Lexus UX 250h - this is how a premium city car should be!
The crossover offer is getting tighter. It also makes it harder and harder to stand out. How to deal with it? The Lexus UX 250h may provide the answer.
Lexus UX is a premium urban crossover. That alone gives it a place in a slightly narrower group of competitors, where it competes against the computerized Audi Q3 and the fun-to-drive BMW X2.
However, like this Lexus - UX goes his own way when it comes to design. We will not confuse it with any other car. It has an hourglass-shaped grille with an interesting three-dimensional effect not seen in other models from the brand.
Looking back, we can see that this is probably the only Lexus with taillights attached. This element consists of 120 LEDs, and at its narrowest point this line is only 3 millimeters. To the eye, it seems thicker, except for the width of the light beam itself.
W UX ie. great attention was paid to aerodynamics. Small fins are installed on the rear domes, reducing pressure drops by 16%, stabilizing the rear end in high-speed corners and crosswinds. The wheel arches are also aerodynamic. There is a step on the top edge of the covers, which should also stabilize the car in terms of airflow. Lexus UX we can also order special 17-inch wheels that ventilate the brakes and reduce air turbulence on the sides. This solution is from the so-called Gurney flap on the shoulders of the rim - the wings of Formula 1 cars work on the same principle. The team that previously developed the LFA and other models with the letter F worked on these solutions - probably this speaks for itself.
You will find out if you can feel it later.
Lexus UX is premium. Just…
We sit comfortably inside - as is the case in taller cars - and immediately see the cockpit facing the driver. This is a "seat in control" concept, which means that the driver should be able to control all the key functions of the car while maintaining the appropriate position - just like in the LS, LC and other cars of this brand.
Lexus UX moreover, it uses solutions from these much more expensive models. The three-spoke steering wheel is taken from the LS, and the Lexus Climate Concierge system, which integrates air conditioning with heated and ventilated seats, was carried over from other models.
Behind the wheel is a 7-inch screen that replaced the analog clock. On top, you will see a HUD display that can display information on a very large surface. Probably the largest among crossovers.
The new Lexus Premium Navigation multimedia system comes with a 7-inch display, but we can also opt for an older version with a 10,3-inch display. Like in Lexus, as an option there is a Mark Levinson audio system for audiophiles - it reproduces lossless sound formats, there is a CD player and so on. The Lexus system is also finally getting Apple CarPlay support. Unfortunately, we still support it with this touchpad, which was not and is not very convenient.
However, I will pay attention to the quality of the finish. In each version, the dashboard is trimmed with leather - environmentally friendly, but still. The seams are real, the plastic is pleasant to the touch, and the build quality does not allow for any reservations. This is a premium segment car, created, as a rule, for Lexus.
This "typical Lexus" means not only quality, but also the price, which is the result of this design philosophy. In version 200, UX costs 153 thousand. PLN, and in the proven version of the 250h with front-wheel drive - even 166. zloty.
However, the standard is rich. Each Lexus UX it has a reversing camera, a full safety package with active cruise control and all the assistants, there's dual-zone automatic air conditioning, air vents and USB ports in the back. However, probably no one is buying the standard. Pre-premiere, in Poland, UX-а it was bought by more than 400 people. And they all took more equipped versions.
Lexus UX You also have to praise the visibility. The pillars are thick, but nothing blocks the view from the front - the windshield is wide, the mirrors are deeply retracted. The A-pillars seem thick, but actually forward visibility is excellent.
The luggage space here is a little disappointing. AT Lexus UX 200, we can put 334 liters on the shelf. In the hybrid, we already have 320 liters, and if we opted for all-wheel drive, we already have 283 liters of power - including space under the boot floor. Having packed it into the roof, we would have had about 120 liters more at our disposal, and after folding the back of the sofa, we would have got 1231 liters. On the other hand, we gathered 5 people for the weekend and everything fit.
Lexus he approached the topic of space quite specifically - because he decided that this type of crossover is a car mainly for two. Even right - after all, most people drive around the city on their own. In the Lexus UX, we can push the seat very far back, even to meet it with the back seat. Such opportunities will appeal to tall and very tall people.
Inside the Lexus UX - what silence!
Lexus UX it is available in two engine versions - 200 and 250 hp. The 200 is a 2-litre petrol with 171 hp, while the 250h is a hybrid with a total output of 184 hp. In the hybrid version, you will find under the hood a 2-liter naturally aspirated engine with 152 hp, plus an electric motor with 109 hp, and if you choose the E-Four version, that is, all-wheel drive, you will get another engine with power in the rear. axis 7 km. In the version we are testing, i.e. front-wheel drive, Lexus UX up to 100 km / h the car accelerates in 8,5 seconds, but the maximum speed is only 177 km / h.
Compared to previous generations of hybrids such as the CT, there are many improvements here. The electronic variator no longer tries to remind you of its existence at every opportunity. Under hard acceleration, it clearly sounds like a scooter, but when cruising at a constant speed, even on the freeway, the cabin is as quiet as an electric car.
The engine does not make noise, but the cabin itself is perfectly soundproofed. I did not expect this from a car of this segment. Perhaps this is also due to such a commitment to aerodynamics in design.
Lexus but he wanted it too UX he was fine. That's why the hood, doors, fenders and tailgate are made of aluminum to not only save weight but also lower the center of gravity. Now it is 594 mm, which is the lowest in the outboard class.
And since we're talking about driving, it's UX on F-Sport and Omotenashi versions, it can also be fitted with AVS suspension with 650 damping settings. It's technology from the larger LC - active dampers that adapt to driving style, terrain, steering intensity and many other factors.
Trip My Lexus UX it's really fun, the driving is quite sporty, the dynamics are very good, but it's this silent journey that comes to the fore and is a really big improvement over, for example, the CT.
And the quieter and more often you drive the electric motor or in the lower engine speed range, the lower the fuel consumption. On average, you can count about 6 l / 100 km i UX-owi doesn't really matter if we're driving into town or out of town.
Keep it up!
New crossovers are hard to stand out. It is difficult to find something innovative here, it is difficult to show something really “extra”. I think Lexus did it.
The car can be seen from afar - in this case, thanks to the original color, as well as very interesting shapes. Inside we have very comfortable seats, excellent soundproofing and very good workmanship. The dynamics and economy of this hybrid powertrain are the culmination of this. And there are no premium hybrids in this segment yet.
If you are looking for something different from most crossovers - Lexus UX this is it.
