More powerful, efficient 2024 Lexus UX 300h SUV revealed

The Lexus UX small SUV is expected to receive a significant upgrade next year headlined by a more powerful and efficient hybrid powertrain in a new UX 300h variant, based on US-market details released overnight.

A facelifted version of the battery-electric Lexus UX 300e has just gone on sale in Australia, but the broader UX range is also now set for an overhaul.

Primed to replace the current UX 250h, the new Lexus UX 300h keeps the current 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine but gets a new fifth-generation hybrid transaxle that includes more powerful electric motors – an 83kW front motor and a smaller 30kW rear unit.

As a result, total power climbs from 135kW in the UX 250h to a more muscular 146kW in the UX 300h.

As well as the new hybrid transaxle, the current model’s nickel-metal hydride battery has been dumped and replaced with a more modern lithium-ion battery.

The lithium-ion battery is located under the rear seat and is said to be lighter than the UX 250h power pack.

Other revisions include new shift-by-wire technology that’s said to deliver a quicker and more seamless shifting experience, although a development of the CVT carries over.

Thanks to the extra power and an undisclosed weight loss, the UX 300h is more eager off the line, with the car-maker claiming 0-60mph (0-97km/h) takes 7.9sec for the all-wheel drive version and 8.0sec for the front-drive model – around four-tenths quicker than before.

For now, Lexus has only released US fuel efficiency figures but says despite the extra power the new UX 300h will consume less than the current UX 250h.

Inside, the Lexus UX cabin has been smartened up with extra chrome accents and revised switchgear on the door panels.

Higher-grade models also lose their small 8.0-inch digital instrument panel and gain a much-larger 12.3-inch display.

The F Sport Handling version also comes with a new gesture-activated power tailgate.

Finally, the 2024 Lexus UX gets the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 system (replacing version 2.5) that includes upgrades for the active cruise control, lane keep assist, pre-collision system, pedestrian detection, road sign assist and lane keep assist.

Lexus Australia has yet to confirm pricing, launch timing and availability of the new Lexus UX 300h for our market.

In the US, the updated UX 300h is set to arrive in the first half of 2024.

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