We take a look at Lexus' take on the hybrid SUV that is becoming an all-too-popular sight on South African roads. Our Lexus UX250h EX review...
Lexus has always been considered a purist gentlemen's brand that produces elegant timepieces for the road – the equivalent of Rolex and their watches. As the luxury division of Toyota, their vehicles certainly aren't affordable to the masses, with their cheapest model being the ES sedan that is priced from R818 300.
Alongside Toyota, they've also become the masters of hybrid technology when they launched the RX400h in the mid-2000s, the first luxury-branded production hybrid SUV that used Toyota's famous Hybrid Synergy Drive system. The RX nameplate is still in production, though R1.4-million is the starting price for one.
The UX is the entry point to the brand's SUV range and uses hybrid technology. EX, SE, F Sport and F Sport Bi-Tone are the derivatives on offer locally, with pricing starting from R857 900. The UX250h finds itself competing against the Audi Q3 (priced from R708 100), BMW X1 (priced from R780 000), Mercedes-Benz GLA (priced from R887 455) and Volvo XC40 (priced from R677 700). The luxury mid-size SUV market is certainly not a cheap one.
Here's a quick look at the technical specifications:
Engine – naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power – 135kW and 188Nm
0–100km/h - 8.5-seconds
Top speed - 177km/h
Transmission - CVT
Boot space - 268 litres
Fuel consumption - 4.5-litres/100km
So why choose the UX?
Firstly, Lexus is something of a niche brand and isn't something you're going to see with regularity like, say, a Toyota Corolla Cross, for example. That said, you are already driving something that can be considered automotive royalty rather than your run-of-the-mill SUV.
Secondly, that hybrid system is the trump card that none of its rivals can really boast a lot about, not to mention Toyota's reliability as well. Lastly, and our favourite point, is the attention to detail – but a bit more on that later.
The Exterior
The UX has massive curb appeal, with a spiral-like front grille being the first thing you see. It extends to the bottom section of the bumper and looks so classy with the LED head and daytime running lights. The rear light is a single piece connected with a horizontal bar and shaped so that its ends are aerodynamically proportioned. When the lights are on, it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The Japanese are masters at attention to detail, so everything on this car has a purpose in the overall design. The 18-inch alloy wheels look the part, are fitted to run flat rubber, and offer a soft drive with minimal road noise.
The Interior
On the EX, there are specific body colour options to choose from: White Quartz, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Chrome, Sonic Iridium, Black, Graphite Black, Madder Red, Blazing Carnelian, Terrane Khaki and Celestial Blue. The interior can also be paired with Black, White Ash, Rich Cream, Hazel and Cobalt. The model we had on test had the Hazel interior, and while it certainly looks the part, it most certainly isn't toddler-friendly, with dirt or drawing stains easily visible.
The electric and heated seats are comfortable, with lumbar support and a nice big infotainment screen complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for all the necessary convenience.
The digital instrument cluster could be better quality and feels very Toyota-like, lacking the high-definition imagery that the infotainment has. While it's decent, we think it could have been improved – seeing as though it's a Lexus. Coming to the point of attention to detail. The dashboard is finished in what is called Washi texture paper - used to make Japanese sliding doors – complete with colour stitching and adds that extra bit of classiness to the cabin.
Safety and convenience
In the time we spent with the UX, the heated seats really came in handy for those ice-cold winter mornings, plus the climate controls are easy to toggle between. Convenience comes in the form of a wireless smartphone charger, a 10-speaker sound system, reverse-view camera, parking sensors, USB Type C ports, cruise and dual-zone climate control.
Other features include a total of eight airbags, a tyre pressure monitor, Hill Assist Control, smart entry, blind spot monitor and brake assist. On one occasion, one of the rear passenger windows was left slightly open, and the system picked it up and closed it automatically on our behalf.
The Drive
The cabin is honed towards the driver – as it should be – and feels like a nice place to be in. Fuel efficiency is excellent with the self-regeneration of the electric motor and manual switch to EV mode (via a button on the centre console). You can feel the engine and electric motor switch between themselves if and when power is needed.
Regarding fuel consumption, Lexus claims a figure of 4.5 litres per 100km, and the best we managed was 4.8 litres which we think is brilliant and lower than a Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio. Depending on how much the hybrid battery's charge level is, it is possible to drive quite a bit with no need for the internal combustion engine, which, in turn, is great for the overall fuel economy.
It might be naturally aspirated, but the engine certainly isn't lazy and provides enough thrust if needed, especially when engaging the Sport mode. CVT transmissions aren't everyone's cup of tea due to their drony nature, but thankfully there's none of that in the UX, and it feels like a regular automatic. In addition, the CVT works well with the engine/hybrid setup for that excellent fuel economy.
While we sat like a king in the driving seat, the rear passengers did not experience the same luxury. Space there is limited, so the boot space suffers with a capacity of 268 litres. That is our only real gripe with an otherwise impressive Lexus product.
Spec and pricing
UX250h EX – R857 900
UX250h SE – R946 200
UX250h F Sport – R1 005 200
UX250h F Sport Bi-Tone – R1 016 400
The range comes standard with a maintenance plan, mechanical warranty of 7 years/105 000km, and a hybrid battery warranty of 8 years/195 000km.
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