2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport – Up- Screened for Re-Drive

By
George Straton
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2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: Luxe Cute Ute segment exclusive hybrid goes larger touch media display + available adaptive suspension for mid-cycle update. Starting MSRP = $37k as tested, $49k.

IN MARKET FOR : Luxury Personal Crossover Utility Vehicle?

DON’T MIND: Sizable Spindle Beak, but EYEING a softer body colored cladding?

READY FOR FIRST FOSSIL FREE STEP: in luxury cute ute segment exclusive gas electric hybrid?

RESIDENT OF AN ALL SEASON CLIMATE ZONE?

SPYING SPORT SEATS, INSTRUMENTS & ADJUSTABLE DAMPING: not featured in the most recent tested 2020 Lexus UX 250h Luxury ?

HAD ENOUGH OF: remote controlled infotainment displays?

Time for a Roadblazing.com re-drive in the 2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling gas-electric hybrid personal luxury crossover utility vehicle.

2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling Driving Hits:

2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: power stands at 181 hybrid horses w/ available rear drive operating only when slippery. Combined MPG = 40+
  • 181hp (NET HYBRID)/ 133 lb-ft torque @ 4800 r.p.m.
  • Only gas-battery electric hybrid luxury personal crossover SUV available in U.S.
  • 80 kWh front wheel drive permanent magnet electric motor
  • 5.3 kWh rear wheel e-FOUR wheel drive permanent magnet electric motor
  • 1.4 kWh charge capacity, 24 kW power regenerative recharging Ni-MH battery
  • NEW FOR ’23: exclusively hybrid in the North American market (other markets offer a pure Battery Electric)
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: power flow displays in instrument cluster & 12.3″ Lexus Interface media display
  • NEW FOR ’23: Front wheel drive is the new lower cost UX 250h standard powertrain.
  • Scoots with surprising zest in Sport Plus Mode
  • Lexus bank vault build
  • Lexus contemplative cabin isolation from road and powertrain
  • 10-step CVT with fixed ratio planetary first gear, manumatic step shifting
  • selectable Pure battery electric mode
  • No need to fuss with charging cord
  • 39 miles per gallon combined driving fuel economy
  • 403 miles estimated highway range
  • NEW FOR ’23: F-Sport Handling now distinguished from nearly $5000 less costly F-Sport Design (as tested in 2019 MY)

    2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: available F-Sport handling adds variable electronic damping to the already urban smooth chassis
    • Sport suspension + electronic active dampers
  • NEW FOR ’23: More settled ride damping still wearing 18″ run-flat Bridgestone tires
  • Taut body responses and moderate steering winding heft

2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling Driving Misses:

  • Gas engine strains and buzzes during hard motorway acceleration
  • Pure electric operation limited to parking lot speeds
  • All-wheel Drive rear axle electric motor only to 43 miles per hour during front wheel slip conditions
  • Numb steering road feel
  • Regenerative braking dims brake pedal response

What 2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling Has Got:

  • From $36,925 (incl. destination) for a gas-electric hybrid, front-wheel drive, CVT automatic 2023 Lexus UX 250h. The tested high option 2023 Lexus UX 250h AWD F-Sport lists for $49,140.
  • Luxury personal cute ute incorporating plenty of folded body & fascia creases, bulging arches, sporty Kammback hatch look w/ roof spoilers with plenty o’ lateral “L” lights and a love it / leave it deep Lexus Spindle grille.
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: lifted sport back = cute ute
  • NEW FOR ’23: body color matching wheel arches available on higher trims and two-tone darkened roof treatment available on F-Sport trims.

    2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: available body colored wheel arch cladding in Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 + two tone black roof = more integrated look
  • Instrumentation derived from LC grand touring coupe, with binnacle flanking twist stalks for driving modes
  • Precision finished positive action switchgear, with artful cabin panel shapes, soft materials throughout
  • Seating for 4 + 1 child rear seat center position
    • Admittedly sparing rear seat leg and headroom

      2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: what looks and feels like two tone leather is actually NuLuxe
  • Expandable cargo space adequate for a weekend getaway for three
    • 60:40% split flat folding 2nd Row seat backs
    • Available accessory roof rack for cargo carrier, or a couple kayaks
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: relatively high load liftover height
    • √ Tall aperture, though high hatchback area load floor restricts cargo height; √ Folding tonneau; √ Raised cargo floor hooking rope.
    • NEW FOR ’23: sub cargo floor storage management
  • Plentiful standard feature set
    • Heated mirrors, front seats, headlamp washers
    • Keyless comfort entry, ignition
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Power windows full express x 4
    • 2-zone automatic climate
    • 10 way/ 5-way power adjust driver / front pax seats
    • Bluetooth wireless communications and music stream
    • 7.0″-inch TFT variable color analog/ digital gauge cluster w/ MFD
    • NEW FOR ’23: 8.0″-inch touch LCD infotainment capacitive touch and voice command Toyota Connected media (Remote Touch pad control and center armest fore volume + tuning wheels have been eliminated)
    • 6 speaker , 180W CD, FLAC streaming audio
    • Wireless Android Auto, AppleCar Play, Amazon Alexa
    • Real time traffic, weather
    • Enform Remote vehicle services
    • Wi-Fi
  • Stand-out safety features & grades
      • 10 SRS airbags
      • IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus
  • Safety System Plus 2.5
    • Forward Collision avoidance w/ pedestrian & cyclist detection braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, park distance warning, surround camera, and auto high beams headlamps
      • NEW FOR ’23: Blind spot & rear cross traffic warning = STANDARD
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: bigger 12.3″ media display = improved rear camera + park warning view
  • 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper, 6 yrs / 70k mi. powertrain. 10 yrs. / 150k mi. hybrid component warranty includes 2 yr. / 20k mi. maintenance

