Latest news with #UX300e
South Wales Argus
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Lexus UX300e offers enjoyable driving experience and refined interior
It's a vehicle that ticks enough of the right boxes to be worthy of consideration for those on the lookout for a small electric SUV. Coming into 2025, the UX300e received a number of tweaks and revisions to increase choice for would-be buyers. These include new model grades, revised equipment specifications, an improved interior finish, and an upgraded digital instrument display. It's a car that also benefits from striking looks that are sufficient to turn a few heads as you drive along the high streets. Sharp creases in the side of the vehicle catch the sunlight The tone is set by the eye-catching front grille, which blends nicely with some sharp angles and a contemporary headlight signature. The bodywork is notable for the number of bold creases, while the look is completed by the full-width light bar at the rear. Front seat head and leg room is excellent, although the driver has a relatively low seating position. Things are a bit more cramped in the back seats and the boot. Behind the wheel, it's a comfortable and satisfying drive. The instant response from the electric motor makes it easier and safer when overtaking or pulling out at junctions, while the overall smoothness of the power delivery is a real plus-point. The car's main battery has an increased usable capacity of 64kWh, compared to earlier versions that had 54kWh, and powers one electric motor driving the front wheels. The vehicle looks smart from all angles That delivers 201bhp and 221lb ft of torque, with a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds. The UX300e delivers agile handling and feels to have a lower centre of gravity than many of its SUV rivals. To enhance the vehicle's control in corners, Lexus has ensured that all heavier components are concentrated at the middle of the car. For extra steering precision and driving refinement, the vehicle's GA-C platform has been stiffened by the extra rigidity of the underfloor battery and cross members. The car has a distinctive grille The vehicle does a decent enough job of absorbing bumps in the road, but can feel a bit unsettled on broken or undulating B-roads. At motorway speeds, it settles down nicely to provide a very relaxing drive, while longer motorway drives have been made easier by the new, bigger battery introduced within the last few years. Official figures suggest that up to 280 miles is possible on a single charge, but I found that to be closer to 250 in real world driving conditions, which is still reasonably good. However, the charging situation isn't too good. The vehicle's rapid charging tops out at 50kW, which provides an 80 per cent charge in about 90 minutes. The UX uses a CHAdeMO socket for its DC rapid charging, which are not always easy to find because CCS tends to be more widespread. The interior is refined and features premium materials The renamed entry point to the UX 300e is Urban grade, which comes with17-inch alloys, power adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone integration, reversing camera and the Lexus Link Connect multimedia system with cloud-based navigation and eight-inch touchscreen. A seven-inch digital diver's instrument display is new to the UX 300e. The new Premium grade provides rear privacy glass, illuminated door handles, front and rear parking sensors, a driver monitor, smart entry, power back door, LED front fog lights and roof rails. Premium Plus grade gets you 18-inch alloys, aluminium scuff plates, a wireless smartphone charger, Tahara synthetic leather upholstery, heated front and outer rear seats and front seat ventilation, plus additional safety features. Premium Plus Tech is another new grade, with extra technology features such as a 12.3-inch display, 13-speaker Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system and a 12.3-inch driver's digital instrument display. The top-spec Takumi version includes smooth leather upholstery, a 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, hands-free power back door, head-up display, sunroof and three-eye LED headlights. Lexus UX300e PRICE RANGE: £40,065 to £51,145 RRP ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds RANGE: 274-281 miles DRIVE: front wheels POWER: 201bhp BATTERY: 64kWh
The Advertiser
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Lexus axes its most affordable EV in Australia
