The Lexus UX 250h has been selling in the United States market since early 2019 and is one of the very few models in the subcompact luxury SUV segment with a hybrid powertrain. Coming with a classy cabin coupled with a long list of features as standard, it has been a go-to model for those who want the versatility and luxury of an SUV from the premium brands without compromising one bit on the fuel efficiency front.
With the arrival of the 2022 iteration of the UX 250h, which is now available for sale at a base MSRP of $36,425, Lexus has managed to shove in more features and upgrades, making it a bit more value for money. The main changes are in the form of more exterior and interior color palettes, and subtle upgrades to the overall design. However, the powertrain and the fuel efficiency figures remain unchanged. Competing with the Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and Volvo XC40 Recharge, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Lexus UX 250h.
10 A Comfortable Daily Driver
One thing that's unchanged for the 2022 UX 250h is the comfort it offers. Coming with an independent front and rear suspension with coil springs and anti-roll bars on all four corners, and being tuned to the softer side, the UX 250h is supremely comfortable. Drive the car on the city streets and the passengers are not going to be bothered about the broken roads.
This SUV absorbs everything with ease, and the suspension doesn't emit any clunky noises like the Ford Escape Hybrid when met with deep potholes. As the speed rises during the highway driving, the ride remains almost flat, similar to the cars with a stiffer suspension setup. The engine feels relaxed during sedate cruising, and the brakes and steering are as precise as any other rivals out there.
9 Very Frugal
The 2022 Lexus UX 250h retains the same gas mileage as the older model years, as it sees no changes to the powertrain and weight. We also found it to be similar in terms of fuel efficiency to its rivals. This SUV could do 41 MPG in the city, 38 MPG on the highway, and 39 MPG of combined gas mileage.
The rivals like the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid could do a slightly higher combined gas mileage of 41 MPG and 40 MPG, respectively. The tank range was slightly better for these rivals as well, as the 2022 Lexus UX 250h comes with a small 10.6-gallon fuel tank.
8 Classy Cabin
Coming with four standard interior color combinations to choose from, the 2022 Lexus UX 250h is not going to disappoint prospective buyers when inside the cabin. The dashboard and door cards come fitted with premium leather, aluminum trims, and beautiful contrast stitching, all of which are similar to the more expensive offerings like the NX and RX lineup.
If you get the F Sport package, the F Sport front seats and performance-inspired instrumentation comes as standard. The black and red color combination look stunning as well. The seats are supremely wide and well-bolstered, and it comes wrapped in leather that is a notch above what is found in the competition. The leather-wrapped steering and well-integrated infotainment and digital gauge cluster give it a technologically advanced feel, too.
7 Loaded With Standard Driver-Assistance Tech
With the Lexus Enform Safety Suite coming in as standard for all the trims, the 2022 UX 250h comes loaded with all the driver-assistance tech you could think of at this price point. This includes forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert.
All the basic safety features like ABS with EBD, airbags, traction control, stability control, hill hold assist, side-impact beams, automatic high beams, and tire pressure monitoring system are standard too. This luxury SUV offers excellent build quality, and that does help it in getting a 5-star rating in the NHTSA crash test and the top safety pick title in the IIHS crash test.
6 Not The Most Refined
The refinement level of the 2022 Lexus UX 250h is surely better than the regular compact SUV rivals like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid, however, it is nowhere as good as the Volvo XC40 Recharge. We found the naturally aspirated inline-4 motor in the UX 250h to be quite loud as the revs climb. The constant drone of the engine does increase fatigue as well.
The CVT retains the same rubber band effect that was present in the outgoing model years, and when you put your foot down, the revs go all the way to the red line without any major increase in speed, which is not the case with the XC40 Recharge. The road noise and tire noise were much higher than the XC40 Recharge as well.
5 Infotainment Isn't As Polished As The Rivals
The Lexus Multimedia infotainment system is stacked on top of the dashboard and is not the latest and greatest system that you would find in some of the more expensive offerings from the brand. This is a non-touchscreen system, and the trackpad that is present in the center console isn't the most intuitive system.
It is painful to use while on the move and the interface isn't as polished as the likes of the Sync 3, MMI, or the iDrive infotainments that are present in the rivals. The display isn't the sharpest out there, and viewing on bright days is still a problem. However, features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, and a 6-speaker audio system are standard.
4 Decently Spacious
The 2022 Lexus UX 250h is a 5-seater subcompact SUV, and it turned out to be pretty spacious for a car belonging to that segment. In comparison to the Volvo XC40 Recharger, we found the UX 250h to be much easier to get in and out of. The doors open wider too. The front seats are well-bolstered and offer great under-thigh and lower back support.
The headroom, legroom, and shoulder room are not going to disappoint anyone either. However, the rear seat wasn't the most spacious out there and the taller people would have difficulty fitting in due to the restricted headroom, and it isn't the widest cabin in the segment either. The cargo capacity of 21.7 cu ft is superior to the XC40 Recharge with 14.6 cu ft of space.
3 Sharp Brakes
Being a hybrid, the 2022 UX 250h does come with the regenerative braking system as standard. Along with that, the braking features like 12" front ventilated rotors, 11.1" rear solid discs, brake assist, hill hold control, ABS with EBD, and electric parking brake are standard too.
The braking behavior offered by the UX 250h turned out to be very similar to the XC40 Recharge, and this SUV could do the 70-0 mph braking test in just 173 feet. The brakes offered a sharp initial bite and an excellent progression. It didn't feel twitchy under hard braking, and the ABS only intrudes when it is absolutely necessary.
2 Performance Is Adequate
The 2022 Lexus UX 250h comes with the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 engine mated to a two motor-generator hybrid CVT, producing a combined output of 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The power is put down through the AWD drivetrain and this SUV managed to do 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 110 MPH.
The performance offered by this powertrain is not going to blow anyone away and is not as enthusiastic to drive as compared to its arch-rival, the Volvo XC40 Recharge. The low-end torque is excellent, and it is a great city commuter. It is also superb while cruising on the highways. However, it is in the immediate response this powertrain falls apart. The CVT is quite laggy, and the engine sounds unrefined as the revs climb. The top-end performance is lackluster too.
1 Elegant Exterior Styling
This subcompact luxury SUV from Lexus looks the part and does manage to stand out well when out on the road. The signature spindle grille up front with the black elements coupled with the L-shaped LED DRLs neatly incorporated into the LED headlights and the bulging hood gives it the required stance when viewed from the front.
There are subtle chrome accents on the exterior, and it is not overly done. The 8 standard color palettes and 3 optional color palettes gel well with the overall dimension of this SUV. The side and rear look elegant too, with the painted fender and side skirts, 18" alloy wheels with gloss black and silver, and a neat LED taillight setup. The subtle character lines and sloping roof gives it a sporty feel.