You don’t have to pay extremely high prices to enjoy luxury-level driving. All you need is the small and impressive 2023 Lexus UX.
The UX is the smallest SUV from the Lexus brand. Although it’s a subcompact luxury crossover, it’s not short on high-quality materials or reasons that make it a great choice. The UX is only offered with a hybrid powertrain for 2023. The naturally aspirated engine has been dropped for this new model year. This SUV can be an excellent choice when you want a small vehicle that fits in tight spots but also desire the high-quality features that come in any Lexus.
Don’t Overthink the Driving Experience
If you’re shopping for the UX, you’re not looking for a high-performance SUV. What you’ll find with this small Lexus is an SUV that delivers quality materials, acceptable acceleration, and reliable steering. This SUV doesn’t challenge the likes of the BMW X1 or Volvo XC40 when it comes to performance, but it holds its own in terms of quality, comfort, and price. As long as you don’t overthink the driving experience, you won’t be disappointed in this small luxury SUV.
What Makes it Easy to Choose this Lexus SUV?
What are you looking for in a subcompact crossover? If you want to enjoy an extremely fuel-efficient drive, an affordable luxury vehicle, and an updated infotainment system, you’ll find all of these things in the Lexus UX. This SUV brings you a few new F Sport trims called F Sport Design and F Sport Handling. These trims are added, but the base UX 200 has been dropped from the lineup. You’ll be pleased to enjoy the drive in this small hybrid SUV that brings a cabin filled with comfort and quality to the market.
Luxury Materials Create a Welcoming Lexus Cabin
You might think the UX is assembled with cheap items that don’t offer the luxury feeling desired when you see the low price of this SUV. That’s simply not the case. The seats are accommodating and covered in leather upholstery to give you a look and feel you want when behind the wheel. You’ll find enough room inside for four adults to experience a drive together. The cargo room is pretty small, measuring only 17 cubic feet, but this is still large enough for your weekly grocery run.
Where Do You Put This Small SUV?
At first, the Lexus UX appears to be a high-riding hatchback. This small crossover SUV is classified as a subcompact model, but it certainly isn’t much larger than some of the hatchbacks we’ve seen. That is part of the appeal of this vehicle. On the outside, you’ll notice a large spindle-shaped front grille and heavily sculpted sides that stand out from the crowd. There are some bright colors offered to make this SUV show up and show off for you.
Of course, if you choose one of the F Sport packages, you’ll add more exterior features that make this small and impressive SUV stand out from others on the road.
Speaking of the F Sport Packages…
When it comes to the F Sport packages offered for this Lexus SUV, you’ll find two different treatments. The F Sport Design package offers cosmetic items, including:
- F Sport 18-inch alloy wheels
- A unique grille
- A black roof
- Dark roof rails
- Sport seats
- An updated steering wheel
- Aluminum pedals
The F Sport Handling Package adds more to the mix with:
- Performance dampers
- Adaptive suspension
These two packages give the Lexus UX the sporty style and improved handling that can make this small crossover more fun to drive.
What Does this Lexus SUV Offer?
The base version of the UX includes:
- 8-inch infotainment screen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Amazon Alexa
- Power-operated front seats
- Dual-zone climate controls
- Wi-Fi hotspot
- Multiple USB ports
- Lexus Safety System+ 2.5
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alerts
- Lane-keeping assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition
The Premium package adds the benefits of heated and cooled front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a moonroof to any trim for an additional $1,500.
The Luxury trim tops the range, with the F Sport models in the middle. This top trim gives you everything from the Premium package while adding:
- A hands-free power liftgate
- Memory settings for the driver’s seat and side mirrors
- Power-folding side mirrors
You can also add the benefits of a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a heated steering wheel.
The Infotainment Upgrade is a Big Deal
You don’t have to look back too far in the Lexus model years to find a touchpad-controlled infotainment system. The latest version of the Lexus UX now has a touchscreen for all models, which is a lot better than the old system. In addition to adding touchscreens, Lexus now includes wireless connectivity for all trim levels. Upgrading the infotainment system is huge for the Lexus SUV lineup.
The Only Powertrain You Need
Every model of the UX subcompact SUV is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine plus two electric motors and a 24-kW battery pack. This system sends power through a CVT to give you the desired drive. The total power offered is 181 horsepower for this small and active SUV. Fuel mileage reaches 41 city/38 hwy mpg, and all models are set up with standard AWD to ensure you have power at all four wheels.
How Much Does the 2023 Lexus UX Cost?
We mentioned this small and active luxury SUV comes at a low price, but how low? The base UX 250h starts out at $35,925, which is extremely affordable. Add the Premium package, and you’ll pay $38,385 for this SUV. The F Sport Design model asks for $38,385, while the F Sport Handling version requires you to spend $43,355.
Are you looking for a small, active, useful, and luxurious SUV to drive? If so, you’ll be glad to take the Lexus UX out for a test drive to see what it offers. This could be the perfect vehicle for you to have the drive you want, especially when you’re facing tight city streets every day.
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