What do you get when you cross a hatchback with a wagon and throw in some crossover? Probably something like this – the Lexus UX. Starting at just over $37,000, it’s not a terribly expensive way to get some capability with the luxury badge. Our tester takes things a step further by adding hybrid capability and All-Wheel-Drive to the package. Does this eco-friendly mish-mash work? Let’s find out.
I don’t mind the look of the UX at all. I’m typically not a fan of plastic fender cladding and Lexus’ massive grille but everything looks more proportionate on the UX. We’re a big fan of the green paintjob too. That’s a colour that deserves a comeback. The two-tone interior is cleanly designed and fairly straightforward. In lieu of a dial or touchscreen, Lexus has opted to use a laptop-style touchpad for navigating the infotainment system. It takes some getting used to – and even when you do, it’s not always the most intuitive. I had enough trouble using it from a stop. I can only imagine trying to use it when driving. I also am not a fan of including Apple Carplay but eschewing Android Auto.
An interesting feature of the interior is relegating the media controls to the armrest area. You might need a bit of an adjustment period to get used to it but unlike the touchscreen, we think this one works quite well and further serves to give the dashboard a cleaner layout. Some of the dashboard materials are a little on the cheaper feeling side but overall, the UX is a very nice place to be inside of with very good visibility. We had no issues with legroom and headroom. It’s fairly practical as well, but it’s worth noting you will lose trunk space in the hybrid model.
Now what about the way it drives? That’s what a car is for anyway. Well, honestly, despite its sporty appearance, it’s a bit dry. But do you really care? LFA, RC and IS aside, does anyone really expect a high performance driving experience out of a Lexus? These days you’d be forgiven for thinking so. Given the amount of F-sport badges we see slapped on their models, maybe it seems that they want us to think that. But the reality is – it’s all for looks. Much like BMW’s gratuitous overuse of their M-badge, many car makers have fallen guilty to the trap of calling everything sporty. Lexus is no exception. If you ignore the excessive badging, it drives how we’d expect a Lexus to; comfortably. It’s not a quick accelerator but it’s smooth. And with that hybrid capability, it’s fuel efficient too. Lexus say you can get a rating as good as 5.7 L/100km out of it. We made zero effort to hypermile but still got a very adequate average of about 6.5.
Is it a crossover? A hatchback? A Wagon? The Lexus UX is a curious blend of all three. It doesn’t always take the best aspects of each vehicle category it borrows from. It’s not perfect, but for anyone seeking a fuel efficient urban crossover thing with a nice heap of luxury, it’s one to consider.
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