The Lexus UX300e has reached the end of the road in Australia, where the small electric SUV has been discontinued less than two years after it received a substantial update. "The UX300e will no longer be available in Australia due to production restrictions on selected parts," a company spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert following the disappearance of the UX300e from the Lexus Australia website. When asked whether it will reintroduce the pint-size battery-powered luxury SUV should these production restrictions end, Lexus Australia confirmed there are no plans at this stage to do so. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "However, Lexus Australia remains committed to electrification, with close to 80 per cent of deliveries so far this year being with an electrified powertrain," said the spokesperson. "Lexus has just introduced a plug-in hybrid option for RX [the brand's large SUV] as it continues its leadership with industry-leading hybrids, and will soon add the updated all-electric RZ [mid-size electric SUV] to its lineup." To the end of April this year, Lexus has delivered only 28 examples of the compact UX300e, which is priced north of $80,000, compared with 614 hybrid UXs and 54 RZs. Last year, it sold 92 UX300e vehicles, accounting for 10 per cent of total UX sales. That saw it outsold by not only the larger and more expensive RZ (215), but also direct rivals like the BMW iX1 (2618), Volvo EX30 (2129) and Mercedes-Benz EQA (1044). Lexus Australia launched an updated UX300e late in 2023, bringing a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery that boosted WLTP electric driving range by 135km to 450km. It also received a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen running Lexus' new-generation infotainment system. Power continued to come from a 150kW/300Nm front-mounted electric motor, with no dual-motor all-wheel drive version available, unlike key rivals. The Lexus UX first entered production in 2018, and was initially available only with petrol or hybrid powertrains before an all-electric option was added later and the base petrol UX200 was discontinued. It served as a more premium counterpart to the Toyota C-HR, which entered production in 20216, though it wears completely different styling inside and out. Given Toyota has now launched a new C-HR, and revealed a small electric SUV called the C-HR+, a new-generation Lexus UX should theoretically be around the corner. However, no prototypes have been spied testing as yet. The demise of the UX300e in Australia leaves Lexus with just one electric vehicle (EV). That's in stark contrast with rivals, which offer multiple. BMW, for instance, has seven, while Mercedes-Benz also has seven (excluding vans and people movers), Audi has four and Genesis has three. Cadillac also has only one, but has confirmed it will release two more electric model lines for Australia in 2026. Once the RX450h+ arrives, Lexus will have two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, matching Audi and surpassing both Genesis and Cadillac (none yet), as well as Mercedes-Benz (one), but falling short of BMW (four). But the Toyota-owned premium Japanese brand has them all beat when it comes to conventional hybrids, offering eight in total. MORE: Everything Lexus UX Content originally sourced from: The Lexus UX300e has reached the end of the road in Australia, where the small electric SUV has been discontinued less than two years after it received a substantial update. "The UX300e will no longer be available in Australia due to production restrictions on selected parts," a company spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert following the disappearance of the UX300e from the Lexus Australia website. When asked whether it will reintroduce the pint-size battery-powered luxury SUV should these production restrictions end, Lexus Australia confirmed there are no plans at this stage to do so. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "However, Lexus Australia remains committed to electrification, with close to 80 per cent of deliveries so far this year being with an electrified powertrain," said the spokesperson. "Lexus has just introduced a plug-in hybrid option for RX [the brand's large SUV] as it continues its leadership with industry-leading hybrids, and will soon add the updated all-electric RZ [mid-size electric SUV] to its lineup." To the end of April this year, Lexus has delivered only 28 examples of the compact UX300e, which is priced north of $80,000, compared with 614 hybrid UXs and 54 RZs. Last year, it sold 92 UX300e vehicles, accounting for 10 per cent of total UX sales. That saw it outsold by not only the larger and more expensive RZ (215), but also direct rivals like the BMW iX1 (2618), Volvo EX30 (2129) and Mercedes-Benz EQA (1044). Lexus Australia launched an updated UX300e late in 2023, bringing a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery that boosted WLTP electric driving range by 135km to 450km. It also received a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen running Lexus' new-generation infotainment system. Power continued to come from a 150kW/300Nm front-mounted electric motor, with no dual-motor all-wheel drive