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

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:

• 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)

• 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)

• 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.

• NEW FOR '23: body color matching wheel arches available on higher trims and two-tone darkened roof treatment available on F-Sport trims.

• 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

• 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

• √ 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 armrest fore volume + tuning wheels have been eliminated)
• 6 speaker , 180W CD, FLAC streaming audio
• Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

2019 Lexus UX 250h Hybrid - Quick Spin Review

IN MARKET FOR : personal urban luxury crossover utility vehicle. READ and LIKED : Roadblazing.com’s Bottom Line Review of the 2019 Lexus UX 200 F-Sport cute ute. HAVE ADDRESS : either above 35° north or below 35° south of the Equator, making all-wheel drive preferable. WANT SEGMENT EXCLUSIVE GAS ELECTRIC HYBRID ECONOMY

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton