Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The crossover market continues to grow in popularity. The Lexus UX 250h is here to further feed that need. The Lexus UX is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV that was introduced at the March 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The UX slots in below the NX in the Lexus lineup. This is indeed the smallest SUV in the Lexus lineup and one stylish little commuter car that I couldn’t wait to get some seat time with.
Checking of the design of the 2019 Lexus UX 250h and you immediately notice the F Sport guise with its blacked-out grille and air intakes in the lower front fascia. The triple-beam LED headlights set it off even more. Adding to the lighting setup, were the LED light strips amongst the taillights. The F-Sport package equips the UX 250h with 18-inch wheels and run-flat all season tires. According to Lexus, the vehicle has a “bold and stylish design that blends expressive bodywork with a compact size”. I definitely agree with this statement.
The Lexus UX 250h interior has comfortable sport seats that were included with the F Sport package. The UX 250h F Sport’s rear seat is spacious and accommodating. Head space and legroom is plentiful in this subcompact crossover. The cabin is pretty quiet except for some wind noise when riding on the highway. The hatch opening is small in the UX with limited cargo capacity. Even with the rear seats folded, the cargo space is pretty small. Cargo space checks in at 17.1 cubic feet which is good enough for groceries or luggage for a road trip of 1 or 2 people.
The Lexus premium infotainment system comes with a 10.3-inch color multimedia display and a premium eight-speaker system that is crystal clear. The Lexus Enform Dynamic Navigation is complimentary for up to three years. Dynamic Voice Command is also available, along with Lexus Enform Destination Assist that is complimentary for one year. Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility is available as well. The Lexus touchpad is in the UX 250h F Sport as well. It is not the easiest tool to use but effective once you get used to it.
The all-wheel-drive UX 250h comes with a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder hybrid engine. While only kicking out 181 hp combined, the UX 250h has some pep to its step. Sport mode wakes it up and allows you to push it to its full potential. The F Sport package adds paddle shifters to the hybrid transmission. Handling is nimble in this light vehicle. Eco and Normal mode are efficient but leave a lot to be desired in the driving experience. The revised suspension springs and stabilizer bars are an improvement to handling in the F Sport. Gas mileage with the UX250h were remarkable by dialing in at 41 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 39 mpg combined.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the UX highly for crash protection and active safety features. The headlight range was the only negative mark. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 comes with Dynamic Cruise Control with Lane Tracing, front crash prevention with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assistance, lane-centering steering, automatic high beams and road sign recognition. The road sign recognition is nice because it can read speed limit, stop, yield and do-not-enter signs. The signs are displayed in the digital gauge cluster. The UX 250h also comes with 10 airbags.
The Lexus UX 250h goes up against some stiff competition such as the BMW X1, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Audi Q3. The tested UX 250h F Sport came in at $42,930.00, which is a competitive price with its rivals. The Lexus UX 250h F Sport is a compact hybrid luxury crossover that is smooth and peppy. The F Sport options definitely made the UX a fun driving vehicle. Lexus packaged the UX with curb appeal, unique interior design and superior fuel economy. Lexus calls the UX series as a “Creative Urban Explorer”. Well I can surely cosign that sentiment as I ran around town during my review period. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
