Her + His Car Reviews
2019 Lexus UX 250h F Sport
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $42,930 | $42,930 |
| Performance | |
| The 2019 Lexus UX 250h is a 5-passenger luxury subcompact SUV that comes in base and F Sport alternative. The handling and responsiveness of this 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine two motor-generators and nickel-metal hydride battery pack SUV is quite the boss. The total engine has 181 horsepower, with plenty of get up and ambition for the road. The model also comes with an AWD and has selectable drive modes. The 3,307 pound vehicle is a force; small but mighty. It is quick out of the gate while it hugs the road. |
Lots of good feels about the acceleration and the responsiveness here. And getting behind the wheel is a real treat. A nice, fat steering wheel introduces you to a strong handling, quick driving small SUV, which in itself is a rarity. It holds the corners beautifully, and there's absolutely no trace of body lean or overly sensitive brakes, either. It's powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder hybrid engine, an element that is part of a hybrid electric system that produces 181 total system horsepower, backed by a continuously variable automatic transmission. The other elements are two motor generators and an electric motor that drives the rear wheels when it is necessary, and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| Outstanding gas mileage with 41 city miles/38 highway miles and 39 overall miles. | With this hybrid system, the UX has a 39 mile per gallon rating for combined city/highway driving, along with ratings of 41 city and 38 highways. You save $2,000 in fuel costs over five years, and you use only 2.6 gallons to travel 100 miles. Annual fuel cost is $1,000, based on 15,000 miles of driving per year at $2.55 a gallon, and your gasoline expenditure is around $7,000 over a five year period. |
| The Car | |
| You've got to give it to Lexus designers - the UX is the latest model into the SUV category, specifically the luxury subcompact one. This model replaces the CT 200 that needed to be retired. So, while Lexus is entering the market, now, with a much more stealth product, there are no shortage of alternative competitive models here, and Lexus has its hands full going up against rivals like Infiniti QX30, Volvo XC40, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA. Nonetheless, it makes perfect sense for Lexus to add their namesake to this growing group. The exterior is spot on. Equally impeccable is the interior. And, certainly with the hybrid feature the economy of gas consumption is a winner with younger buyers. The two areas that are commonplace include the infotainment system with its RTI, Remte touch interface, aka pad with a mouse point-and-click; it has simply not one iota of user friendliness to it. Also, on the side of the armrest are very unorthodox options to change channels and increase volume. They worked, I did get more used to them after a week's test drive but a simple knob for volume or channel surfing would serve all users all the way around. Getting a little too inventive on that one. Second is the capacity of cargo space, which is impacted in the rear with the battery packs. Not much you can do there. One feature I would have expected to be standard on this model is knowing how many miles to go before hitting empty. |
As you know, the SUV/CUV market is busting wide open. Sales are off the charts, and for the smallest models, the blazing sales are red hot. No wonder Lexus wanted all in! And they didn't have anything in their lineup that could come close to compete in the smallest segment of market--so--enter the UX.
But just because its small doesn't mean it lacks Lexus clout and charisma. The utter quiet inside, the quality of the materials, the embracement of Lexus' new design language, and the wealth of high tech features shout Lexus loud and clear. |
| Safety | |
| We were very pleased with the features on the UX including Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Trace Assist, Auto Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition (how cool is that!), Automatic High Beams, and Forward Collision Warning. Rearview Camera. Bluetooth for Hands-Free Talking, Adaptive Cruise Control. Lexus Enform Safety Connect Emergency Services is a great Safety package. Other add-ons features include Windshield Wiper de-icer, an Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror, Triple-Beam LED headlights, and Moon Roof and Hands-free Power Liftgate. |
See below. Information on safety features are listed in the technology section. |
| Technology | |
| The UX Hybrid's standard infotainment system includes a 7" display screen, the Lexus Remote Touch interface, 6 speaker audio system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, an in car wi-fi hot spot, and four USB ports. The Lexus Safety System plus 2.0 adds adaptive cruise control, and satellite radio. Additional features include front and rear parking sensors, front and rear cross traffic alert, head-up display, front and rear parking sensors, and an upgraded infotainment system with a 10" display screen, navigation, and an 8 speaker audio system. We definitely had a 'time of it' using the infotainment system - it is not easy to use, nor is the mechanism easy to engage and intuitive. No, nothing of the sort. It needs a redesign re-do for 2020. |
So, what do you get for starters? 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated side mirrors, proximity entry and push-button start, selectable drive modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated-leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.
You also get a rearview camera, Bluetooth, an infotainment system with 7-inch touchscreen display, smartphone app-based navigation, onboard Wi-Fi, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, six-speaker audio system, and satellite radio. Among the standard safety features are the Lexus Safety System 2.0, which is comprised of driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road sign recognition, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect emergency services. In the Premium package there are heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, automatic wipers and what is called "washi" interior trim that calls to mind a Japanese fabric paper. Another optional package is the Luxury Package, which adds sound-damping front side windows, auto-dimming side mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, driver-seat memory functions, blind-spot monitoring, a navigation system, a 10.3-inch central display, and an eight-speaker sound system. Some other options including upgraded triple-beam LED headlights, a sunroof, a windshield wiper de-icer, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a heated steering wheel. Tech upgrades include parking sensors with low-speed auto braking, a head-up display and a wireless phone charger. Overall, I really enjoyed the uniqueness, flair, and ground-breaking design of Lexus' fun-to-drive UX 250h F Sport. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| An overall extraordinary looking vehicle. With the F Sport Front and Wheel Bumper and Grille, the LED Fog Lamp and Steering Wheel and Seats and Paddle Shifter and Aluminum Pedals, the UX is transformed. The lumbar, heated and ventilated front seats offer comfort during any weather conditions. On the driver side the seats are 8 way adjustable. The upsized 10.3" color multi-media display offers superior easy-to-read everything with its superior large showing. Easy to access is the back trunk with the lift assist, an awesome feature now available on so many vehicles today. Supported by 18" Sport wheels, this UX is a pleasure to look at, be in and to drive. The 60/40 split folding rear seats makes for optimum packing configurations, too. Get to your Lexus dealers and give it a good test drive. |
Aesthetics & Styling: What a knockout! Lexus has done something unique, full of character and lots of charisma. It reminds me quite a bit of Origami art, with its striking, sharply edged profile and character lines. By bringing something truly original to the market, Lexus should garner quite a bit of attention from those who are a little weary of the boxy, characterless, stuff coming from other SUV and crossover makers.
It's truly aimed at a younger audience, that's for sure. The degree of technology and the look of the dashboard, instrument cluster and other interior features almost guarantee that. I would not be surprised if much older audiences turn up their noses at it, especially when they see the technical cleverness of the controls and features. That's okay--it leaves more for the rest of us to buy! I will say that the UX looks way cooler in person; pictures don't do it a lot of justice. Inside and up front, you will find generous leg room and head room, and the presence of four doors makes it easier to get in and out. In the back, things are a little tight. And the shallowness of the trunk may limit what you can bring, at least in the hybrid version of the UX. As you sit down in those comfy, soft but firmly supportive front seats, you notice an instrumental design that looks like it came from the 22nd century. Don't look for numbers arrayed across an instrument panel to inform you of your speed, instead you'll see a circular dial that tells you the speed, surrounded by fluid lines that tell you when you and the engine are accelerating for more power for instance. Some controls are located in round dials attached to hood of the instrument gauge, and you have tabs to lift or lower when you want to adjust or turn off some climate systems, for instance. But I do have quite a beef with the controller system for the infotainment system in the UX. There's a flat pad that use to guide the controls, but you do so with jarring, irritating finger action that you slide across its surface. And that's pretty dangerous for people who insist on making adjustments while driving--which you should never, ever do with this particular system. One accidental nudge you can be in real trouble. Four words: Lexus. Change this. Now. |
| Warranty | |
| 4 Year/50,000 Mile Basic Warranty, 6 Year/70,000 Mile Powertrain Warranty, 8 Year/100,000 Mile Hybrid Warranty. | The warranty package includes a four year/50,000 mile basic coverage, six year/70,000 mile powertrain coverage, eight year/100,000 mile hybrid battery/hybrid warranty. |
