Saturday, April 27, 2024

2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport Review: Affordable Hybrid Luxury Fit for the City

2023 lexus ux 250h f sport design

I can't say the same for any passenger who'd end up sitting behind me—besides maybe a small child—as there's nowhere near enough legroom even with an average adult at the helm. The front seats also featured heating and ventilation which is always nice to see in a brand's entry-level offering. It has the sporty aesthetics of the F Sport Design trim and many of the luxurious features of the Premium trim, plus a little extra. Power moonroof — The power moonroof in the Premium trim gives the interior a more open and airy feel.

Lexus UX: Choosing the Right Trim

The multimedia system can save the personal preference profiles of up to three people, customising the multimedia, audio and navigation settings. Lexus is introducing a package of upgrades for the 2023 Lexus UX 250h compact luxury SUV this summer, focusing on more style choices, improved multimedia and connectivity and a sporty new model grade, F Sport Design. The UX has four distinct trims available, getting sportier than expected for a hybrid Lexus. Let’s take a closer look at the 2023 Lexus UX model range and find the right luxury SUV for you. The new 2023 UXh comes standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 preventive safety technology.

Lexus UX 250h F Sport Review: Affordable Hybrid Luxury Fit for the City

In addition, on Luxury grade models, ingress and egress are made easier with the auto away / auto return controls linked to the driver’s seat belt and the engine start-stop switch or hybrid power switch. Using the switch, the tilt and telescopic motors can adjust the steering wheel up and down or forward and back through 1.6-inch ranges. The system’s current operating status is indicated through colored lane marking illustrations on the vehicle’s Multi-Information Display (MID). If Lane Departure Alert determines the vehicle is starting to unintentionally deviate from its visibly marked lane, the system alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert. In addition to the alert function, all UX vehicles are equipped with Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and also include Steering Assist. When this functionality is enabled, and Lane Departure Alert senses the vehicle is unintentionally drifting from its lane, the system may automatically make small corrective steering inputs to help the driver keep the vehicle in its lane.

Lexus UX Features, Options, and Competition

However, the UX is the only hybrid of the bunch and thus returns significantly better fuel economy than all of them. Those seeking ample space for occupants and cargo are better off stepping up to the NX or RX. Cargo room measures out to 17.1 cubic feet and it seems like it could've been a bit larger.

This suspension also makes this Lexus SUV more agile than expected, with minimal body roll in turns. The engine performance is the same as in the lower trims, but the suspension and quicker steering make for a sportier drive. The F Sport Design is a sportier trim level in the UX lineup, but it’s primarily an appearance package. It has some luxury features of the Premium trim, like a power moonroof and rain-sensing wipers, while bringing sportier aesthetics. The standard powertrain in every UX 250h is a hybrid 4-cylinder rated at 181 horsepower, returning 43 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

The Complete Lexus Buying Guide: Every Model, Explained - Gear Patrol

The Complete Lexus Buying Guide: Every Model, Explained.

Posted: Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Despite my heavy-footed afternoon trying to squeeze as much performance as I could out of it, and generally driving it at not-economy-friendly highway speeds, it refused to return less than 37 mpg. For those who are a little more materials-conscious, Lexus' NuLuxe faux leather material is very comfortable and of high quality, and lower trims can be configured to be entirely leather-free. There are no option packages available for the base UX 250h, but there are a few individual options you can add. These include a head-up display, parking sensors, a power moonroof, a wireless charging pad, and an auto-dimming mirror.

Lexus UX: new multimedia systems

Some features standard on the Premium trim are optional on the F Sport Design, which has the same starting price. These include a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, and an auto-dimming mirror. The Premium trim has some of the same options as the base trim, like parking sensors and a head-up display. Additionally, you can get a heated steering wheel and a 12.3-inch infotainment system with navigation. It’s a subcompact SUV that’s competitive with the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1 but at a lower price.

Ways Driving a Lexus Hybrid is Like Falling in Love

For the F SPORT only, the movable meter ring, which originated in the Lexus LFA supercar and is also featured in the LC premium coupe, allows displayed content to be easily changed. Pushing a switch on the steering wheel moves the ring to the right and enlarges the multi-information display. The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control adopts Curve Speed Reduction, which automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to suit the radius of a bend in the road. Its road presence is enhanced with the F Sport spindle grille, featuring a Lexus L-motif mesh pattern, finished in black with a chrome surround for the lower section that accentuates the car’s planted stance.

