster, one other technique to inform this UX is a dressed up base mannequin are the clean buttons. Subsequent to the gear selector is a cluster of buttons which solely has the heated seats. There are clean buttons for the place the controls for the ventilated seats and heated steering wheel would usually be.

Capping off the primary row is a small sunroof that Lexus calls a ‘moonroof’. It’s in a position to tilt and slide with buttons positioned on the headliner.

Transferring to the second row there’s no actual noticeable step down by way of high quality or atmosphere. The second-row seats are simply as mushy because the entrance.

At a leggy 182cm tall I needed to splay my legs across the driver’s seat as a way to get snug. Head, shoulder, and toe room alternatively are all utterly nice.

By way of second-row facilities, there are air vents on the again of the centre console, USB-C ports, in addition to a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

The boot of the Lexus UX is powered and might be operated with a hands-free performance. This turns out to be useful when you have your arms full and may’t contort your self right into a place that means that you can push the button.

As soon as the tailgate is open you is perhaps a little bit bit disenchanted with the cupboard space on provide. With a claimed 368 litres of boot house, it’s actually disappointing I can’t sit my backpack upright with out hitting the flimsy load cowl.

What’s much more disappointing that is the dearth of a spare wheel. There’s not even a tyre restore equipment as UX fashions with 18-inch alloy wheels have run-flat tyres. This setup actually doesn’t work for individuals who reside in rural or regional areas that don’t all the time have prepared entry to tyre retailers within the occasion of a puncture.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

The Lexus UX 250h is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with one electrical motor and a 216V nickel-metal hydride battery pack. It’s mated completely to an e-CVT.

The petrol engine within the hybrid powertrain produces 107kW and 188Nm, with the front-mounted electrical motor producing 80kW and 202Nm. Whole system output for the hybrid powertrain is 135kW of energy.

The Lexus UX vary can be obtainable with a non-hybridised 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with 126kW and 205Nm.

Lexus claims the UX 250h has a mixed financial system determine of 4.5 litres per 100km. Throughout our time with the tester which consisted of 660km of city, metropolitan, and regional driving, it consumed a mean of 5.2 litres per 100km. That is just a bit bit increased than what I used to be anticipating.

It has a 43-litre gasoline tank and requires a minimal of 91 RON common unleaded petrol.

How does the Lexus UX 250h drive?

Beginning up the Lexus UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version is essentially a silent affair, with the one actual technique to inform you’ve turned the automobile on being a beep.

After this the engine can swap on if it’s not already warmed up as a way to get the all of the fluids to working temperatures. In the event you’re driving slowly or decelerating as soon as the engine is heat it’ll swap off, permitting you to drive in EV mode.

Energy from the two.0-litre hybrid powertrain is enough, although it’s by no means actually breathtaking. There’s an preliminary surge as all of the torque the electrical motor can present is accessible from standstill, although it’s a little bit delicate.

Simply as you get transferring, or in case you press the accelerator a little bit tougher, the engine will kick into life which takes you out of the phantasm of EV-only driving fairly shortly.

The precise swap over from electrical to petrol energy is absolutely seamless, which is one thing I can’t say for plenty of different hybrids. There’s no noticeable lurching or unbalanced feeling.

In the event you actually punch the accelerator, the UX 250h the engine will hearth right away and also you’ll get the place you must go, however you gained’t be successful any races. You’ll be able to inform it doesn’t wish to be pushed shortly, and as an alternative economically.

At low speeds the UX 250h is ready to energy itself on electrical energy alone for almost all of time, and when it’s in EV mode it’s silent. It’ll swap on the petrol engine each time it might probably, nevertheless, to cost the battery or present help in getting to hurry.

I wasn’t anticipating the electrical a part of the UX 250h’s hybrid powertrain to be so weak. I’m not sure if that is as a result of older and fewer subtle nickel-metal hydride battery pack, the electrical motor itself, or a mix of the 2.

I bear in mind after I drove the up to date Corolla Hybrid earlier this 12 months it will maintain in its EV mode for longer and was in a position to present extra energy from the electrical motor. This mannequin is now outfitted with a lithium-ion battery pack for reference.

As a result of lack of EV energy I discovered myself taking part in a sport to attempt to maintain the petrol engine from switching on as a lot as potential. It was in these moments I longed for an opportunity to make use of regenerative braking, which on this automobile has a seamless transition to friction braking.

The UX 250h has a very tight turning circle and light-weight steering which gives to make parking an absolute breeze. This specific UX variant is fitted with rear and entrance nook parking sensors, in addition to a reversing digicam. A surround-view digicam is accessible on up-spec variants.

Round city and on metropolis streets the Lexus UX feels surprisingly dynamic to drive. It is a widespread trait that I’ve observed in Toyota and Lexus automobiles which are primarily based on the TNGA platform.

