Test drive Lexus UX
The smallest crossover in the history of Lexus spent several weeks in our office. During this time, he took part in a police chase and worked on the set twice.
Lexus is one of the last premium brands to enter the subcompact urban crossover segment. It is not entirely clear whether the brand turned out to be a crossover hatchback or a crossover, but all the signs of the latter are evident: there is a protective body kit and four-wheel drive, albeit only for the older hybrid modification. At the same time, the prices are no lower than those of the main competitors: at least $ 30. for the initial front-wheel drive version with a 338-horsepower engine and almost $ 150 for the normally equipped hybrid version.
At first it seemed to me that Lexus was hopelessly late. The Mercedes GLA and BMW X2 have been fighting desperately for rare buyers for several years now, and Lexus has just entered this segment. But the Japanese could not leave a gap of several years in a segment that will only grow in the coming years. So in my first weeks with the UX, I wondered why Lexus had decided to wait.
Even before the devaluation of the ruble, the Lexus CT hatchback was on sale in Russia. In a good configuration, it could be ordered for $ 19 - $ 649. - funny money by the standards of premium 20. Nevertheless, he did not gain much popularity then, and therefore left Russia almost without a trace. UX is kind of a restart of that machine. Yes, they have completely different engines, configurations, and the UX is sold in a crossover wrapper, but this is what the new, younger Lexus audience needs. But ideologically, in my opinion, these are very close cars.
First, UX is the most affordable entry ticket to Japanese premium. For $ 30, you can get a well-equipped car that drives great and, most importantly, looks unusual.
Secondly, the UX is not trying to seem more mature than it really is, and is not at all shy about its tiny dimensions by the standards of the Lexus line. The novelty, by the way, is slightly larger than the CT, but at the same time it has noticeably less space inside - especially on the back sofa.
That said, it seems that UX has a much better chance of success than its predecessor. For at least five years, the preferences of Russians have changed dramatically. This, of course, is primarily dictated by the ruble exchange rate, but the brands themselves have made adjustments. A small five-door car with a striking appearance and all-wheel drive for reasonable money may become a trend tomorrow.
That morning began with a strange call. The interlocutor asked if everything was fine with the car, after which the dialogue ended. Half an hour later I was followed by a traffic police crew with the "chandelier" on. There were no handcuffs in this story - the policeman kindly, but very persistently asked to leave the car, and leave the documents inside.
I don't know if it was a coincidence, but about a minute by a minute, with that strange bell on the next street, they hijacked a Lexus NX. The policeman, making sure that everything was in order with me and the car, admitted that he was seeing UX for the first time at all, so he decided to "catch up with him too."
I doubt that UX will ever make it into the hijacking summary at all - this is too much of an image and noticeable model. It is unlikely that the Japanese are planning to bring it in huge quantities, so the owners should not worry. Plus, Lexus is now equipping all models with the L-Mark system.
Cars are marked with an anti-theft identifier, which is a hidden marking of elements with a special PIN code. Moreover, it is performed with microdots - they can be distinguished only with a sixfold increase. All codes are unique and linked to the VIN number.
In addition, tilt sensors are installed in the new Lexus vehicles - the system recognizes loading onto a tow truck and activates the security system. The central lock provides double locking: if you break the window, the doors will still be impossible to open from the inside. In general, everything is very serious - it seems that none of the competitors have bothered so much with anti-theft protection.
Of course, they have not yet come up with such systems that could not be bypassed, but the advantage of the L-Mark is not only in the protection of the car itself, but also in the fact that with this system you can significantly save money when buying a comprehensive insurance policy.
All cars that end up in the Autonews.ru garage regularly help us with filming. An operator with equipment in the trunk is a common story from our everyday life. By the way, if you haven't subscribed to the Youtube channel yet, it's time to do it.
On the day when the Lexus UX left for a new role for the first time, I, frankly, was very worried: will the smallest of all Lexus cope with an unusual role for itself? Will he shake the operator out? Will it ruin the picture? Surprisingly, the UX made it look like we were filming a scene from a huge SUV with air suspension.
All thanks to an adult-tuned multi-link: the UX sometimes behaves too delicately for a car with such a short wheelbase. It is easy for him and the winding path between dacha villages in the Moscow region, and the high-speed highway, and the bumpy dirt road. In general, if you were worried that this UX was not comfortable enough, this is definitely not the case.
But there is a problem: the well-tailored chassis contradicts the two-liter gasoline aspirated. During the test, we tested both versions: basic and hybrid. The second option, of course, is more frolic, but I would not say that this is the difference in dynamics for which one would like to overpay several thousand dollars.
At the same time, the 150-strong version is not at all about excitement. Yes, his acceleration to "hundreds" is declared at the level of 9 seconds, but the sensations are blurred by the too mundane work of the variator. There are enough speakers in the city, but no more. So it's a shame the Japanese didn't put a turbocharged 1,2-liter engine from its sister Toyota C-HR into the UX.
