Lexus was late to the premium subcompact luxurious sport, coming into the ever-expanding section three years in the past with the UX SUV. It’s supplied in two variations. The UX 200 is provided with a gasoline-fueled 2.0-liter engine powering the entrance wheels solely; the UX 250h is a bit more highly effective and fuel efficient with an added hybrid part and elective all-wheel drive. Both means, it’s the smallest and least-expensive car Lexus provides.
As you’ll anticipate, voluminous inside house isn’t a precedence on this small luxurious SUV section. Nonetheless, the UX is among the smallest entries. It additionally doesn’t provide as a lot driving enjoyment as some rivals, with sluggish acceleration being a specific detraction no matter powertrain. In these methods, its European rivals are handily superior. Nonetheless, the distinctive design and the hybrid system’s wonderful effectivity are two main promoting factors, and even when we would not name the UX enjoyable, its composed dealing with and cozy journey yield a wonderfully nice driving expertise.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s new for 2022?
The one issues new for 2022 are some colors. The plastic fenders are actually supplied in physique colour for a monochromatic look on the UX Black Sequence (pictured beneath), and two new exterior colours — Grecian Water and Cloudburst Grey — are supplied.
What are the 2022 Lexus UX inside and in-car know-how like?
From the comfy and supportive driver seat, the UX appears to be like and seems like a correct Lexus. The design is according to, however, refreshingly, not a replica of different fashions. There are frequent particulars just like the drive mode setting selectors that sprout from the instrument panel and the F-Sport’s sliding gauge cluster inside, whereas the accessible 10.25-inch infotainment show is perched atop a low, flat sprint. The supplies protecting the sprint and entrance doorways are applicable for this luxurious value level and according to the ES 350, if not higher-priced Lexus fashions. In contrast, the laborious plastic door panels within the rear are disappointingly extra according to a Toyota Corolla.
Nonetheless, the UX options distinctive touches (we just like the contrast-color sprint and door trim accessible) and provides totally different controls than different Lexus fashions. The local weather system is operated by distinctive toggle switches, whereas the air vents have little rotary controllers that appear and feel higher than these in a Lexus ES.
Sadly, the UX has been bothered by the identical curse as most different Lexus fashions that haven’t but acquired the brand new infotainment system that debuted within the 2022 NX. Sure, the Distant Contact tech interface remains to be perpetually irritating and distracting. On the optimistic aspect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal, and with fewer icons on the display screen to pick, Distant Contact would possibly truly work higher with Apple’s and Google’s interfaces than it does with its personal. The UX additionally teams controls for quantity and tuning, plus menu shortcuts for radio and media, within the wrist-rest aft of the Distant Contact management pad. This retains these generally used gadgets nearer at hand – a lot as BMW’s or Mazda’s interfaces do – which is an enchancment over different Lexus vehicles that place them up on the sprint. Principally, your hand and eyes are shifting much less, which is sweet.
How large is the UX?
The Lexus UX is among the many smallest of the smallest SUV section. Though its total size is definitely better than rivals just like the BMW X2 and Volvo XC40, its wheelbase and inside dimensions path them vastly. It’s significantly shorter in peak than most rivals as effectively. Principally, the UX is a compact hatchback with a slight floor clearance improve – effectively, in principle, as Lexus hasn’t printed an official quantity.
You are going to discover the UX’s pinchy dimensions within the again seat. Taller drivers might want to slide their seat ahead to ensure that anybody to sit down behind them, whereas the sloping roofline means heads will bump – or no less than be nearer to the roof than they may be in rival crossovers. These up entrance may additionally discover that the elective sunroof cuts over an inch and a half of headroom.
Cargo house can also be restricted. Lexus says the UX 200 has 21.7 cubic ft of house behind its again seat, which might be the identical because the BMW X2. Nonetheless, in our real-world testing (see video beneath), the UX did not come near the X2‘s luggage-carrying potential. The UX 250h has even much less capability on account of a better load flooring. Once we re-did the bags check, the hybrid was incapable of becoming one of many midsize, check-in suitcases that the UX 200 may.
Lexus hasn’t printed a most cargo capability quantity for the UX 200, however says the UX 250h provides 40.4 cubic ft with the rear seats folded. That’s on the small aspect of what you’d anticipate to get in a compact hatchback. The UX additionally has a notably excessive lift-over peak.
What are the UX’s gas economic system and efficiency specs?
Like all the pieces in its section, the UX 200 has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Nonetheless, it is lacking one key ingredient: a turbocharger. As such, this engine that does good work within the Toyota Corolla is significantly outgunned on this firm with 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Most rivals begin within the 200s. The UX 200 can also be completely paired with front-wheel drive and Toyota’s direct-shift CVT, a repeatedly variable automated transmission that simulates 10 gears. Lexus estimates the UX 200 will go from zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds, which is glacial for the section.
