2019 Lexus UX 250h Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

The 2019 Lexus UX 250h is an all-new model

　　Survey the automotive landscape and you'll see several examples of just how big luxury SUVs can get. Whether it's a Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator, there's no shortage of behemoth people-movers on the road. But there are also a few ways to go small and save on gas. A great example is the new 2019 Lexus UX 250h.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lexus UX 250h 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$96/mo  for UX 250h Base

　　UX 250h Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $34,150 MSRPF SPORT 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $36,150 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $39,350 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　With an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined city/highway driving, the hybrid UX 250h tops the subcompact crossover SUV class in terms of efficiency. But you pay for it with poor acceleration. While it trumps the non-hybrid UX 200 with its 181 horsepower and features a smoother transmission, the UX 250h is even slower and lags behind a Prius in an outright acceleration test.

　　Inside, the UX impresses with a classic Lexus formula of understated style and lots of standard features. But this is also where you'll find most of the UX's drawbacks. The infotainment system isn't particularly easy to use, and the cargo area is small. There's also evidence of cost-cutting, and some of the interior surfaces and materials feel more Toyota Corolla than Lexus SUV.

　　Although the crop of luxury subcompact SUVs is growing, the UX 250h pretty much has the hybrid field to itself. The Mini Countryman S E comes close, but it's a plug-in hybrid and its overall fuel efficiency isn't particularly impressive. For anyone who just wants sharp styling and excellent fuel economy in a pint-size package, the UX 250h merits consideration. Discerning drivers willing to bear additional fuel costs should look elsewhere.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Lexus UX 250h as one of zzdcar' Best Gas Mileage SUVs for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.0 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lexus UX 250h Luxury (2.0-L hybrid |  CVT automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.0 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	7.0
Interior	6.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

6.5

　　The hybrid powertrain in the UX 250h is smooth around town, but it's also tremendously slow, especially for a vehicle with a luxury price tag. In our testing, accelerating to 60 mph took a leisurely 10 seconds. The vehicle's steering is nicely weighted, and the UX has some of the fun responsiveness found in the Toyota Corolla (to which it's related), but the added height and weight make for pronounced body roll through corners.

　　Overall, the hybrid UX is most comfortable with city driving, where the engine can stay in its acceptably torquey midrange, and there's no call for real handling prowess. Unfortunately, the braking response isn't entirely linear and can feel jerky at low speeds.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The UX 250h is a comfortable vehicle, but it doesn't quite offer what we'd expect for the money. The seats are a strong point, with soft leather and padding that proves supportive even on longer drives. Although there's little wind noise and no engine noise while cruising, the engine kicks up an unpleasant racket when you ask for power. You're also exposed to traffic noise and intrusive pinging from the tires over rough pavement. The suspension smooths out bumps, but the run-flat tires produce a ride that feels busier than we'd like.

　　With some controls hidden in infotainment menus, the climate control system is best left in its capable auto mode. Some vents are unfortunately close to the driver's hands and can be loud at even partial power.

　　

Interior

6.5

　　The UX's cabin is surprisingly spacious, but it's not the easiest to live with. Both front and rear passengers have lots of room, with space in the back for full-size adults. However, the seating position works better for people who like to sit low in the vehicle. It's not so great if you prefer sitting upright in your SUV. There's limited steering-wheel telescope, although there is good front-seat height adjustability. That's necessary since at their lowest setting the front seats can be tough for people with limited mobility to get in and out of. 

　　The control layout takes a while to get used to and is overall less intuitive than some rivals. Also thick roof pillars, particularly around the rear hatch, limit overall visibility.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The trunk floor is way higher than you'd think from the outside. It provides easy loading and unloading, and the second row folds perfectly flat. Remove the floor panel and you get 21.7 cubic feet of total space; leave it in place, and there's only 17.1 cubes behind the back seat. That's good compared to a sedan but a bit tight for a small SUV, especially considering there's no spare tire to take up space.

　　Inside the cabin, the glovebox and door pockets are small, although there's room for small water bottles in the doors. The center console box is also narrow, but the cellphone tray is handy. The cupholders are on the small size as well, though the front cupholders feature an anti-tip design. The rear seats also offer pockets and cupholders.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　Lexus' trackpad-based infotainment system is one of the more distracting interfaces to navigate within the luxury space. Voice controls are functional but a bit limited and require quite a few guided steps to complete certain commands. There are plenty of charging options around the cabin, including two USB ports for rear passengers, but you only get Apple CarPlay and not Android Auto. On the plus side, the sound system is what we'd expect from a Lexus, offering a lot of quality at any volume.

　　Basic active safety features are standard, which is still a bit uncommon for a luxury vehicle. The driver aids are overcautious, with overly long following distances and sharp stops in traffic. Definitely not a premium experience.

　　

Which UX 250h does zzdcar recommend?

　　We like the UX 250h with the Premium package since it offers some nice creature comforts (heated and ventilated seats) and tasteful interior materials, such as the Japanese fabric-paper panel motifs. We'd also spring for the eight-speaker audio system. Don't be tempted by the F Sport. It has some nice features such as sport seats and cabin noise cancellation, but the sport-tuned suspension and rough ride quality negate the whole reason to buy a Lexus in the first place.

　　

2019 Lexus UX 250h models

　　The 2019 Lexus UX 250h is a five-passenger SUV that comes in base and F Sport trim levels. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, two motor-generators and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup provides a total of 181 horsepower and drives the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. A third electric motor is used to power the rear wheels when extra traction is needed, effectively giving the 250h all-wheel drive.

　　Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated side mirrors, proximity entry and push-button start, selectable drive modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated-leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.

　　Technology highlights include a rearview camera, Bluetooth, an infotainment system with 7-inch touchscreen display, smartphone app-based navigation, onboard Wi-Fi, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, six-speaker audio system, and satellite radio.

　　In addition to standard safety features, the UX 200 also includes the Lexus Safety System 2.0, which is comprised of driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road sign recognition, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect emergency services.

　　Optional for the base UX is the Premium package. It adds heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, automatic wipers and "washi" interior trim inspired by Japanese fabric paper.

　　Opt for the Luxury trim and you get all of the Premium package's features along with sound-damping front side windows, auto-dimming side mirrors, a hands-free power liftgate, driver-seat memory functions, blind-spot monitoring, a navigation system, a 10.3-inch central display, and an eight-speaker sound system.

　　The F Sport trim is more of a performance package than a trim level (although Lexus classifies it as the latter) and includes unique 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, LED foglights, an augmented engine sound generator, steering wheel paddle shifters, sport front seats, and an upgraded digital gauge cluster.

　　Several stand-alone options allow you to further season the UX to taste. They include upgraded triple-beam LED headlights, a sunroof, a windshield wiper de-icer, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a heated steering wheel. Tech upgrades include parking sensors with low-speed auto braking, a head-up display and a wireless phone charger.

　　

2019 UX 250h Highlights

Trim: BaseF SPORTLuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$34,150
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	39 MPG
Cost to Drive	$96/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles