Lexus is putting the UX in luxury
Lexus takes claim to inventing the luxury crossover segment when the RX first came out a decade ago and now it’s hoping to build on that massive success with an all-new subcompact model, the UX.
Lexus called it the UX because Toyota’s luxury brand says it’s built for Urban Explorers, but the UX also stands for Urban Crossover (the X is for cross). We drove this small SUV for the first time in Stockholm, Sweden, a vibrant city that effortlessly combines the traditional and the modern, just like Lexus hopes the UX will.
Driving dynamics One of the great parts of the UX is that it’s built on an enhanced version of the same platform the Toyota C-HR uses. That’s a good thing because the C-HR has excellent and surprisingly fun driving dynamics, and that carries over to this Lexus. What that means is that it is surprisingly nimble and alive. It feels light and agile but still cushy and quiet like you’d expect from a Lexus, which makes it feel a lot more luxurious than the crashy and stiff C-HR without sacrificing its fun handling.
That platform has a negative, however — it is not available with AWD. The only way to get AWD in this car is to get the hybrid, which uses an electric motor for the rear wheels, and even then, it can only send up to 80 per cent of the motor’s power to the rear axle at speeds under 70 km/h. At speeds higher than that, only the front wheels are driven. That’s not a huge downside, because the goal is efficiency here, not performance.
A lot of people shopping this segment want AWD, though, and all of its competitors have AWD available, so that’s an important thing to note. But really, there’s no reason not to get the hybrid, except for the slight price premium and smaller cargo capacity.
The gas UX 200 is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0L fourcylinder engine that outputs 169 hp and-151lb-ft of torque and it uses regular gas. Going with no turbo engine is an interesting move considering that’s pretty much the standard for all its competitors. Although it’s not super quick getting to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, the engine feels decent but a bit coarse under demands for quicker acceleration. Lexus does a good job at filtering out any harshness from the cabin, however, as it remains pretty quiet inside. The UX 250h model uses an Atkinson cycle version of that engine and adds an electric motor and nickel metal hydride battery pack into the mix, which brings total system output to 175 hp. The hybrid feels noticeably peppier than the gas model, though its 8.7 seconds to 100 km/h isn’t that much of a difference on paper. The hybrid is expected to be much more fuel friendly
The gas model gets power to the front wheels via a CVT, but in an interesting and much-appreciated move, it uses a mechanical first gear, which helps the UX feel more natural and responsive off the line. Lexus calls this a Direct Shift CVT, and the CVT can simulate 10 forward gears if you use the paddle shifters. That mechanical first gear, however, doesn’t make passing quicker and the UX experiences a bit of hesitation if you mat the throttle. The availability of AWD makes the hybrid model the one to get, but the better driving dynamics and higher output of the hybrid setup is also compelling. The battery packs are stored underneath the rear seats, which helps keep the centre of gravity low and doesn’t obstruct passenger space.
Cargo capacity isn’t that great, however, with just 484 litres in the hybrid model’s trunk and 614 litres in the gas model (no figures for seats-down cargo capacity were released). Although it has some handy underfloor storage, it also has a higher lift height and a rather small opening, so if maximum practicality is what you’re looking for, this might not be the best bet.
Technology I can’t talk about a Lexus without mentioning the one thing that frustrates me the most about its cars — the touchpad. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the touchpad system is awful and far too distracting to use while driving. It’s not intuitive at all. Infotainment systems should be familiar as soon as you get into the car for the first time and require no learning curve.
They have new buttons and scroll wheels integrated where you rest your hand on the centre console, which is nice, but it doesn’t make this system any more likable or user-friendly.
There is Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa support (no Android Auto because Lexus says 80 per cent of its customers have Apple phones) and it helps, but you still have to use the touchpad to use it, which isn’t a great solution. A neat touch is that the UX will be compatible with smartwatches and some Google Assistant-enabled devices, which you can use to lock/unlock the car, start the engine or check fuel levels.
Lexus is proud that it’s offering its suite of driver assistance and safety technology as standard equipment. It now offers a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection with night vision and the ability to detect cyclists during the day, lane keep assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.
The adaptive cruise control feels natural and progressive, though the lane keep assist and lane centring still feels like it’s fighting with the driver. An excellent HUD is also on offer along with wireless charging for your smartphone, Wi-Fi hot spot capability, four USB ports, blind spot monitoring, a 360degree parking camera, and more.
The verdict The majority of Lexus’ sales are SUVs and crossovers, so it’s sure to have a runaway hit with this UX. Although it’s not perfect, the UX comes with a lot of tech, a cool interior, a good chassis, and competitive price, so it makes a pretty compelling argument. If I were buying a UX, the hybrid model is the one I’d pick, however. Even if you aren’t into “green cars,” the hybrid model feels quicker and drives better than the gas one.