version available, unlike key rivals. The Lexus UX first entered production in 2018, and was initially available only with petrol or hybrid powertrains before an all-electric option was added later and the base petrol UX200 was discontinued. It served as a more premium counterpart to the Toyota C-HR, which entered production in 20216, though it wears completely different styling inside and out. Given Toyota has now launched a new C-HR, and revealed a small electric SUV called the C-HR+, a new-generation Lexus UX should theoretically be around the corner. However, no prototypes have been spied testing as yet. The demise of the UX300e in Australia leaves Lexus with just one electric vehicle (EV). That's in stark contrast with rivals, which offer multiple. BMW, for instance, has seven, while Mercedes-Benz also has seven (excluding vans and people movers), Audi has four and Genesis has three. Cadillac also has only one, but has confirmed it will release two more electric model lines for Australia in 2026. Once the RX450h+ arrives, Lexus will have two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, matching Audi and surpassing both Genesis and Cadillac (none yet), as well as Mercedes-Benz (one), but falling short of BMW (four). But the Toyota-owned premium Japanese brand has them all beat when it comes to conventional hybrids, offering eight in total. MORE: Everything Lexus UX Content originally sourced from: The Lexus UX300e has reached the end of the road in Australia, where the small electric SUV has been discontinued less than two years after it received a substantial update. "The UX300e will no longer be available in Australia due to production restrictions on selected parts," a company spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert following the disappearance of the UX300e from the Lexus Australia website. When asked whether it will reintroduce the pint-size battery-powered luxury SUV should these production restrictions end, Lexus Australia confirmed there are no plans at this stage to do so. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "However, Lexus Australia remains committed to electrification, with close to 80 per cent of deliveries so far this year being with an electrified powertrain," said the spokesperson. "Lexus has just introduced a plug-in hybrid option for RX [the brand's large SUV] as it continues its leadership with industry-leading hybrids, and will soon add the updated all-electric RZ [mid-size electric SUV] to its lineup." To the end of April this year, Lexus has delivered only 28 examples of the compact UX300e, which is priced north of $80,000, compared with 614 hybrid UXs and 54 RZs. Last year, it sold 92 UX300e vehicles, accounting for 10 per cent of total UX sales. That saw it outsold by not only the larger and more expensive RZ (215), but also direct rivals like the BMW iX1 (2618), Volvo EX30 (2129) and Mercedes-Benz EQA (1044). Lexus Australia launched an updated UX300e late in 2023, bringing a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery that boosted WLTP electric driving range by 135km to 450km. It also received a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen running Lexus' new-generation infotainment system. Power continued to come from a 150kW/300Nm front-mounted electric motor, with no dual-motor all-wheel drive version available, unlike key rivals. The Lexus UX first entered production in 2018, and was initially available only with petrol or hybrid powertrains before an all-electric option was added later and the base petrol UX200 was discontinued. It served as a more premium counterpart to the Toyota C-HR, which entered production in 20216, though it wears completely different styling inside and out. Given Toyota has now launched a new C-HR, and revealed a small electric SUV called the C-HR+, a new-generation Lexus UX should theoretically be around the corner. However, no prototypes have been spied testing as yet. The demise of the UX300e in Australia leaves Lexus with just one electric vehicle (EV). That's in stark contrast with rivals, which offer multiple. BMW, for instance, has seven, while Mercedes-Benz also has seven (excluding vans and people movers), Audi has four and Genesis has three. Cadillac also has only one, but has confirmed it will release two more electric model lines for Australia in 2026. Once the RX450h+ arrives, Lexus will have two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, matching Audi and surpassing both Genesis and Cadillac (none yet), as well as Mercedes-Benz (one), but falling short of BMW (four). But the Toyota-owned premium Japanese brand has them all beat when it comes to conventional hybrids, offering eight in total. MORE: Everything Lexus UX Content originally sourced from: The Lexus UX300e has reached the end of the road in Australia, where the small electric SUV has been discontinued less than two years after it received a substantial update. "The UX300e will no longer be available in Australia due to production restrictions on selected parts," a company spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert following the disappearance of the UX300e from the Lexus Australia website. When asked whether it will reintroduce the pint-size battery-powered luxury SUV should these production restrictions end, Lexus Australia confirmed there are no plans at this stage to do so. