Lexus UX 300e Electric SUV Review: Should They Launch It Here?
The UX is the most compact crossover and the electric version is what we drove. The UX 300e is a pure electric version with a 54 kilowatt-hour battery placed directly underneath the floor.
New Delhi: Electric is everywhere: it's being talked, it's being readied for launch and even buyers want a slice of electric mobility. Hence., it is not surprising that car-makers are thinking of launching electric cars or even hybrid cars. Lexus recently launched their NX hybrid midsize luxury SUV and along with that, it has brought in its UX SUV to gauge response for this type of car. The UX is the most compact crossover and the electric version is what we drove. The UX 300e is a pure electric version with a 54 kilowatt-hour battery placed directly underneath the floor.
The power output is 204hp while claimed range is 400km. This is not an India spec car and neither is launching here but it is a taste of things to come for sure from Lexus. The UX shows the future of compact but luxury crossover while an electric version neatly fits in with being an urban car. It is also compact with being just longer than compact SUVs yet grabs attention due to its unique looks. The front of the car is long and low with a typical Lexus like design of edgy and aggressive looks. It is small in size but looks very cool. The interior is even more impressive with top-notch quality. Everything feels expensive with soft touch materials and superb quality/design.
The finish to the buttons to the mode selector or even the dials: it is unique and pure Lexus. The Mark Levinson audio system is also clearly better than others at this price. There is no touchscreen but a trackpad which is a bit difficult to use on the go. It has all the features you expect and then some but in particular the rear view camera quality is again extremely sharp and clear. Space is in short supply due to its compact size but it is meant for the driver anyways.
The UX electric is all about its driving experience as it is compact but fast along with being nicely tuned. Like any Lexus, the UX electric is noiseless including the suspension along with the EV powertrain of course. In its eco mode, you save range and it is more than enough to drive in the city but an empty road will have you switching to sport mode for that instant EV kick. It is very fast yet very linear which enables one to enjoy the acceleration in this mode. There are paddles for regenerative braking too but it is not very strong.
In terms of range, expect roughly 300km and it depends on how you drive it mostly with Sport mode dropping the range quite a lot. We also liked how much fun it is with direct steering and its handling along with the fact that it is so usable in the city. While its low hanging battery pack means you have to be careful over speed breakers or bad roads, we did not scrape its underside even once; some caution is required, that's all.
We certainly enjoyed the UX electric as a compact luxury SUV due to its quality, looks and performance while it would make for an interesting addition to the Lexus range.
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