The UX: Agile baby Lexus hybrid crossover to cost from €39,000
THE first thing that struck me about the new Lexus UX compact hybrid crossover was how low it hunkered. It is a crossover between a hatch and an SUV, for sure, but it looks more a vertically stretched hatch than taller SUV. That’s okay – this is an urban crossover, after all, and the look has grown on me a lot these past couple of days.
The second thing that grabbed my attention was the front – it’s brave, bold and brilliant. This urban explorer (hence UX) is the smallest hybrid crossover Lexus has made so far. The company hopes it will get it plenty of buyers in yet another market segment. They already have the larger NX and RX(L) hybrid crossovers on sale.
It doesn’t get to Ireland until March, when it will cost from €39,000 and will compete with the likes of the Audi Q2/3, Mercedes GLA, BMW X1, Volvo XC40 etc for your money.
The firm is bringing in the front-wheel drive hybrid 250h model only. Driven by a fourthgen hybrid powertrain, it’s the first car from the marque to be built on the new GA–C global architecture platform.
The nickel metal-hydride battery slots under the rear seats (boot space wasn’t great, but Lexus says it will be better – we were driving pre-production models).
The battery-bank/electric motor combination works with the new 2-litre 4cyl petrol engine. The result is a system output of 178 PS.
We’ll see and hear a lot more about that 2-litre in other models (including Toyota’s C-HR, I’d say).
Dispensing the power is a direct-shift continuously variable transmission (D-CVT) with a “fixed first gear” for better take-off response. The system is designed so you feel like there’s a multi-step shift in the transmission.
The UX for here will have three grades: S-Design, Executive and F-Sport. Details of exact equipment levels are still being worked out. Target buyers include young families and downsizers looking for the flexibility of a crossover and the agility of a hatchback.
The 2,640mm wheelbase helps cabin space, which is not madly generous for rear-seat passengers but good for those in front – it’s quite wide.
The car itself is 4,495mm long and from 1,520mm tall, depending on tyres, suspension etc. It has the lowest centre of gravity in its class (594mm). Important for urban driving, it has a 5.6m turning radius.
There is extensive use of high-tensile steel etc and the multi-link suspension is tuned for agility – a word that keeps cropping up.
Back to the design. The front is outstanding, and the rear, with its flared light clusters, is pure Japanese styling. There are 13 colours to choose from.
Overall impression, the car looks great inside and, mostly, out. I don’t like the wheel arch mouldings – they look angular and disproportionate but they use airflow over their edges to reduce turbulence. Wheels are so important in these cars: 17ins aluminium alloys are standard, 18ins optional.
Even though it’s quite lowslung, it has a slightly higher seating position than your standard hatch – similar in that respect to the Mercedes GLA.
Inside you can choose from a menu of combinations too – and the cabin deserves praise. Our test car had quality materials, fitments and general layout. The “seat-in-control” idea, for example, centres key functions around the driver’s side, with the display screen a central visual point. It’s a clean-line dash, even with all those ‘piano’ buttons. Back-seat passengers benefit from dual USB ports.
They’re placing a lot of emphasis on handling and ride, even though it is an urban crossover. Higher grades (Luxury, F-SPORT) getting the adaptive variable suspension (AVS) will have several settings (ECO, Sport S, Sport S+ and custom).
On board too is the Lexus Safety System+, which includes dynamic radar cruise control, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane keep/ departure, adaptive high-beam system and automatic high beam.
The car is capable of low-speed following, including stop-and-go traffic, up to 30kmh.
They have big plans for the UX as buyers increasingly leave superminis and family hatches for these crossovers. Due to worldwide embargoes, I can’t give you driving impressions until next week, but like the car itself and I think you will find it interesting.