2025 Lexus UX 300e axed in Australia

The 2025 Lexus UX 300e has been dropped from the Australian market less than two years after the small electric SUV underwent a significant update.

According to Lexus Australia, the Lexus UX 300e has been withdrawn over “production restrictions on selected parts”, with the car-maker claiming there are “no plans” to reintroduce its entry-level EV.

Latest sales data reveals Lexus sold just 28 UX 300e SUVs in the first four months of 2025 and only 92 examples in 2024.

First revealed in 2019 as Lexus’ first-ever EV, Australians had to wait until 2021 until the UX 300e arrived here.

Lexus Australia then introduced a heavily updated version of the UX 300e back in 2023 that saw the small SUV get a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery (up from 54.4kWh), boosting its WLTP range by 135km to 450km.

Available as a front-wheel drive with a single e-motor producing 150kW and 300Nm of torque, the update also introduced the car-maker's latest 12.3-inch infotainment system, a revised centre console and more sophisticated safety tech.

Until recently, the Lexus UX 300e came in two variants, Luxury and Sports Luxury, priced at $80,720 plus on-road costs (ORCs) and $88,190 plus ORCs respectively.

Without the UX 300e in its lineup, it leaves the bigger RZ as Lexus’ only remaining EV, with an upgraded version of the mid-size SUV set to arrive later this year.

Based on the larger dedicated e-TNGA architecture, the bigger RZ was co-developed alongside the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. It’s thought the 2026 model-year RZ will arrive with more power, extra range and a new yoke-style steering wheel.

Dropping the RZ 450e as part of the range overhaul, Australians will get the choice of a more powerful RZ 500e and an RZ 550e, the latter available with racier F Sport trim.

Choose the RZ 550e F Sport and power is boosted to 300kW, slashing the 0-100km/h dash to 4.4 seconds.

Fresh tech introduced on the Lexus RZ 550e F Sport is headlined by a new simulated eight-speed transmission claimed to replicate the feeling of a traditional combustion-powered car’s transmission.

Other changes include a new larger 77kWh battery with improved chemistry. Combined with more efficient motors, this sees a 14 per cent increase in driving range – the RZ 500e is claimed to cover up to 500km (up by 30km on the WLTP test protocol), while the RZ 550e F Sport can drive up to 450km between charges.

Visual changes include new bumpers, a fresh rear spoiler and redesigned 20-inch alloy wheels. Within, there’s the option of a steer-by-wire yoke that offers variable steering.

Local pricing of the updated 2026 RZ will be released ahead of its introduction. Last year the more expensive mid-size Lexus SUV still found 215 homes, more than double that of the smaller, cheaper UX 300e.

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