2020 Lexus UX 200 Review

　　

2020 Lexus UX 200 Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Small and feature-packed, the 2020 Lexus UX 200 is a relatively affordable way to get into a luxury SUV. Classified as a subcompact (or extra-small) luxury SUV, the Lexus UX competes against vehicles such as the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3. It combines city-friendly packaging with the high-quality features you'd expect from a luxury brand.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 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 $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$145/mo  for UX 200 Base

　　UX 200 Base

　　4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $32,300 MSRPF SPORT 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $34,300 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $37,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　When it comes to features, the UX 200 definitely delivers. It comes standard with amenities such as simulated leather upholstery and adaptive cruise control and offers options such as a hands-free liftgate and a head-up display. Lexus vehicles also have a reputation for high-quality interiors, and the UX comes through here too. This is Lexus' least affordable model, but you wouldn't know it just by sitting inside.

　　Unfortunately, the UX isn't as spacious as we'd like, even in a class full of diminutive luxury SUVs. The UX lags most rivals in acceleration and lacks optional all-wheel drive, both of which may make it feel a bit less premium. The lower power does pay off in fuel dividends, though: The UX is one of the most efficient vehicles in the class. Overall, the 2020 UX 200 can't quite match the class leaders, but it's worth considering if you're looking for interior refinement and value.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the UX 200 drive? Outright acceleration is undeniably slow (0-60 mph takes 8.9 seconds), but the UX 200 is relatively zippy and playful as a city runabout. Brake feel is reassuring, which helps make the UX easy to drive. Emergency braking performance, however, is lacking. We measured a stopping distance of 129 feet from 60 mph, which is longer than average for a small SUV.

　　Steering has a good on-center feel and steering resistance builds quickly, which makes the UX feel a bit more substantial than its size suggests. There's not much in terms of road feedback, but steering is precise and easy to judge. The UX imparts confidence when going around smooth and sweeping turns, such as a freeway onramp. But it's less composed on bumpy or tight turns.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the UX 200? Sadly, the smallest Lexus crossover doesn't go big on comfort. The front seat has pleasantly supportive cushions, but the seatback's distinct contour won't please everyone. The ride is rougher than we'd expect too. The suspension smooths out sharp edges, but it still transmits too much of the road surface into the cabin.

　　Heating and cooling are strong. The heated and ventilated seats aren't the most powerful, but they get the job done. The UX doesn't do the best job of isolating you from traffic noise, and depending on the road surface, there's also noticeable road and tire noise.

　　

Interior

6.5/10

　　How’s the interior? This is a small vehicle, especially compared to other subcompact SUVs. Front accommodations are a bit narrow. Taller passengers will have to duck in and out of the back seat and will find legroom lacking. The interior is attractively designed, however, even if the controls are a bit confusing to use at times. The infotainment touchpad is especially frustrating. 

　　The high beltline makes you feel as if you're sitting quite low in the car, and the thick roof pillars create blind spots. You can raise the seat, but then you may find the gauge cluster and wheel are mounted awkwardly low. The steering column lacks sufficient range of motion to accommodate a variety of natural seating positions.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The UX's infotainment system display looks nice, and it's not difficult to figure out how to do things, but the touch interface adds a layer of frustration to every interaction. The best results while using voice controls come from following the on-screen guide step by step, but that takes more time and is just as distracting as performing tasks by hand. The optional eight-speaker audio system at least provides strong and accurate sound.

　　As for driver aids, the UX comes with plenty of them standard, though it'd be nice if Lexus made blind-spot monitoring standard as well. Most of the systems seem to lack the refinement found in more expensive Lexus vehicles. The adaptive cruise control, for instance, is overly twitchy when braking and accelerating.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The UX 200 offers an underwhelming amount of storage space. The load floor isn't particularly wide, and the liftover point is a bit high. For small items, you get anti-tip cupholders and a modestly sized console box under the armrest. There's a small shelf in front of the shifter with just enough room for a phone. The door pockets are quite small.

　　Got small kids? Car-seat anchors and tethers are clearly marked and easy to access thanks to large plastic sleeves with doors that pop on and off. Bulky rear-facing car seats may have issues clearing the front seatbacks when being installed or removed. They'll also interfere with front seat travel.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The UX offers top-notch fuel economy. Its EPA-estimated 33 mpg combined blows competitors out of the water. There's also the fact that you'll be filling up with regular gas in a class where premium is the norm. As long as you avoid the temptation to rev up the engine a lot to compensate for the lack of power, you'll likely spend less on gas in this than anything in the class (except the UX hybrid).

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the UX 200 a good value? The UX comes with a nicely designed and constructed interior with a lot of soft-touch materials. Every surface seems to have some sort of texturing, which adds depth and visual interest to the cabin. Lexus' warranties are typically better than average.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The UX looks very nice on the inside, especially with the Luxury package. The car's design and execution make it stand out from the crowd. It seems to be aiming for "zippy city runabout with style" and it succeeds … even if we could stand a little more zip.

　　

Which UX 200 does zzdcar recommend?

A few nice features are available on the upper trim levels, but the best value comes from sticking with the base trim level. You'll still get a pleasing amount of features. Do get it with the optional Premium package for the heated and ventilated seats as well as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　

2020 Lexus UX 200 models

The 2020 Lexus UX is a five-passenger SUV that comes in base, Luxury and F Sport trim levels. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (169 horsepower, 151 lb-ft of torque) that sends power to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is only available on the UX 250h hybrid (reviewed separately).

　　Standard features include LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker audio system. You also get a collection of advanced driver safety features (Lexus Safety System+ 2.0). Optional for the base UX is the Premium package. It adds heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　The Luxury trim includes all the above equipment plus a hands-free liftgate and driver-seat memory functions. The F Sport trim builds on the base model by adding a sport-tuned suspension, LED foglights, an augmented engine sound generator, steering-wheel paddle shifters, sport front seats, and an upgraded digital gauge cluster.

　　A few other stand-alone options allow you to season the UX further to taste. They include a head-up display, a navigation system and an eight-speaker sound system.

　　

2020 UX 200 Highlights

Trim: BaseF SPORTLuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$32,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$145/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	21.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles