2022 Lexus UX 250h review | Car Reviews

2022 Lexus UX 250h, profile

Vehicle123 reviews the 2022 Lexus UX 250h.

It is really incredible what a sharp style, wider wheel arches and the designation as an SUV can do to a compact car or truck. Seemed at from the opposite path, it is also remarkable that as SUV segments multiply, including types that comprise ever-smaller sized designs, brands are gradually returning to the compact-car or truck universe… with that pretty much compulsory much more “rugged” vibe of training course.

The 2022 Lexus UX 250h is this sort of a creature: a compact auto dressed up as an SUV, and also a smaller SUV that will come shut to replicating what you get from a compact vehicle. In any party, the smallest of the Japanese luxurious brand’s autos is based mostly on the identical skeleton as the Toyota Corolla Hatchback. The wheelbase of the two styles is similar, while the UX is taller, for a longer time and broader. Though we can concur that with its 160-mm floor clearance, the UX is not exactly a direct rival to the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

For the new 12 months, the design loses its primary UX 200 variant, cursed as it was by featuring only two-wheel generate to shoppers. In 2022, then, only the UX 250h remains in the lineup, but when you take a seem at the pocket crossover’s stuttering sales, you have to ponder if just probably the far more well-liked and recently refreshed Lexus NX will power its tiny brother into retirement at the time and for all.

We will see if that sad destiny befalls the UX. Absolutely, in its place of burying it, Lexus could make your mind up to graft a purely electric powered variant onto the variety. Such a version previously exists in Europe. As I reported, we’ll see.

2022 Lexus UX 250h, hybrid badging

Acquainted looks
The UX 250h respects the brand’s design philosophy in every single way. Up front, the front fascia characteristics the hourglass-formed grille, as properly as slimmed-down headlights that supplant all those aspect openings on either aspect of the central grille. On the sides, it is really these muscular fender contours that get the notice, and they give the UX its crossover character. It can be not a tricky look, but it’s a really good just one, at minimum if you’re the sort who appreciates that kind of stretched-out silhouette.

In profile, the UX 250h has additional in widespread with its Toyota colleague, the high beltline restricting the home windows somewhat. The slope of the rear hatch is in sharp contrast to the central placement light-weight bookended by small fins at each extremity. With the 18-inch wheels, the UX just about appears to be like a rally vehicle, minus the stickers and the security cage.

2022 Lexus UX 250h, interior

Inside of
The UX 250h we have been delivered with for our wintertime highway take a look at came with the optional F Activity bundle, which, in addition to a number of exterior bits of bling, adds a tasteful two-tone blue and black color scheme, F Sport seats in NuLuxe, a 3-spoke F Sport steering wheel and some blue stitching here and there all through the cabin.

Unsurprisingly, the make high quality is on level, and that also applies to the materials decided on. Considering the fact that the UX is a shut cousin to the Corolla, it can be only normal that you come to feel you might be sitting in a compact motor vehicle. In actuality, when you get in, you essentially go down, in contrast with most crossovers that offer you an a lot easier straight horizontal entry path, thanks to the seats sitting down greater. The automobile feel is accentuated by the somewhat tiny door opening if you’re donning a bulky winter coat, obtaining in to the UX is just not a graceful motion.

Once you might be in, however, you’re in a common earth… if, that is, you are familiar with Toyota/Lexus items. For case in point, you’ll acknowledge the two cylinders on both aspect of the info display the one particular on the right enables the driver to choose the sought after push mode, the just one on the still left turns traction control on or off. Fortunately, the designers believed much better than to conceal that purpose in one particular of the infotainment system’s hidden menus.

2022 Lexus UX 250h, 2nd row

Outside of the normal controls like the gearshift lever, the local weather controls and the exhibit behind the steering wheel, there is the frankly infamous touchpad that serves as an access stage via your fingers to the central display screen – non-touch – the graphics top quality of which has enormously enhanced in new many years.

The seats are snug and provide loads of support when you push items a minimal. As you can picture, the next row is rather cramped, as is the trunk powering it. All over again, imagine compact motor vehicle. The good information with this hatchback is that you can decrease the rear seat partly or entirely to load marginally larger sized goods.

On the street
Visually, the UX 250h is a neat-seeking tiny car or truck. The issue is that on the highway, it just does not produce the level of enjoyment you know you can get from the Germans in its section.

All those would be the BMW X1 / X2, Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA / GLB, and the Lexus UX 250h doesn’t offer you the exact driving encounter centered primarily on driving pleasure as individuals models do. Of the Germans, the two BMW styles plainly acquire in this regard. The UX 250h presents a more peaceful driving practical experience with its comfortable suspension and seats, because even in this pocket format, this is a Lexus, after all.

2022 Lexus UX 250h, 3-quarters rear

Total, the emphasis with the UX is to supply exemplary gasoline overall economy, all round good quality and convenience – and it has to make do with a continuously variable transmission. Asking this crossover to provide shots of adrenaline is like anticipating throbbing club tunes from an elevator.

Of course, Lexus may well supply a Sport driving method thanks to that “adhere” on the proper side of the info display cap, but aside from a livelier powertrain reaction and a slightly far more anxious seem, the UX nonetheless will not stir passions – though freeway pickups are fairly energetic many thanks to the fast torque of the electrical motor.

The all-wheel drive program is a good safety bonus in the town, but know that Lexus’ eAWD method deactivates earlier mentioned 70 km/h. Also, even with all the driver support devices turned off, the all-wheel generate process is slow to answer.

The last term
You’d imagine that sleek silhouette, F Sport inside and 18-inch wheels would all level to a sporty crossover, but that is not the scenario. The Lexus UX 250h prefers to enjoy the peace-of-brain card, assistance you remain away from the gas pump as a lot as feasible and produce that famed Toyota/Lexus trustworthiness.

But if you’re on the lookout for an urban pocket rocket, the UX 250h, even with all its attributes, is not for you.

2022 Lexus UX 250h, front

We like

All round high quality
Ease and comfort
Gasoline economic system

We like considerably less

The all-wheel drive process that is deactivated above 70 km/h
The absence of driving pleasure
Restricted area in the back

The competitors

Audi Q3
BMW X1 / X2
Buick Encore GX
Jaguar E-Tempo
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Mini Countryman
Volvo XC40

2022 Lexus UX 250h, hatch, rear light

Industry experts

Consumers