In contrast to anything within the section, nonetheless, the UX 250h is a hybrid that pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with both two electrical motors (front-wheel drive) or three (all-wheel drive). Total output is 181 hp, which helps shave a couple of ticks off the 0-60 time (8.6 seconds FWD, 8.7 seconds AWD).
EPA-estimated fuel economy is outstanding for the section, no matter powertrain. The UX 200 achieves 29 mpg metropolis, 37 mpg freeway and 33 mpg mixed. The UX 250h hybrid will get 43/41/42 with FWD and 41/38/39 with AWD. In our week of testing, we achieved 38.1 mpg within the UX 250h and slightly below 33 mpg with the non-hybrid UX 200.
What is the UX wish to drive?
The two.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and Toyota’s intelligent new repeatedly variable transmission make for an agreeable powertrain … within the Toyota Corolla. Within the UX 200, it feels each bit as weak-kneed when accelerating as you’d anticipate compared to turbocharged rivals. Worse nonetheless, the CVT simulates gears and incorporates a literal first gear to enhance gas economic system and drivability (learn extra about that on this First Drive of the Corolla Hatchback), however the ensuing energy supply feels odd. Typically it looks as if a dual-clutch automated guide, generally it seems like a CVT, however it by no means feels regular. Or slightly, it does not really feel refined sufficient for a luxury-branded car.
This can be a disgrace, as a result of like different not too long ago launched Lexus fashions, the UX demonstrates impeccably poised dealing with with out sacrificing journey high quality. This can be a properly tuned chassis. The well-calibrated steering truly encourages you to drive, with effort that continues to be linear and constant no matter whether or not you are in Regular or Sport. The latter provides simply the correct quantity of additional resistance and response while you need to have some enjoyable, however Regular is not so loosey-goosey that we robotically reached for the drive mode choose knob after turning the automotive on.
As for the UX 250h, the additional torque and silent (as long as the F-Sport’s annoying noise simulator is off), clean operation of its added electrical motor finally enhance the driving expertise. It makes the UX appear faster and extra refined, along with the apparent gas economic system advantages. That mentioned, the battery’s added weight appears to negate a few of the UX 200’s agility by means of corners. It simply does not appear as enjoyable and fast to alter path. That, along with the decreased cargo capability, would give us pause, however in whole, the hybrid looks as if the higher alternative.
What different Lexus UX opinions can I learn?
2019 Lexus UX 250h First Drive Review
Our first drive within the UX 250h hybrid, the place we offer a broad overview of the UX and our preliminary driving impressions.
2020 Lexus UX 200 F-Sport Drivers’ Notes | The little Lexus
Our editors spend every week within the non-hybrid UX to see what the small Lexus is wish to dwell with each day.
How a lot is the 2022 UX’s value and what options can be found?
The bottom 2022 Lexus UX 200 begins at $34,075, together with the $1,075 vacation spot cost. The UX 250h hybrid begins at $36,275.
Their normal tools lists are principally equal, together with 18-inch alloy wheels, automated LED headlights, proximity entry and push-button begin, adaptive cruise management, a wide range of accident avoidance tech (see security part beneath), dual-zone automated local weather management, energy entrance seats, a 60/40-split folding again seat, “NuLuxe” simulated leather-based upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the Distant Contact tech interface (7-inch show, touchpad controller), 4 USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, in-car WiFi, satellite tv for pc radio and a six-speaker sound system.
The Premium bundle provides a sunroof, heated and ventilated entrance seats and automated wipers. There are two elective packages/trim ranges: Luxurious and F Sport.
The Luxurious ($39,115 UX 200; $41,315 UX 250h) contains the Premium gadgets plus auto-dimming mirrors, a hands-free energy liftgate, blind-spot warning, driver reminiscence settings, built-in navigation, a ten.25-inch Distant Contact show, and an eight-speaker sounds system.
The F Sport ($36,415 UX 200; $38,615 UX 250h) creates a extra performance-oriented look and driving expertise. It provides particular 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, particular styling, sport seats, steering wheel paddle shifters, an upgraded digital instrument panel, and a system that makes the engine sound a bit racier. The Luxurious’s additional gadgets can be found on the F Sport as choices.
Different choices embrace upgraded headlights, wi-fi smartphone charging, a head-up show, and parking sensors.
What are the UX security scores and driver help options?
Past the same old airbag and stability aides, each UX comes normal with ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping help, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert and Lexus Security Join emergency companies. A parking help system with rear cross-traffic braking is elective.
The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named the UX a Prime Security Choose for its best-possible efficiency in all crash tests plus a ranking of “Superior” for its ahead collision prevention system. It additionally will get a Good+ ranking for LATCH little one seat anchor ease of use. Its elective improve headlights internet a “Good” ranking, however its “Poor”-rated normal headlights hold it from reaching the best-possible IIHS Prime Security Choose+.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration offers the UX a five-star total ranking, the very best accessible, although solely 4 stars for frontal crash safety.
