Road test review: Lexus UX 300e

Monday, 4 April 2022

Lexus' first-ever battery electric vehicle, the UX 300e, is on it's way to New Zealand.

LEXUS UX 300E LIMITED
Base price: $79,900
Powertrain and economy: Single electric motor, 150kW/300Nm, single-speed transmission, FWD, combined economy 15kWh/100km (source: RightCar), range 360km (NEDC).

The bold orange actually suits the UX 300e quite well.

Vital statistics: 4495mm long, 1840mm wide, 1545mm high, 2640mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 414 litres, 18-inch alloy wheels.
Safety: Five stars (ANCAP tested, 2018)

We like: Punchy off the line and while moving, lovely interior, qualifies for rebate.
We don't like: 50kW CHAdeMO charger as good as it gets for fast charging, could do with more range.

The angular UX interior is back, along with a centre console that can open from both sides.

Lexus’ first fully electric vehicle has landed in the form of the UX 300e. We liked the combustion/hybrid UX, so this should be a slam dunk, right?

OUTSIDE

The UX 300e looks pretty much the same as the other UX family members, with a spindle grille dominating the nose, thick black plastic arch surrounds, angular LED headlights, and creases along the sides.

The electricals powering the UX 300e... if you can make heads or tails of it.

Even for an EV, the UX 300e is a quiet driver.

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Funnily enough, the UX 300e actually gains boot space compared to the petrol versions, thanks to ditching the exhaust and clever battery placement.

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If Lexus can get that range figure over the 300km per charge mark, it’ll be a hard option to pass up.

There are also the requisite ‘Electric’ badges adorning the lower part of the rear doors. A full-width LED rear light spans the bootlid.

One side has the charging port for the 50kW DC CHAdeMO connector, while the other offers slower AC Type 2 charging capability. Sadly, there’s no option for the more common CCS connection.

Like the petrol variants, the UX 300e is fairly low riding and smaller in the metal than photos might make it look. The design hasn’t changed much since 2019, fine because the UX is still an attractive thing.

INSIDE

Again, familiar territory, with lots of angles and high-quality materials. The only major difference is a new gear selector and tweaked dials for electric duties.

That means, because the only version you can buy is the high-spec Limited, you still get heated and ventilated leather-accented seats, a quality Mark Levinson 13-speaker audio system, a 10.3-inch infotainment screen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, wireless phone charging, and a heated wheel. The trackpad returns, though,

Rear occupants won’t be quite as comfy, as the high waistline of the UX means rear windows are a little on the small side, as is legroom. Probably best suited to smaller families or couples.

UNDER THE BONNET

Much more interesting are the new electricals. Lexus has kept it simple for its first EV, giving the UX 300e a single 150kW/300Nm electric motor on the front axle, paired with a 54kWh battery pack. Lexus only offers NEDC range on its website, an optimistic 360km, but overseas outlets say the WLTP range is around 300 – 315km. Really, you’re probably going to see closer to 250 – 280km, depending on how you drive it.

The power delivery is good, with the humble figures belying swift acceleration holding until you’re well up to motorway speeds. Fairly standard EV fare off the line, but the pulling power at speed is impressive as well. It’s also the most powerful member of the UX family, if outright power is of concern to you. It’s just not available with all-wheel drive, unfortunately.

ON THE ROAD

The UX 300e is remarkably quiet on the road, even for an EV, with the tyres, glass and wheel arch liners all analysed and tweaked to keep cabin noise down.

Like every EV, Lexus has given the UX regenerative braking, adjustable via the paddles on the steering wheel or the Prius-like shift into ‘B’ mode. The regen isn’t quite powerful enough for my liking, and the new system Lexus has implemented means that when you take off after stopping, the regeneration resets to default.

That means one-pedal driving is basically not a thing here. It’s easier just to brake like a conventional car. They’re good too, feeling a lot closer to non-electrified brakes, without a lot of the annoying mushy feeling some regenerative brakes have.

The batteries are all mounted under the car, so while the 300e weighs a claimed 2245kg, it holds itself well through corners thanks to retuned suspension. In fact, Yamaha helped out with the rear dampers, and it shows. The SUV is stable – only understeering when you plonk your foot on the throttle mid-corner – and holds its line well.

There are drive modes, Sport, Normal and Eco, switchable via a rotary knob just above and behind the steering wheel. Sport ups the throttle response and adds some driving sound, but Normal seemed to offer the best blend of everything, so may as well just stick with this one.

VERDICT

The UX 300e offers a fantastic degree of interior and ride quality along with a punchy powertrain. The relatively small range is its only real drawback, meaning the Lexus is best suited to city dwellers.

If you’re looking at an electric small SUV, you’ve got a few options. The Hyundai Kona Electric, the Mazda MX-30, and the Peugeot e-2008 are available now and good options, although the Mazda is also hurt by a low range.

All fall under the $80k Clean Car rebate limit, so all will get the full $8625 back on the first registration. You could use some of that rebate on a Wallbox home charger for faster charging at night, something Lexus offers for $3137 installed.

Also of note is that Lexus does have a cheaper, entry-level UX 300e, but it’s reserved for fleets. However, the leased cars will be returned to the company at the end of the lease period, which means they will be fed back into the second-hand market via the company’s approved used car programme.