What 2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling Has Not (or Not Preferred):

  • Lexus Spindle grille takes getting used to
  • Lower cabin contrast & panel finish compared to higher pecking order Lexuses
  • Blunt lower dashboard corner hampers vehicle ingress, egress
  • 2nd Row cramped for knee space
  • Folding 2nd row seat backs flat requires manually fully extending then folding head rests
  • 21% less nominal cargo space (due to EV battery)
  • Long liftgate challenge to reach when open
  • No 2nd Row seat heating
  • No cargo bay 2nd Row seat back fold remote release
  • Becoming accustomed to touch-pad infotainment display control
  • Lexus Enform free infotainment apps have been gutted

Standout Cool Features on tested 2023 Lexus UX 250h F-Sport Handling:

  • NEW FOR ’23: 12.3″ Lexus Interface touch and voice command controlled media display
  • GPS Cloud native navigation w/ Google search
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: Sport Plus mode indicated in the electric sliding gauges for enhanced throttle response and chassis tautness
  • Tilt and slide power moonroof
  • Power tilt/ telescoping steering wheel
  • F-Sport high bolster front seats
  • F-Sport Handling exclusive:
    • Electronic sliding TFT single dial instrument cluster (in lieu of Heads Up Display)
    • Aluminum pedal covers & front door sill scuff plates
    • Active Sound Control (enhances drivetrain sound via audio system)
    • Perforated leather sport steering wheel & transmission shift lever
    • Metallic look dorsal steering wheel shift paddles
2023 Lexus UX 250 AWD F-Sport: two tone red on black cabin w/ aluminum pedal covers
  • Driver seat easy access, 2-position memory
  • Power folding wing mirrors
  • Power liftgate + proximity activation
  • Automatic variable cooling front seats (supplementing heating)
  • Heated steering
  • Rain sensing windshield wipers w/ de-icing
  • 10 speaker Premium audio w/ subwoofer
  • Wireless device Qi inductive charger

ROADBLAZING.COM’s SUMMATION:

2023 Lexus UX 250h Hybrid AWD F-Sport = Exclusive hybrid choice in personal luxury cute segment ups handling & screen size.

SEE ROADBLAZING.COM’s COMPLETE REVIEW AND GALLERY OF THE 2019 LEXUS UX 250H HYBRID F-SPORT BELOW

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2019 Lexus UX 250h Hybrid Luxury highlights:

– Starting price, including destination = $35,025 all-wheel drive, 16V Atkinson cycle DOHC 2.0L inline-4 cylinder + Synergy Hybrid Drive 3-Motor, 24 kWh battery, 10-step Continuously Variable transmission. As tested F-Sport = $37,025 MSRP

– The all wheel drive, gas battery electric hybrid version of the front drive UX 200. Quicker off the line than the gas only sibling.

– Judging by its low take rate the predecessor CT-200h didn’t mask the fact that it was 95% conventionalized Prius, 5% Lexus quieting and badging. Though the new UX stand on the opposite end of the Lexus stately spectrum, it is amazing what an incremental lift, a floating roof and oodles of dark contrast body cladding can do for it’s upscale urban active lifestyle appeal. Spec the F-Sport for the larger wheels, and lattice front corner brake duct fangs. Dark tint even does wonder for the bloat known as the Lexus hood to lower valance spindle grille. Front corner air dam fangs and boomerang LED assemblies fore and aft impart the limit of urban locales daring intentions.

– The migration of many a cabin binnacle and control from the flagship LC grand touring 2+2 sports coupe from the ensures a focus on driver unison of comfort and control. The deep hooded instrument bin containing the electro-sliding concentric TFT gauge, flanked by twist knobs for traction and drive modes should win fans. Tiered dash panels, detailed in grain, exquisitely soft to the skin contrast stitching, finely brushed if faux metal accents, laminated acoustic glass, tight pile carpets and webbed headliners are the marks of craftmanship.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ROADBLAZING.COM 2019 LEXUS UX 250H HYBRID F-SPORT QUICK SPIN REVIEW

George Straton
An automotive enthusiast since an orange toy VW Beetle ended up in his playpen and following him everywhere, George Straton has been chief editor at ChicagoNow.com/Drive-He-Said automotive lifestyle blog since 2010. In 2017 George established Roadblazing.com, dedicated to accurate and relevant automotive reviews, news and road trip stories. George is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Phoenix Automotive Press Association. George also happens to be an attorney and Loyola University of Chicago Ramblers fan.

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