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "However, Lexus Australia remains committed to electrification, with close to 80 per cent of deliveries so far this year being with an electrified powertrain," said the spokesperson. "Lexus has just introduced a plug-in hybrid option for RX [the brand's large SUV] as it continues its leadership with industry-leading hybrids, and will soon add the updated all-electric RZ [mid-size electric SUV] to its lineup." To the end of April this year, Lexus has delivered only 28 examples of the compact UX300e, which is priced north of $80,000, compared with 614 hybrid UXs and 54 RZs. Last year, it sold 92 UX300e vehicles, accounting for 10 per cent of total UX sales. That saw it outsold by not only the larger and more expensive RZ (215), but also direct rivals like the BMW iX1 (2618), Volvo EX30 (2129) and Mercedes-Benz EQA (1044). Lexus Australia launched an updated UX300e late in 2023, bringing a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery that boosted WLTP electric driving range by 135km to 450km. It also received a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen running Lexus' new-generation infotainment system. Power continued to come from a 150kW/300Nm front-mounted electric motor, with no dual-motor all-wheel drive version available, unlike key rivals. The Lexus UX first entered production in 2018, and was initially available only with petrol or hybrid powertrains before an all-electric option was added later and the base petrol UX200 was discontinued. It served as a more premium counterpart to the Toyota C-HR, which entered production in 20216, though it wears completely different styling inside and out. Given Toyota has now launched a new C-HR, and revealed a small electric SUV called the C-HR+, a new-generation Lexus UX should theoretically be around the corner. However, no prototypes have been spied testing as yet. The demise of the UX300e in Australia leaves Lexus with just one electric vehicle (EV). That's in stark contrast with rivals, which offer multiple. BMW, for instance, has seven, while Mercedes-Benz also has seven (excluding vans and people movers), Audi has four and Genesis has three. Cadillac also has only one, but has confirmed it will release two more electric model lines for Australia in 2026. Once the RX450h+ arrives, Lexus will have two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, matching Audi and surpassing both Genesis and Cadillac (none yet), as well as Mercedes-Benz (one), but falling short of BMW (four). But the Toyota-owned premium Japanese brand has them all beat when it comes to conventional hybrids, offering eight in total. MORE: Everything Lexus UX Content originally sourced from:
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lexus RZ
With so many cars spuriously purporting to be sporty or have racing genes, it's refreshing when the presentation for a new one hardly even mentions athleticism. The Lexus RZ is the firm's flagship electric car, and instead it ought to offer 'confidence, control and comfort'. Mind you, it still has up to 309bhp and will out-accelerate quite a few hot hatches. The RZ was Lexus' first step into getting serious about EVs. It had the UX 300e for a while, but that was never quite a heavy hitter, whereas this car is and goes toe to toe with the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Nissan Ariya and Hyundai Ioniq 5. The RZ shares its e-TNGA platform – which is bespoke to EVs – with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra. A cheaper, front-wheel-drive model (badged 300e) joined the range in 2024 to address issues concerning range and price. If you don't like people looking at you when you're parking in Tesco, this is not the car for you. Its sharp lines and size make it stand out. At 4805mm in length, it's a fair bit longer than the bZ4X, Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq, yet it's hard to figure out where that extra length has gone, because the RZ doesn't feel any more spacious inside than those cars. Sure, adults won't be short on rear leg room and the boot is big, but that's equally true of those smaller cars. Lexus has equipped upper versions of the RZ with small infrared heaters to try to save some all important battery. Traditional heating isn't energy-efficient and the sister bZ4X is known to chew through