Lexus UX 300h: Upgrades, performance, driving, prices

Haven’t you forgotten that there is such a thing as UX? In the flood of hot new products from the Lexus brand, it’s very easy – after the NX came the RX and especially the indirect competitor LBX (and we must not forget to mention the big LM), so it might seem that not even a dog will bark after the UX introduced in 2018. But it is still one of the brand’s best-selling models in Europe. After all, that’s why the automaker decided to modernize it decently, because the UX still has a lot to offer the world.

Although it will be difficult to shine next to the shiny hot new. The LBX and UX crossovers are similar in size and aimed primarily at squeamish urban customers, both with style to spare, a premium feel and a fuel-efficient hybrid to boot.

But the smaller LBX has to make do with a three-cylinder and a modest 136 combined horsepower, while the slightly larger UX has the benefit of a quieter, more refined four-cylinder with a combined 199 horsepower. Therefore, if you will often go outside the city limits and travel on the highway, the UX will offer you more dynamics and a more pleasant expression.

And at the same time it is similarly economical – the newly integrated hybrid of the fifth generation brought not only higher combined power (by 15 hp, therefore the designation changed from 250h to 300h) and better acceleration (especially in the version with four-wheel drive, whose rear electric motor increased from 7 hp and 55 Nm to 40 hp and 84 Nm), but also a more natural course of acceleration and extraordinary efficiency. It is not a problem to drive for an average of five to six liters.

At Lexus, they also worked on soundproofing the cabin (higher versions even have acoustic glasses), reinforced the body, revised the tuning of the chassis and steering, so that the UX drives even quieter, more comfortable and more confidently, even if you don’t squeeze much fun behind the wheel even in the sharper sports mode and with adaptive chassis of the F Sport version.

Some like it electric

Not only the hybrid UX 300h, but also the purely electric UX300e underwent modernization. This was already improved last year thanks to a new battery with a capacity increased from 54.3 kWh to 72.8 kWh, so the range jumped from the original 310 km to a much more usable 440 km. Charging still remains a problem, according to Lexus, it would be too expensive to replace the Japanese CHAdeMO connector with the European CCS2, so you are limited only to selected charging stations (the modern ones no longer offer the CHAdeMO connector) and to a power of 50 kW. With a purchase price of at least 1.3 million, this is not a hit parade.

Photo: Lukáš Kukla

UX is, like a true Lexus, mainly about comfort and a feeling of uniqueness. That’s why the materials and processing of the cabin have undergone fine adjustments, you can choose from fabric, leather or synthetic leather upholstery. However, more attention is attracted by the new 12.3-inch digital instrument panel (with the option of adding a head-up display) and the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen (basically 8 inches) of a completely new generation with wide online functions (including cloud navigation) and mobile connectivity (wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay).

As part of the modernization, the UX also received the latest safety systems, primarily a proactive driving assistant helping the driver with an emergency evasive maneuver in the event of an obstacle being detected, a warning when exiting the car into the path of a passing car or cyclist, and a camera system monitoring the driver’s vigilance and attention. Hand in hand with this, however, is the necessary speed warning, which is a little harder to turn off (about five clicks on the touch screen), in the case of a faster journey, you can turn it off even with the reading of road signs, which you might miss in some situations. Japanese engineers should still work here.

So overall, the UX modernization benefited in every way. Perhaps it’s just a shame that the changes were not reflected in the exterior as well, because the design remained practically the same. You can only differentiate yourself with the new Sonic Copper or Sapphire Blue paint for the F Sport variant and two-tone paintwork.

Next to the more stylish and shiny new LBX, the modernized UX fits in a bit. But in terms of size, engine, equipment and processing, the UX is still a step further – moreover, it drives more comfortably, quietly and nimbly. It’s just a much more mature car.

At the same time, it is not even that much more expensive, as it appears when comparing the price lists. A nice LBX will cost you 799,000 crowns (Lexus Safety System +3, 12.3″ virtual cockpit, 9.8″ infotainment, electrically controlled trunk lid and more), but just save a hundred thousand and you have a nice UX with the F package Sport design (Lexus Safety Sytem +3, 12.3″ virtual cockpit, 12.3″ infotainment, inductive charging, electrically controlled trunk lid, synthetic leather and more) and 199 horsepower. That’s worth thinking about…