Lexus UX300e Review

But don’t let that put you off - as far as we’re aware there’s no age restriction on the UX. It’s currently offered with several drivetrains, but the EV is the one which interests us most. It's a fairly traditional electric set-up slipped neatly into the UX’s hyper-creased body. After the recent upgrade the Lexus now has a 204bhp motor under the bonnet, with a 72.8kWh battery pack under the floor, driving the front wheels only. 

If you want stats, we have them: 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, a 100mph top speed. Range? Well that depends on which alloy wheels you choose. With the 17-inch standard wheels, the UX300e will do 273 miles on a full charge, but if you opt for the larger, wider (and therefore harder to propel) 18-inch wheels, you’ll see that capability drop slightly.

A full charge on a home wallbox (where Lexus says most of its customers will charge) will take 9.5 hours, with an out-and-about rapid charge (via a 50kW CHdeMO socket) taking just around an hour and a half from zero to 80%. Most won’t be arriving at a rapid charger with zero percent of range, mind. ​

Whatever your range requirements though, the UX300e is a lovely car to drive. It’s peppy rather than fast, but more than enough for anything you may need in terms of acceleration - though hoofing down a motorway will see your range drop like a brick from a rooftop. As ever, there are three driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport), though you probably won’t need them as the car seems best suited to just being left in ‘Normal’, bringing decent steering and a general feeling of wellbeing. 

There is also brake re-gen, although it isn’t very strong - this definitely isn’t a ‘one-pedal’ car - and it annoyingly switches off as soon as you press the throttle again. A bit of a missed opportunity if you ask us. But other than that, the driving experience is relaxed and relentlessly competent. 

As for the bits you look at and touch, the interior is as angular as the outside, but it all works and is exceptionally well-built. Our only complaint is that is looks a bit gloomy, which expanses of black and grey. The small windows make it a little claustrophobic too. 

As for other stuff, you get the usual App that manages charging and the like, an aggregated Europe-wide charging deal with Digital Charging Solutions, and one of the best warranties in the business.

Lexus dealers have excellent customer service and a good reputation for reliability, so the car should be covered. The choices are pretty easy, too; the UX300e comes in one basic model, with two available spec packs, Premium Plus and Takumi pack, both of which obviously keep the same hardware but up the luxury technology game.

As for the car itself, the Lexus UX300e is a smart, well-built, decent-to-drive pure electric vehicle. It’s not hugely surprising (unless you order it in orange), but it’s a rounded take, and suits the Lexus vibe well. Not the most spectacular of things, but if you’re in the market for something like a Volvo XC40 Recharge, it is definitely worth a look.