Lexus UX 300e 2021 Review

Pitched into the crucible that is the premium small SUV segment , the 2021 Lexus UX 300e is one of just three battery-electric models from prestige brands in this category that are available for Aussie consumers to buy.

As with electric vehicles generally, the UX 300e is not cheap, even at entry level, but it does hold a trump hand against its two key rivals.

Starting at $74,000 plus on-road costs for the UX 300e Luxury, the inaugural Lexus EV undercuts both the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric by close to $3000.

Unlike the two competitors, the Lexus is offered in two levels of trim, with the flagship UX 300e Sports Luxury priced at $81,000 plus ORCs.

As standard, the Luxury grade features 17-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, keyless entry/start, a power-adjustable steering column, heated steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, rear seat heating and a synthetic upholstery material.

It also has a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

The flagship UX 300e Sports Luxury adds to that with 18-inch alloys, a sunroof, head-up display, panoramic view monitor, leather-accented seat trim with ‘Washi’ upholstery finish and a 3D look for climate control vents.

Lexus is introducing a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for the UX 300e, along with a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for the battery.

Five years of roadside assistance is offered too, and the UX 300e will also be offered with capped-price servicing at $295 a service, scheduled for every 12 months or 15,000km.

Lexus is also offering a 1.9 per cent finance deal for UX 300e buyers.

On top of all that, owners can recharge the car’s 54.3kWh battery from Chargefox for no extra cost during the first three years.

This is part of the Lexus Encore Platinum service, which includes four ‘redemptions’ for Lexus on demand and eight for valet parking. Vehicle owners may also enjoy the lifestyle rewards and benefits as part of the service.

Crash safety authority ANCAP rates the 2021 Lexus UX at five stars, based on the 2019 test protocol.

That applies to all models in the UX range, which are fitted with eight airbags.

Both UX 330e variants come equipped as standard with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, plus multi-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring, traffic sign recognition and rear cross traffic alert.

The basic Luxury variant features LED headlights with automatic high beam assist, and the upmarket UX 300e Sports Luxury gains a triple-beam set-up with an adaptive cornering light system.

The manufacturer claims that the 2021 Lexus UX 300e is the fastest of the three powertrain variants in the UX range – the other two being the conventional petrol-engined UX and the series/parallel hybrid model.

Under the bonnet is a single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor producing 150kW and 300Nm, driving the front wheels and generating enough torque to induce torque steer.

As promising as that sounds, the 0-100km/h time for the UX 330e is 7.5 seconds, which is half as long again as the time for the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric.

In a case of swings and roundabouts, however, the UX excuses itself with significantly better energy efficiency than the Volvo can claim. So, if you can live without the performance of the Volvo (or the longer range), you’ll definitely find the UX 300e is cheaper to run.

In the real world, energy efficiency on the run up to Deans Marsh and back to Torquay in Victoria averaged 17.3kWh/100km for the Lexus, with the gentle run along the Great Ocean Road seeing the figure fall to as low as 11.4kWh/100km at one stage.

Even the worst-case scenario for the Lexus is quantifiably better than the Volvo’s energy consumption.

Whatever your needs – power or efficiency – the performance of the Lexus should prove more than adequate for most buyers. It can be hurried along quite easily, and to add context, the Lexus is 1.4 seconds faster from 0-100km/h than the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250.

According to Lexus, the electric motor powering the 2021 Lexus UX 300e weighs 200kg less than an equivalent petrol engine under the bonnet of conventional or hybrid UX variants, and it sits further back in the chassis for better weight distribution.

Add to that the battery under the floor and you have a lower centre of gravity as well as an even spread of weight from front to rear.

So the ride and handling balance is very good; the Lexus almost seems to step tenderly over even very minor blemishes in the road surface.

But it also corners quite precisely, and covering off both conflicting angles as it does, the UX 300e makes the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric seem rather compromised. And the Lexus is also more communicative and ultimately more enjoyable to drive than the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250.

You would expect the cabin of any Lexus to be a quiet place, but the UX 300e takes that further – even by comparison with other electric vehicles.

As a sign of how carefully Lexus has attended to noise suppression in this vehicle, there’s a complete lack of reverberation on the ‘overrun’ when the motor generator is recovering power from braking.

The front seats are comfortable and well shaped to hold the occupant securely in place while cornering at high speeds. In this the UX 300e is pretty much like the other powertrain variants in the range.

While the driving position is quite rational overall, the steering column height adjustment could come up slightly to suit taller drivers, but the rake should be adequate for drivers of average height.

The UX is one of the more modern designs in the Lexus range at present, but some of the switchgear is beginning to look a bit dated and it’s hard to find the parking brake toggle – concealed almost out of sight under the dash between the left side of the steering column and the centre console. Most of the time you won’t need it, however.

Lexus designers have rolled out some very nice materials for the UX 300e, such as the washi finish on the dash top in the Sports Luxury model. This is a texture rather like Japanese art paper.

And the overall layout places the centre fascia, the infotainment screen, cup holders and centre console relatively close to hand for the driver. The two-way centre console arm rest lid is a clever idea; it opens either way – from the passenger side or the driver side – for optimal convenience.

Headroom is generous in the rear, but legroom is a little short for adults of average height, and there’s limited room to park your feet under the seat in front if that’s adjusted to a low setting.

There are adjustable vents in the rear of the centre console plus outboard seat heating and two USB-C ports for recharging. The rear seat heating is a new feature to the UX with the introduction of the electric variant.

While the luggage capacity doesn’t seem huge, it’s up to 414 litres with the rear seats in place, which is better than the boot space in the hybrid UX. The difference is the hybrid has a battery under the boot floor, whereas the EV’s battery is located between the axles, well away from the boot.

After literally decades of driving (and owning) cars that would travel 400km on a tank of fuel – and now driving EVs that will also travel at least that far on one battery charge – the 360km range of the 2021 Lexus UX 300e is a disappointment for me.

But I accept the argument from Lexus that for the UX 300e to match or improve on the 480km range of the Mercedes-Benz EQA 250, it would also need to weigh the same or more.

The fact that the Lexus is 200kg lighter than the Mercedes is an important factor in its better energy efficiency. And let’s not speak of the Volvo in this context…

So while Lexus owners may not travel as far on one battery charge as their Mercedes and Volvo-driving neighbours, it will cost them less over the course of a year.

And as more public charging stations come on stream, the matter of electric vehicle range will dwindle to a minor concern as people realise that they probably don’t need to be driving to Canberra in one day anyway.

Call it a question of ‘range propriety’ rather than ‘range anxiety’: a battery charge that is appropriate to realistic need, rather than hypothetical need.

But in any case, this is not just a question of ownership costs or a driving holiday in Noosa. The UX 300e is also a handy device for practical purposes during the week.

There’s more boot space and better rear seat accommodation than the Mercedes, and it’s more user-friendly and pleasant to drive than the Volvo (straight-line performance aside).

Lexus can count on the UX 300e meeting its sales targets – with the more expensive Sports Luxury variant projected to sell in larger numbers – because the UX 300e is cleverly marketed and it goes beyond being ‘just’ a Lexus.

How much does the 2021 Lexus UX 300e Luxury cost?
Price: $74,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
Output: 150kW/300Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 54.3kWh lithium-ion
Range: 360km (ADR)
Energy consumption: 15.0kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)