Crossover utility vehicles come in various sizes and carry a wide array of price tags, ironically living up to the adage from General Motors’ legendary Alfred P. Sloan about delivering a vehicle for every purpose and every purse.
The price tags for compact CUVs, however, have crept up into luxury vehicle territory.
Automotive purists may not consider the Lexus UX 250h an authentic luxury vehicle. But the UX 250h F Sport is the entryway to the Lexus brand and comes in an attractive package that includes impressive fuel economy for a vehicle depending upon an internal combustion engine.
Lexus outfitted the UX 250h F Sport with a full array of connectivity and driver assistance technology along with a lengthy list of comfort and convenience features. It also has a beefed-up suspension that is part-and-parcel of the F Sport designation, making the vehicle more fun to drive under all sorts of conditions. It also a vehicle, which fits neatly into a crowded urban or suburban landscape.
Exterior
On the outside, the UX 250h looks more like a traditional hatchback than a conventional utility vehicle, which have become so popular with buyers around the world. The exterior design includes the bold version of the Lexus front face with its hourglass-shaped grille and the light fixtures and vents.
From the front there is no doubt the UX 250h is part of the Lexus family. The exterior also features sleek sheet metal with a distinctive character crease running from front to back, while the roof slopes into the rear liftgate to complete the vehicles hatchback-like appearance. The stylish 18-inch wheels, aluminum roof rails and led light fixture at the rear complete the exterior design.
Interior
As a Lexus, the UX 250h F Sport comes nicely equipped with technology such as a sophisticated sound system with 10 speakers, which sounds impressive in the small, well-insulated and well-equipped cabin.
The UX 250h comes with a comfortable adjustable seat from which the intelligent navigation system along with a large touch screen in the center stack are easily utilized. The compact cabin is well furnished with the controls in easy reach and even the cupholders are in a good place. The visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent and there is an electronic parking brake.
Powertrain
The UX 250h is powered by a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 24 kwh electric motor and a 54 kwh lithium-ion battery tied together with Lexus version of Toyota’s hybrid system. The 2.0-liter engine and electric motor are matched to a continuously variable transmission and an all-wheel-drive system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport a combined fuel-economy rating of 39 mpg, including 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Safety and Technology
Lexus equipped the UX with 10 airbags, the Lexus safety system 2.5 pre-collision system with pedestrian detection system as well as blind-spot monitor and lane-departure alert with steering assistance.
The UX 250h F Sport also features cruise control, high-beam headlamps, road sign assistance and backup camera. It is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as satellite radio and intelligent navigation system as well as LED headlights. There is also a head-up display and heated steering wheel.
Driving Impressions
The UX 250h is a pleasant vehicle to drive as the continuously variable transmission is practically invisible as the car moves from one speed to another or moves up or down an incline. The vehicle’s hybrid system also provides some additional power, delivering better performance out on the highway or from a standing start.
Additionally, the well-tuned suspension built into the F Sport also means the cars ride and handling is smooth over all sort of road surfaces. The steering, along with small turning circle, and braking is first rate, adding to the pleasure of driving the UX 250h.
2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport Specifications
| Dimensions | L: 177 inches/W: 72.4 inches/H: 60.6 inches/Wheelbase: 103.9 inches |
| Weight | 3,605 pounds |
| Powertrain | Permanent magnet motor plus a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder; CVT and AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway/39 mpg combined |
| Performance Specs | 181 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $40,350; As tested: $50,040 including $1,150 destination charge |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
With its clever design and technology, Lexus has carved out a large space in the luxury segment. For motorists still skittish about electric vehicles and the shaky infrastructure behind them, hybrids deliver better fuel economy than vehicles with conventional ICE engines alone.
The F Sport version of the UX 250h made the car more fun. But it is a small vehicle with a small car’s wheelbase of 103 inches, which makes the $50,000 price tag more difficult to justify even as prices for new vehicles begin to plateau in the face of the inevitable consumer resistance.
2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport — Frequently Asked Questions
How much horsepower does a 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport offer?
The FWD UX 250h has the same powertrain as the AWD model, only it does without the third electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Both versions use a 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine and produce a total of 181 horsepower.
Is Lexus UX 250h fuel efficient?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the 2023 Lexus UX 250h F Sport a combined fuel-economy rating of 39 mpg, including 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Is Lexus UX expensive to maintain?
The average annual repair cost for a Lexus is $551, which means it has above average ownership costs. The other factors that contribute to Lexus reliability include an average of 0.5 visits to a repair shop per year and an 8% probability of a repair being severe.
- SEO Powered Content & PR Distribution. Get Amplified Today.
- PlatoData.Network Vertical Generative Ai. Empower Yourself. Access Here.
- PlatoAiStream. Web3 Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. Access Here.
- PlatoESG. Automotive / EVs, Carbon, CleanTech, Energy, Environment, Solar, Waste Management. Access Here.
- BlockOffsets. Modernizing Environmental Offset Ownership. Access Here.
- Source: https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/reviews/a-week-with-2023-lexus-ux-250h-f-sport-2/
