Lexus UX review
The Lexus UX is a premium small SUV that offers standout styling, a high-quality interior, and incredibly low running costs thanks to its hybrid and electric power.
Author: Charlie Harvey
16th Dec 2025 – 9 mins read
If you’re looking for a small SUV that feels a bit special, the Lexus UX is a fantastic choice. It blends the eye-catching, angular design that Lexus is known for with the low running costs of an efficient hybrid or fully electric powertrain. As the smallest SUV in the Lexus line-up, it’s a great entry point into this premium brand, offering a high-quality feel and a refined driving experience. First launched in 2019, the UX stands out in a crowded market with its bold looks and luxurious interior. While it’s not the most practical car in its class, it makes up for it with supreme comfort, a generous list of standard equipment, and the legendary reliability that Lexus is famous for. It’s a smart, stylish, and sensible choice for those who value quality and efficiency.
Pros
- High-quality, luxurious-feeling interior
- Very efficient and cheap to run
- Comfortable and refined ride
Cons
- Boot space is smaller than rivals
- Infotainment system can be fiddly to use
- Rear-seat space is a bit tight
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The interior of the Lexus UX is a real highlight. It feels upmarket and incredibly well-built, with premium materials used throughout. The design is modern and driver-focused, making you feel nicely cocooned in the cabin. While there are a fair few buttons compared to some rivals that favour minimalist touchscreens, everything is logically placed and has a reassuringly solid feel.
The infotainment system is displayed on a crisp screen, with most models featuring a seven-inch display as standard, while top-spec versions get a larger 10.3-inch screen. A more recent addition is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes connecting your smartphone and using your favourite apps a breeze. The system is controlled via a touchpad, which can be a little tricky to get the hang of at first, but it becomes more familiar with use.
Comfort
Lexus is known for comfort, and the UX doesn't disappoint. The ride is wonderfully smooth, gliding over bumps and potholes with ease, making it a very relaxing car to drive. The seats are superbly comfortable and supportive, perfect for long journeys.
It’s easy to find your ideal driving position thanks to plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel. What’s interesting is that the seating position is lower than in many SUVs, which makes the UX feel more like a hatchback to drive. Higher-spec models add luxuries like heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel, adding to the premium feel.
Quality
The build quality and materials inside the UX are top-notch. Everything you touch, from the steering wheel to the switchgear, feels expensive and built to last. It’s this attention to detail that really sets the UX apart from many of its rivals and gives it that genuine premium character.
The cabin is a masterclass in fit and finish. Whether you choose the standard trim or the sporty F-Sport models, the interior feels special. It's this feeling of quality and craftsmanship that makes owning a Lexus such a satisfying experience.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The UX is the smallest SUV in the Lexus range, and while it’s comfortable up front, space in the back is a little tighter than in some rivals. There’s enough legroom and headroom for average-sized adults to get comfortable on shorter journeys, but taller passengers might find it a bit snug. The narrow rear windows can also make it feel a little dark in the back.
It’s best thought of as a car for couples or small families. You'll find ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats for securely fitting child seats, and there are enough storage cubbies around the cabin for your essentials.
Boot space
One of the UX’s main compromises is its boot space. The hybrid model offers 320 litres, which is quite a bit smaller than what you’ll find in an Audi Q3 or Volvo XC40. It’s big enough for a weekly shop or a couple of cabin bags, but you might struggle with bulky items like a pushchair.
It’s worth noting that four-wheel-drive versions have an even smaller boot, at just 283 litres, due to the extra mechanical components underneath. The rear seats do fold down in a 60/40 split, which helps when you need to carry larger loads.
Driving
Driving experience
The Lexus UX is a very pleasant car to drive. It prioritises comfort and refinement over sporty handling, which makes it an excellent companion for relaxed daily driving. The steering is light and accurate, and because it feels more like a hatchback from behind the wheel, it’s easy to place on the road and navigate through town.
The hybrid system is smooth and quiet, especially at low speeds where it can run on electric power alone. The CVT automatic gearbox can make the engine sound a bit strained under hard acceleration, but in normal driving, it’s incredibly smooth. The all-electric UX 300e is even quieter and offers brisk, silent acceleration.
Performance
The standard UX is called the 250h and comes with a single powertrain: a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid that produces a total of 181bhp. It’s not a performance car, but it feels responsive enough, getting from 0-60mph in a respectable 8.3 seconds. Most models are front-wheel-drive, but an E-Four all-wheel-drive system is available on top-spec models.
For those ready to go fully electric, there’s the UX 300e. This model produces 201bhp from its electric motor, resulting in a quicker 0-60mph time of 7.3 seconds. It has an official range of up to 196 miles, which is plenty for most daily driving needs.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
This is a real strength for the Lexus UX. The UX 250h hybrid is very efficient, with Lexus claiming an official fuel economy figure of up to 53.3mpg. With low CO2 emissions, it’s also cheap to tax. The all-electric UX 300e is even cheaper to run, with no road tax to pay and very low running costs if you can charge it at home.
A full charge for the UX 300e using a dedicated home wallbox takes just over eight hours. When you’re out and about, a rapid charger can top up the battery in around 50 minutes, making longer journeys perfectly feasible.
Value for money
As a premium brand, a new Lexus UX isn't cheap, but it comes very well-equipped as standard. Where it really starts to look like great value is on the used market. Because it has been around since 2019, you can now find early examples at a significant saving compared to the new price, giving you a lot of luxury and technology for your money.
Reliability & Warranty
Lexus has an unbeatable reputation for reliability, consistently topping ownership satisfaction and dependability surveys. The cars are built to an exceptionally high standard, so you can buy a used UX with a great deal of confidence. From new, Lexus provides a three-year warranty, but this can be extended up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if you get your car serviced at a Lexus dealer each year.
Safety
Safety features
The UX comes packed with safety technology as standard. It received a full five-star rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP, performing exceptionally well in all areas.
Every model comes with the ‘Lexus Safety System+’ pack. This includes advanced features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking that can detect pedestrians, lane-keeping assist, and high-beam assist. Higher-spec models also add blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, making it one of the safest cars in its class.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The UX is available in a few different trim levels, all of which are generously equipped.
UX: The entry-level model is anything but basic. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, and the full Lexus Safety System+ pack.
F-Sport: This trim adds a sporty flavour with revised 18-inch alloy wheels, a different grille and bumpers, sports seats, and tweaked suspension for a slightly firmer, more engaging drive. It also includes heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Takumi: This is the top-of-the-range model, and it’s loaded with luxury. It features upgraded headlights, a larger 10.3-inch screen, a head-up display, full leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a sunroof, and a premium 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
Engines
The choice of powertrains is simple and focuses on electrification.
UX 250h: This is a ‘self-charging’ hybrid that combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 181bhp. It comes with an automatic (CVT) gearbox and is available in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (E-Four).
UX 300e: This is the fully electric version. It uses a 150kW electric motor (producing 201bhp) and a 54.3kWh battery, offering a pure electric range of up to 196 miles.