Lexus UX 250h Luxury 2019 Review

Who buys the Lexus UX 250h, I wondered? It's an SUV that won't go off-road, it wears a prestige badge but sells for under $50,000. And for those of us who believe committed environmentalism comes at a personal cost, the UX 250h is a hybrid that's comfortable.

Viewed like that, the Lexus is a grab-bag of apparently conflicting design parameters. But in another way, that makes it a fairly effective all-rounder.

Unlike other small SUVs, the UX 250h uses less fuel around town than it does when given some stick out on the open road. Commuting between work and home the Lexus posted an average fuel consumption figure of 5.4L/100km.

As distinct from earlier generations of Toyota Prius, the Lexus will maintain its EV mode well beyond the built-up area limit of 60km/h, provided the road is flat or runs downhill. Keeping the car running in electric-only configuration definitely pays dividends when it comes to fuel use.

By way of contrast, the Lexus posted a higher figure of 6.6L/100km after a 70km performance test out in the country, but that figure fell back to 5.9 by the time the Lexus was returned, after another couple of days spent in traffic.

Offsetting the commendable fuel economy, the Lexus was also a practical car for the daily cut-and-thrust of urban traffic. The engine is fairly responsive away from a standing start, thanks in part to the supplemental torque from the electric motor.

It's not the sort of powertrain that enthusiasts will warm to, but nor is it immediately apparent that the Lexus runs through a continuously-variable transmission until the engine reaches about 5000rpm or higher – at which point the UX 250h is running well above most applicable speed limits. Then the engine settles down to an unvarying drone as the vehicle continues to accelerate. Up to that point, however, the Lexus sounds much like any other four-cylinder auto accelerating hard.

In gentler driving, the engine generates a subdued rumble at 1500rpm, its revs at 100km/h. At that same speed the Lexus produces a light rustle of wind and some tyre noise from the original-equipment 215/60 R17 Bridgestone Turanza tyres.

The tyres contribute to the dynamic qualities of the Lexus UX 250h, with roadholding that's roughly on par with the Infiniti QX30 tested earlier this year, but the Lexus feels more secure in terms of its handling. That said, the Lexus is also quite dependent on its stability control system to correct any vices.

Slightly slow to turn in and exhibiting signs of soft damping at the rear, the UX 250h is, nonetheless, a safe-handling car for drivers who aren't specifically looking for sports-car dynamics in their small SUV.

The flipside there is the relatively supple ride quality, without significant detriment to body control. At times, a knocking noise in the suspension could be heard over larger bumps, such as speed humps.

In respect of steering, the Lexus provides enough feel to place on the road with some degree of precision. The power assistance is about right too, not too heavy, not too light.

Braking is surprisingly strong and dependable for a hybrid. There's still that soggy pedal feel that is common to many hybrids, and that makes it difficult to bring to a soft stop.

Seated behind the wheel, I found the seats of the Lexus UX 250h to be comfortable and the driving position quite commanding. The instruments are fairly easy to read and the layout is more attractive than that of quite a few Lexus models. Unlike the Toyota C-HR on which the Lexus is based, the instruments don't require binoculars to read either.

But where's the volume control switch for the audio? There are audio controls on the steering wheel, but what about the front passenger? The front passenger can change music sources and adjust the volume, through controls on a plinth nearly tucked away inconspicuously almost underneath the centre armrest.

That's not where I would expect to find audio controls, but I think an owner will quickly adjust to having the controls there – and welcome using those controls more than the haptic touch pad for the infotainment system.

Frankly, the haptic infotainment controller is ordinary – it's hard to operate without skipping past the menu selection you want. And naturally, being in the centre console it is better suited to use by a right-hand-dominant passenger in the front seat than the driver.

Being an SUV – a small one – the hip point for the UX 250h is pretty good for adults and kids beyond an age where they need to be assisted climbing into a booster seat. The back seats also provide adequate knee room, and headroom is spot on for adults of average height. There are also adjustable vents in the rear, plus two USB ports in the centre console.

Even with a space-saver spare under the floor, the boot is high and shallow, so it might struggle with the luggage for a family of four heading to the airport for a month's vacation, but it is more than adequate for a weekly grocery shop for that same family.

The reason the boot is a little compromised can be traced back to the nickel-metal hydride batteries for the hybrid drive system.

But in any case, the Lexus UX 250h Luxury is a car aimed at urban dwellers – people who drive their small SUVs in heavy traffic. It's an admirable effort to cater for a certain type of buyer, a buyer who needs comfort and a modicum of practicality to match their commitment to the environment.

How much does the 2019 Lexus UX 250h Luxury cost?
Price: $49,500 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 107kW/188Nm
Motor: Permanent magnet
Output: 80kW/202Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 4.7L/100km (ADR Combined); 5.9L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 107g/km (ADR Combiend)
Safety Rating: TBA