Updated Lexus UX 300e to bring much longer range

The 2023 Lexus UX 300e has followed in its petrol and hybrid brethren’s tyre tracks by being comprehensively updated for the new model year.

And the big news for the small electric luxury SUV is that Lexus’ first EV will next year score a much bigger 72.8kWh battery pack yielding a much longer 450km driving range.

That new figure marks a significant 43 per cent increase over the current model’s 315km range, however, outputs from the single electric motor remain steady at 150kW/300Nm.

All of the other updates that have been applied to the rest of the MY23 Lexus UX range are applicable here too, meaning the electric version of Lexus’ smallest SUV inherits a stiffer body and retuned suspension, braking and power steering systems, as well as the latest connectivity tech.

The most evident of these upgrades is the new 12.3-inch infotainment interface – sporting wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and web-browsing – and the redesigned centre console.

Some of the less obvious tech upgrades include ‘Hey Lexus’ natural voice recognition, over-the-air (OTA) software updates and live traffic and parking updates for the satellite-navigation system.

The Sport Luxury’s panoramic view monitor has been enhanced and expanded to now include an under-vehicle view.

Lexus Connected Services have also joined the party, granting UX 300e owners the ability to interact with and monitor their vehicle remotely via their smartphone in addition to the automated notifications in the event of a crash or if the car is stolen.

Collision avoidance is another area that’s been focused on with the MY23 version of the compact SUV, with the pre-collision safety system now able to detect oncoming vehicles and pedestrians crossing the road when turning at an intersection.

The dynamic radar cruise control’s lane trace alert function meanwhile has been tweaked to be smoother and subtler in its intervention while ‘curve speed control’ has also been added.

All of these tech enhancements and the bigger battery will undoubtedly drive up pricing for the UX 300e, which currently starts at $74,000.

Lexus Australia is yet to confirm exactly when in 2023 the updated EX 300e will arrive, nor how much it will cost.

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