If you were to squint, you could be excused for mistaking a BMW SUV with a Mercedes, Audi, and vice versa. There’s absolutely no way you could mistake the new UX for anything other than a Lexus, however.
Lexus unveiled its refreshed Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, and BMW X1 rival a couple days ago and already, Consumer Reports has had a chance to jump behind the wheel of the eye-catching SUV.
To test out the vehicle, Consumer Reports jumped behind the wheel of the AWD UX250h variant which utilizes a hybrid powertrain that mates a 2.0-liter petrol four-cylinder engine with two co-axial motor-generators to produce a combined 175 hp.
For the most part, Consumer Reports were satisfied with this powertrain but notes that under acceleration, the internal combustion engine gets very noisy. The engine isn’t the only issue with the UX. The reviewer notes that on occasion, the suspension system fails to smooth out a large bump, resulting in a “big, hard impact.” That’s not what you want to hear from a Lexus.
The Lexus UX isn’t a home-run for the carmaker.
What’s more, the interior of the UX isn’t up to the standard of other Lexus models but considering the vehicle’s positioning as an affordable, premium subcompact, this isn’t at all shocking.
Another aspect of the UX that detracts from the overall experience of the vehicle is the clumsy infotainment system featured in other Lexus models.
In terms of safety, the Lexus UX has you covered. All variants come standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, outfitted with intelligent high-beam headlights, road sign assist, lane departure warning with steering assist, lane tracking assist, dynamic radar cruise control, and a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection.