By: Joshua Lee
May 28, 2023
Sometimes, bigger doesn’t always mean better. There are still buyers who would rather have a compact car than a high riding SUV. With recent gas prices, a smaller, more fuel-efficient mode of transport is quite attractive. Slap on a premium badge, and it might be a winner for some. For 2023, Lexus has enhanced their smallest crossover, the UX, and it is now offered exclusively as a hybrid-only model.
We’ve gotten the keys to the 2023 Lexus UX 250h from Toyota Canada to find out if this is worth getting. The UX 250h is powered by a 2.0L inline-four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that is paired with a CVT transmission, making 181 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. In Canada, every UX has standard AWD. Unfortunately, it’s not a thrilling drive, and it’s not quick either. The engine groans as you try to accelerate, which isn’t something you want to hear from a luxury vehicle. Once you do get going, the ride is smooth, and handling isn’t too bad with minimal body roll and good steering response.
This entry-level Lexus is bold on styling, and it stands out amongst the other subcompact crossovers in the market. Our Eminent White Pearl UX 250h is fitted with the optional Elegance Special Edition package worth $2300 that includes triple LED headlamps, adaptive headlights, a moonroof, and 18-inch alloy wheels wearing 225/50R18 Continental ContiWinterContact TS 830 P winter tires. The spindle grille looks great on the UX, and the body-coloured wheel arches make the crossover less awkward to look at from its profile. The rear light bar, consisting of 120 LEDs, is something to be appreciated; the taillamps are curved and protrude further out, aiding in aerodynamics.
For 2023, Lexus has updated the infotainment system in the UX with a larger eight-inch touchscreen complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; a 12.3-inch touchscreen is available on other trim packages. The old touchpad-based system is gone, and we’re glad that it is, as the new system is easier to use with clear graphics. The interior has a clean layout with a textured dashboard ‘washi’ trim, inspired by the ‘shoji’ paper sliding doors in traditional Japanese houses. The UX is equipped with a 6-speaker sound system, a seven-inch TFT multi-information display, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. We got comfortable quickly in the 8-way power-adjustable NuLuxe artificial leather front seats, which are heated and ventilated. Rear passengers should be able to tolerate short trips in this car, as legroom is pretty tight. It also doesn’t get better behind the second row; the UX has a high load floor and a small hatch opening, so loading bigger items can be challenging. Cargo capacity is not a strong suit, as the UX offers 487L with the seats up. The rear bench has a 60/40 split, but it will be a struggle planning a road trip with this car.
Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 is standard on the UX and features a range of pre-collision, lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise control assistance. Automatic high beams and blind spot monitoring are also standard.
Lexus rates the UX’s fuel economy at 5.7L/100KM city and 6.2L/100KM highway. The hybrid system works well and is reasonably quiet when your foot is light on the pedal. There are a few driving modes to choose from, where Sport does liven up the experience a bit. There is a limited EV mode that allows the UX to run without using the gas engine. Our fuel rating for the week ended at 6.7L/100KM as we drove our UX in colder weather and in sport mode.
Our UX250h Elegance Special Edition costs $46,133.70, including taxes and delivery. The base models start at $45,532.50 and increase in price depending on which package you choose. F SPORT Design costs $1650, Elegance Special Edition costs $1800, F SPORT SERIES 1 costs $3400, Luxury Package costs $4750, and F SPORT SERIES 2 costs $9500.
The Lexus UX offers a lot of features in a small package, and being a hybrid-only model, it is great on fuel. Is it easy to live with? Yes. Does it feel premium? Yes. Would we get one? No. The UX fits into the Lexus family in terms of fit and finish, but the driving feel is lacklustre, and the practicality is disappointing. We feel that the UX is more style than function, and it might be challenging to win buyers when there are rivals who can do much better, such as the Mazda CX-30 or Volvo XC40.