battery trying to heat and cool the car. These heaters act a bit like a blanket for your legs and knees. They work well and interact seamlessly with the heated seat and steering wheel. The car's materials are a cut above the bZ4X's, thankfully, although they are very spec-dependent. Higher trims bring the soft leather and interesting technical materials to rival the Genesis GV60 but lower ones introduce some coarser leather and cheaper plastics. The 14.0in infotainment touchscreen is as easy to use as a phone, but it can be distracting, because it hosts the fan-speed controls. Leg room in the back is huge, making the RZ one of the most practical electric SUVs on the market. The boot too is right up there with rivals and features underfloor storage for the charging cables. There's no under-bonnet storage, mind you. And no glovebox if you get the infrared heater. The standard model makes 308bhp from its two electric motors, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 5.5sec, which is basically hot hatch pace. It's really brisk and makes mincemeat of country lane overtaking manoeuvres. Like with any decent-powered EV, there's real neck-snap acceleration under full throttle in its sportiest setting. But it's very unlikely that you will be doing this very often. Why? Keep scrolling to get our verdict on the range… The front-wheel-drive model cuts power to 201bhp, extending the 0-62mph time by about 2.5sec. But it's not like it's slow, and Lexus isn't making huge dynamism claims for the RZ anyway. Despite not being offered with adaptive dampers, the RZ is a very smooth and quiet-riding car that's reassuring, satisfying and surprisingly plush-feeling – although not exciting – to drive. You can genuinely feel the effects of what Lexus calls Direct4, a system whereby power and braking force are rapidly shuffled between the front and rear axles to control and reduce the pitch and dive that normally accompanies acceleration and braking. It stops short of being transformative but does introduce a pleasant calmness to the way the car drives. Although the software can cleverly distribute torque, the front motor is more powerful than the rear one, so the RZ feels at best neutral when cornering under power. That's fine, though: it's not trying to be sporty, remember. And even so, the RZ musters adequate grip, while its standard steering is well weighted. Naturally, the FWD model goes without the Direct4 system. But there's a comfortable honesty about the 300e's straightforward ride, handling and steering. We have also tried Lexus's One Motion Grip steer-by-wire system on the European press launch. It was technically still a prototype system, but it still worked impressively and added some sense of occasion. Having just 150deg of movement between locks ensures you never have to take your hands off the steering 'wheel', which is why the yoke shape works. Weirdly, it seems to impart ever so slightly more information about grip levels than the conventional steering. The widely variable ratio robs you of the last 5% of precision, which would be a problem on a sports car but isn't on a comfy SUV. The battery capacity is 71.4kWh, which is smaller than key rivals'. The small size is compensated by the low energy consumption of the two motors, claims Lexus. What's more, under normal driving, the 4WD RZ mainly uses the smaller, less power-hungry 108bhp rear motor. When you ask for full power, that naturally combines forces with the 201bhp front one, but the software sends power back and forth as it sees fit for the prevailing situation. Indeed, the official consumption figure of 3.4-3.7mpkWh is Tesla-like, but the end result is still a pretty disappointing WLTP claimed range of 272 miles, which drops to 252 miles on the 20in wheels that the vast majority of UK-bound RZs will have. The car's rapid-charging rates are also unimpressive, 150kW being the bare minimum we would expect from a new premium EV. Either way, neither range nor charging speed is a particular strength of the RZ. In real-world driving, it advertises around 210 miles of usable range on a full charge, dropping to about 165 miles as soon as you turn on the air conditioning (just as both the bZ4x and Solterra will). Range is improved in the FWD model by it ditching the 108bhp rear-mounted motor and running on the 201bhp front one only. The WLTP figure jumps to 295 miles. The RZ heralds some interesting new technology and is all the better for it on the road. Its practicality and interior quality are the reasons you would be drawn to it. The FWD 300e is our pick of the RZ range simply because it goes further on a charge. If it does have a problem, it's that there are a lot of premium SUVs, many of which can go farther and charge more quickly. But there's likeable character, comfort and smoothness here, and Lexus knows how to look after customers. ]]>