The revised range also provides a wider choice of bi-tone finishes, with six colours available in combination with a contrast black roof on the F Sport and F Sport Design models. Finally, its advanced driver assistance technology was smooth to operate, put up with poorly marked highway tarmac incredibly well, and was a snap to turn on and off. Combined with a solid suite of interior comfort and great economy, the UX would be an excellent daily commuter. F Sport-tuned suspension — The top trim of the UX has an Active Variable Suspension for a sportier and more comfortable ride. Heated and ventilated seats — Climate-controlled front seats make the UX more comfortable in all seasons. Improved noise and vibration reduction were achieved with the addition of newly developed Bridgestone 18-inch run-flat tires on new UXh models.

The same pattern is featured in the enlarged bezels housing the fog lights and cornering lights in the F Sport front bumper, with contrasting chrome L-shaped surrounds. The rear bumper also has an F Sport-specific design, with a jet black roof spoiler and moulding details around the light clusters. Standard features include a power moonroof, color-keyed fender molding, rain-sensing wipers, a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, an auto-dimming mirror, and a universal garage door opener. Building on F SPORT Design, the F SPORT Handling package adds standard performance dampers®*1 and an Active Variable Suspension (AVS). The rear performance dampers® quickly absorb body flex and minor vibrations to further sharpen handling and improve overall ride comfort and quietness.

Launched in 2019, the UX is a stylish and capable urban crossover that enjoys the role of a gateway model to the Lexus brand. Built on Lexus’s GA-C global architecture platform, it reaps the benefits of a low centre of gravity and a highly rigid body for a rewarding drive with faithful responses to the driver’s inputs. Its SUV credentials are enhanced with the option of Lexus’s electronic E-Four all-wheel-drive system. Fitment-wise, my six-foot-three stature was actually quite comfortable behind the wheel. Even though the sunroof on this tester steals away an inch and a half of headroom, I had plenty, and the seats were amply comfortable.

The steering feel has been improved with a new rigid joint between the top of the steering gearbox mount and the suspension member. In line with this extra rigidity, the shock absorber damping force has been appropriately adjusted for optimum performance. The hatch floor comes up awfully high, which is convenient for unloading cargo and might have something to do with fitting in all the hybrid componentry below it, but it really made the cargo area smaller than it probably ought to be. Still, with the rear seats dropped the UX will accommodate a smaller Ikea—er, Restoration Hardware since it's a Lexus—haul without issue. Strangely, its CVT didn't annoy the hell out of me, and it even "shifted" surprisingly crisply in its Sport modes.

2023 lexus ux 250h f sport design

Though, one area that'll save a few milliseconds of attention is its standard dual-zone automatic climate control. Much of this is unchanged from the 2022 model, with the exception of Lexus' new high-resolution touchscreen interface with an anti-glare screen and voice control. A newly developed electric tilt and telescopic steering column is available for Luxury grade models.

In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers. The Lexus Interface multimedia system and connected services present a re-envisioned user experience for UX drivers and passengers. With a standard 8-inch or optional 12.3-inch touch display mounted closer to the driver, the system features the latest display featuring higher resolution and smartphone like anti-glare technology.

Besides trying to beat Lexus' acceleration figures when conditions allowed, the UX 250h F Sport was a pleasant compact to get around town in. My tester was equipped with adaptive dampers that dealt with bumpy roads, enthusiastic highway merges, and mild twisty road fare quite well. Normal and Eco modes softened things up whereas Sport S added a bit more firmness to its damping. I found Sport S to be the best all-around mode as the ride was solid but not too stiff, and made the car genuinely fun to take any corner I could with a bit more speed. Sport Plus made everything a hair sharper, including the CVT action, but otherwise, I couldn't feel much of a difference.

The system can provide deceleration support up to about 1,000 feet ahead of the vehicle. Featuring the Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain, the 2022 UX 250h boasts 181 total system horsepower. This hybrid is equipped with all-wheel drive standard and high-speed responsiveness and a feeling of smooth, natural acceleration. The space on the centre console where the multimedia trackpad was located is now home to controls for the heated front seats or, where these are not specified, a handy small storage cubby. The console also features an illuminated tray in front of the air conditioning control panel, with space to hold a large smartphone. Connectivity options include a USB-A port in the centre console box for playback of high-resolution sound sources and two USB-C ports for device charging on the console.

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