2021 Lexus UX 250h Review

　　

2021 Lexus UX 250h Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　At first glance, the 2021 Lexus UX 250h has a lot going for it: an attractive base price, lots of standard features, and expressive styling for an extra-small crossover SUV. The interior is quite a looker, too, as it shares a common design language with pricier Lexus models. Rounding out the list of strengths is its hybrid powertrain, which gives the UX 250h excellent fuel economy — 39 mpg in combined city/highway driving, according to the EPA.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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) - $35,200 MSRPF SPORT 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $37,200 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $39,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Few other luxury automakers bother offering a hybrid powertrain in their little SUVs. You won't find one in the BMW X1 or Mercedes-Benz GLA, for instance. But not everything is great in Lexus town; the lethargic acceleration and cumbersome infotainment interface make us frown. How much do these drawbacks sour the overall experience? Learn more by reading our in-depth Expert Rating on the 2021 UX 250h.

　　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

　　7.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the UX 250h drive? The UX 250h is smooth around town, but it's also very slow, especially for a luxury vehicle. 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 brakes aren't easy to control to get the amount of stopping power you want and can feel jerky at low speeds.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the UX 250h? 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 make for a busier ride 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 even at partial power.

　　

Interior

6.5/10

　　How’s the interior? 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 telescoping, although the front seats offer good 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 less intuitive overall than some rival setups. Also thick roof pillars, particularly around the rear hatch, limit overall visibility.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? 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 they 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. But the driver aids are overcautious, with overly long following distances and sharp stops in traffic. Definitely not a premium experience.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The UX 250h's 39 mpg combined rating is quite impressive for a subcompact luxury SUV. Based on our real-world testing, that EPA estimate is realistic. The vehicle's tuning makes it straightforward to drive efficiently without feeling like the car is lagging or punishing you when you ask for power.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the UX 250h 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' warranty is typically better than average.

　　If you value fuel economy and a reputation for reliability, the UX 250h has you covered. But if you're looking for luxury value-for-money, you'll likely be disappointed. Our test vehicle totaled more than $40,000, right about where the base midsize RX 350 starts. You can opt for a cheaper version with fewer tech and material upgrades, but that starts to get dangerously close to a well-equipped RAV4 Hybrid.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The UX 250h has more personality than the regular UX 200. The design and execution help set it apart from just about every competitor. But that doesn't make it fun. The hybrid UX lacks the gas model's zippiness and adds weight. While the chassis the vehicle shares with the Corolla is predictable and capable of having fun, it's stifled under all the Lexusness and hybridization and needs to really be coaxed out.

　　

Which UX 250h does zzdcar recommend?

Two of the Lexus UX 250h's most appealing attributes are its healthy list of standard features and low price. We don't think it makes much sense to go crazy with the options. So we'd put our money behind the base model. The Premium package is worth adding since it doesn't cost much and brings ventilated front seats, which are a rarity in this class.

　　

2021 Lexus UX 250h models

The 2021 Lexus UX 250h is a subcompact SUV sold in three trim levels: base, F Sport and Luxury. All use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system to provide a total of 181 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Lexus also sells the non-hybrid UX 200, which is reviewed separately.

　　Base

　　The base UX 250h starts you off with:

　　18-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Keyless entry and start Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable front seats Simulated leather upholstery Six-speaker audio system 7-inch infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration Wi-Fi hotspotEvery UX 250h comes with a suite of safety features, which Lexus calls Safety System+ 2.0. It consists of:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Lexus and the car in front)The UX 250h has several available options, including:

　　Premium package Automatic wipers Sunroof Heated and ventilated seats Black Line Special Edition Premium package Black-painted wheels Black exterior styling elements Blue seat belts and interior trim Two-piece Zero Halliburton luggage set Navigation system, which also adds: Power-adjustable steering wheel 10.3-inch infotainment display Eight-speaker audio system Auto-leveling headlights Hands-free liftgate Heated steering wheel Wireless charging pad Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)F Sport

　　The F Sport is the sport-themed model, adding:

　　Unique wheels Aerodynamic body kit Sport-tuned suspension Steering wheel-mounted paddles that control simulated gear shifts Sport front seats Upgraded digital gauge clusterMost of the base model's options can be ordered on the F Sport as well. You can also opt for:

　　Luxury package Premium package Driver-seat memory settings Hands-free liftgate Luxury

　　The top-trim Luxury model starts with base UX 250h content and adds:

　　F Sport's Luxury package content Sound-reducing front side glass Illuminated air vent knobsAny optional extras from the base UX 250h that aren't already included in the Luxury trim are available here as well.

　　

2021 UX 250h Highlights

Trim: BaseF SPORTLuxuryBase

　　

Base MSRP	$35,200
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