Lexus UX 300e review

Lexus has long been synonymous with hybrid and plug-in-hybrid power, but the new UX300e is its first venture into the world of full electric vehicles, so it’ll be up against rivals such as the new BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC.

With striking looks and well-built interior, the Lexus UX300e is definitely one to consider if you’re a fan of the design and appreciate a high-quality, well-made interior.

It’s not the highest-riding of SUVs. but an arresting front grille, sharp creases all across its exterior and a rear light that stretches right across width of the boot lid mean it’ll grab attention despite its small size.

The striking design continues into the Lexus UX300e interior. You couldn’t describe the dashboard as minimalist – there are loads of buttons across the dash and steering wheel. The controls and the 7.0- or 10.25-inch infotainment screen (depending on specification) are all angled towards the driver.

For a supposedly high-riding SUV, you actually sit relatively low in the Lexus UX, but Lexus seats are very comfortable and there’s a decent range of adjustment in the driver’s seat and steering wheel.

Things aren’t so great in the back however. You’ll find three seat belts in the rear but in reality the Lexus UX is more four-seater than five. The middle seat is narrow and there’s a hump in the floor, restricting space for your legs.

The armrest folds down to reveal a couple of cupholders and the bin in the centre console is a decent size. Figures for boot capacity have yet to be released, but you’ll struggle to get much more than a couple of cabin suitcases in the UX boot – enough for a weekend away, for sure, but you may need to pack light for longer trips.

Combining the traditional Lexus benefits of build-quality and reliability with electric power should make the UX300e a popular choice.

‘UX’ stands for Urban Crossover, highlighting that this is an SUV built for the city – it has not been designed to tow a boat or ford a river like you might do in a traditional 4×4.

The conventionally fuelled models are easy to drive and manoeuvrable, and we see no reason why the EV version should be any different. You get a good view out and the optional Parking Support Alert makes parking a doddle. On faster roads the car is relatively quiet with the engine only getting noisy when you accelerate hard.

The Lexus UX300e has an official range of up to 196 miles, so it isn’t the best, but neither is it the worst. Plug it in to a 50kW charger and you’ll have an 80% charge in 50 minutes.

Plug it into a 7kW home charger and you can expect to achieve a full charge in around eight hours, which will cost you around £9.

We’ll be driving the Lexus UX300e soon, so check back to find out what the first Lexus EV is really like.