The low-speed experience is absolutely snug, with it in a position to take pimply city roads and pace bumps all in its stride. Build up the pace nevertheless is the place the UX begins to get out of its consolation zone.

At freeway speeds the two.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine stays on nearly on a regular basis. This isn’t world-ending, although it actually has to rev as a way to rise up to increased speeds.

The hybrid powertrain is mated with an digital repeatedly variable transmission (e-CVT) which is thought for its lack of engine braking. Because of the regenerative braking nevertheless, this is ready to negate the pace that’s gained whereas touring downhill.

Regardless of the engine having to work to take care of freeway speeds, the crossover feels planted and is a snug cruiser. There’s quite a lot of highway noise, nevertheless, which makes you attain for quantity dial.

On the protection entrance, the Lexus UX 250h’s adaptive cruise management system is okay, although it typically detects a automobile that’s ages away and begins to decelerate for it – even does this when the space management is about to the closest setting.

The adaptive cruise management system defaults to the furthest distance each single time it’s activated, which is a basic Toyota and Lexus characteristic. You recover from this beautiful shortly, although it’s a little bit annoying to press the space management button plenty of instances to get it to your required place.

The blind-spot monitoring system is a good and typically important characteristic to have in a brand new automobile, although I discovered the system on this UX was a little bit delicate and would typically detect a automobile two lanes over. While you would go to vary lanes on this situations the automobile would freak out, which doesn’t actually encourage confidence.

Lastly, the lane-keep help works properly for essentially the most half. The lane centring perform alternatively will get misplaced fairly simply. I didn’t actually like how the latter of those capabilities jerked on the steering wheel and didn’t find yourself utilizing it as I felt I might steer extra naturally.

What do you get?

UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version highlights:

Exterior

• 18-inch darkish premium metallic alloy wheels
• “Bespoke” grille
• “Bespoke” entrance and rear bumpers
• Black roof rails
• Black aspect mirror caps
• Two-tone roof
• Panoramic sunroof
• Energy tailgate

Inside

• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• 10-speaker sound system
• Head-up show
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Sensible key card
• Washi paper ornamentation
• Black or White Ash NuLuxe leather-accented upholstery
• Heated entrance seats
• 8-way energy driver’s seat

Is the Lexus UX 250h secure?

The Lexus UX has a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on testing carried out in 2019.

All fashions acquired an grownup occupant safety rating of 96 per cent, youngster occupant safety rating of 88 per cent, susceptible highway person safety rating of 82 per cent and a security help rating of 83 per cent.

Normal security options embrace:

• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bicycle owner (day) detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane Tracing Help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Automated high-beam
• Parking help monitor
• 8 airbags

All bar the bottom UX 200 additionally characteristic blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

All Lexus UX fashions obtain a three-year complimentary Lexus Related Providers subscription

Key security options embrace:

• Automated collision notification
• SOS emergency calling
• Stolen car monitoring
• Final recognized car location
• Latest journey info
• Diagnostics knowledge
• Door lock standing
• Doorways, home windows, bonnet, boot standing
• Tyre pressures
• Hazard gentle standing

The UX additionally has Lexus Distant Join which permits house owners to remotely begin the engine, unlock or lock the boot, and activate the hazard lights and a buzzer.

How a lot does the Lexus UX 250h price to run?

The Lexus UX is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, like all new Lexus fashions.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, and the primary three providers are capped at $495.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Lexus UX 250h

It’s doubtless all native examples of the Lexus UX 250h F Sport Design Particular Version are already spoken for, however you may have the ability to discover one in vendor inventory in case you’re fortunate.

Though it could seem this limited-edition mannequin is a full-blown F Sport at first look, when you spend a little bit of time and go searching there are apparent indicators pointing towards it being primarily based on an entry-level Luxurious.

These embrace the clean buttons, and fewer subtle digital instrument cluster, amongst others.

Regardless of this, I’m an enormous fan of how mushy and plush the entry-level Luxurious’s NuLuxe seat upholstery is. I don’t thoughts in any respect that it’s not correct leather-based.

The UX 250h with its series-parallel hybrid powertrain continues to show itself as a reliable, fuel-efficient, and surprisingly dynamic premium small SUV providing that feels most at house within the city surrounds.

The inside now additionally receives a infotainment system that’s correctly high-resolution and has snappy processing energy. It’s additionally useful that wi-fi Apple CarPlay has been launched as you don’t want to fret a couple of cable.

Issues do begin to come undone nevertheless if you take the UX 250h out on the open highway, because the hybrid powertrain runs out of puff and there’s a good bit of highway noise. It’s additionally actually disappointing there’s no spare wheel or perhaps a tyre restore equipment, as run-flat tyres aren’t a viable possibility for everybody.

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