11-02-2025
2025 Lexus UX300h review: A compact SUV that punches above its weight
It might seem like just another luxury crossover, but the Lexus UX300h is a little cooler than that. Underneath its sharp lines and mildly aggressive demeanor, the UX300h is an excellent commuter that can get a little rowdy if pushed.
Lexus's luxury crossover comes in several different flavors, depending on what you're looking for. The one I was fortunate enough to test out for a week was the AWD F Sport Handling variant, which most notably adds F Sport-tuned adaptive variable suspension to improve handling and ride quality. The exterior and cabin also gain a few F Sport aesthetic touches, such as body-colored cladding, a black roof, a slightly redesigned front fascia, better-bolstered front seats, and a plethora of F Sport the UX300h looks decidedly "Lexus." It's not very different from the previous generation UX250h, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The sharp angles, creases, and massive grille give it a sporty look that's very IS350-like.
I can't say that you would be able to tell it apart from another Lexus SUV unless you're a diehard fan of the brand or you see the badge at the rear, but Lexus managed to sculpt a car that's both attractive and inoffensive. Please take notes, BMW.
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Under the hood is the same Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four, putting out 196 horsepower through a continuously variable transmission. Depending on whether you get the FWD or AWD variant, that engine is mated to either two or three electric motors. That third motor drops 0.1 seconds off of the 0 to 60 mph, reaching that benchmark in 7.9 seconds. EPA-estimated ratings hover at 44 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined. The FWD variant adds one mpg in each category.
That powertrain is by no means a powerhouse, but it ain't boring either. The Drive Modes switch located next to the instrument cluster can change between Eco, Normal, Sport, or Sport+ modes, with "Custom" acting as your own bespoke mode that you can alter in the infotainment my experience, the modes simply alter the transmission's "shift times," so if more frequent redlines are your cup of tea, then Sport+ will be your happy place. I've also read other reviewers denote the engine's "drone" under hard acceleration, but to me, it sounded more like an angry, growling four-cylinder. It made the car seem faster than it really is, and I found no reason to complain about that.
The brakes also felt a tad touchy at first, actuating a little too close to the top of the pedal. Once I got used to them, they were fine, but my insides protested after the first few sudden stops.
The UX300h felt tight and agile through turns, and the steering wasn't too light or heavy either. Even in the rainy week when I had the car, I encountered no slipups or situations where I felt like it was getting away from me. Call it the Goldilocks of handling or attribute it to the F Sport Handling dynamics, but I'd gladly hit the canyons in this after a grocery trip.
The interior of the Lexus UX300h F Sport Handling is an equally nice place to be. The heated/cooled seats, along with the heated steering wheel, made long-distance trips a breeze, and the adaptive cruise control does its job as it should. All of the surfaces feel appropriate to the price point, with soft-touch vinyl, a few brushed finishes, and plastic in places you don't touch as often.
The infotainment system is smooth and easy to operate, with the intermittent freezing issues likely being the fault of wireless Android Auto. If you're more of an iPhone aficionado, wireless Apple CarPlay has you covered, too. Big props to Lexus for extracting the essential AC functions to pleasant-feeling piano keys right below the vents.
While the wireless charging is a welcome feature, I found it to be rather ineffective. Even with my case off, my phone started discharging while I was driving with Spotify and Google Maps on. Perhaps an increase in wattage would be a good digital cluster was nothing to write home about, with various modes available depending on the information you care about most. The Drive Mode switch added a round tachometer in Sport and a more F1-style horizontal one in Sport+, but they didn't evoke more than an "oh, cool" reaction.
I also couldn't help but notice all of the wasted space in the center console. Other than the Qi charging pad, the shifter, two cupholders, and the heated/cooled seats and steering wheel controls, it was all a vast sea of gray. A third cup holder—or, heck, even a fancy F Sport badge—would not have gone amiss.
I was also infinitely annoyed by the map light toggles. In most cars I've seen, they're activated by some kind of button, regardless of whether it's a separate one off to the side or whether the whole light fixture acts as a button. In the UX300h, they're touch-sensitive, which would not normally be an issue had they not been so close to the sunroof controls. More often than not, I'd find myself inadvertently turning on the map light when opening the sunroof.
The mafia should stay away from the UX300h, as the cargo area isn't the biggest you'll ever see. At 17.1 cu. ft. behind the second row, it can get a little tight, and the load floor is fairly high, too.
My shopping trip to WinCo managed to fill up the cargo area pretty well, with the removable cargo cover adding a little bit of room below the actual floor. There was still some space left, but I wouldn't count on this car being the grocery hauler for your entire extended brings us to the base price. In its AWD F Sport Handling guise, the UX300h has a base price of $47,750. Tack on the extra options, like the $945 Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 paint job, the $75 wireless charger, and the $900 color HUD, and you're sitting at $49,670. For comparison, the Genesis GV70 starts at $47,050 with an AWD 2.5T four-cylinder. It's no hybrid, and you don't get a heated steering wheel, but it's arguably a much fancier choice.
As my week with the Lexus UX300h F Sport Handling came to an end, I found myself reluctant to give it back. It's not a car that will blow your mind with its otherworldly feature set or performance, but it does everything well.
It's an attractive little SUV with enough oomph to get around and have some fun when commuting gets boring. It can stay planted around hard corners, and the F Sport Handling version gives it a few extra points in that department. The cabin keeps it classy with nice surfaces in the places that get touched the most often and enough techy amenities to make daily driving a comfy breeze.
Overall, I'd take the UX300h back any day of the week, although if you're looking for something a little bigger with a little more luxury, perhaps shop around before deciding if this is the one for you.
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