Model tested: 2025 Lexus UX 300h F Sport Handling
Engine: 2-liter I-4, plus three electric motors
Transmission: CVT automatic, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 196
Torque: 139 lb.-ft.
EPA ratings: 44 mpg/city, 40/highway, 42/combined
Base price: $46,375
As tested: $49,545
Overview: The 2025 Lexus UX 300h F Sport is the smallest SUV in the extensive Lexus lineup. It’s only available as a traditional hybrid and has a well-developed Toyota hybrid platform that delivers mid-40s fuel economy. The UX 300h’s compact size makes it fun to drive and nimble in traffic, and it truly fits in “compact” parking spaces. The tradeoffs to those attributes are a tight back seat and limited cargo space. Front-row room and amenities are excellent, but anyone needing more space should look farther up the Lexus lineup.
Walkaround: The 2025 Lexus UX 300h is pleasantly styled with readily identifiable Lexus cues including a variation of the long-standing Lexus grille and crisp body lines. The F Sport has the benefit of body-colored wheel arches, which we think favor sport-sedan styling over a rock-crawling 4-by-4. The UX 300h is a highway cruiser, not a backroad bruiser, and its tasteful use of scoops, flares and contemporary alloy wheels fits its personality. Lexus has some great colors, including the Ultrasonic Blue Mica found on our tester.
Interior: The Lexus UX 300h is the automotive equivalent of a reverse mullet — lots upfront and not much in back. Front-row space, comfort and features are excellent. Back-seat legroom is very tight unless the front seats are moved up considerably. Cargo space is reasonable with folded back seats, but the roof design limits what can be accommodated. The interior is driver-focused, with excellent controls, a great steering wheel and supportive heated and cooled seats. Our tester had the excellent, optional head-up display.
Behind the wheel: The 2025 Lexus UX 300h F Sport is fun to drive thanks to its excellent engineering and compact size. Horsepower is up for 2025 but still less than 200. The F Sport has adaptive variable suspension and different drive modes, from economy to sport. We noticed a substantial boost when engaging sport mode. The continuously variable transmission uses shift-by-wire technology for 2025. Lexus claims quicker operation, but all we noticed was that the transmission works fine.
Bottom line: The 2025 Lexus UX 300h is a very sensible, all-wheel-drive, luxury compact crossover or SUV (depending on your labeling choices) in a world crammed full of increasingly bloated monster trucks and three-row SUVs. If you don’t need all that passenger capacity or freeway intimidation, the Lexus UX 300h F Sport is an ideal all-season Pacific Northwest vehicle that provides affordable luxury and excellent fuel economy and is backed by a strong resale history and the excellent Toyota/Lexus reliability reputation.
Comments