ON TEST: LEXUS UX300e
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Impressive UX300e brings Lexus’ traditional quality to the EV sector Lexus has finally taken the wraps off its first fully EV model – and the wait for a premium small SUV has been worth it, says Andrew Walker
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exus launched its small SUV, the UX, in 2019, bringing a real touch of class to the sector. At the time, an all-electric version was confirmed as on its way to complement the range, and Lexus’s first EV finally arrived this year. Company Car & Van got its hands on one courtesy of Lexus Stockport. At first glance, it’s impressive. As with the petrol-hybrid UX, the UX300e is an extremely attractive car and makes a fine fist of standing out from the crowd. Up front, the familiar Lexus spindle grille features a mesh pattern and there’s narrow LED headlights on the front corners, which are standard across the range. It also features large wheel arches and rear lights that span the
04 | June 2021 | Company Car & Van
full width of the hatchback, ending with a bulbous finish at either side. Unique aerodynamic alloys and some electric badging are all that mark the UX300e out from the rest of the range. Battery and charging The UX300e, of course, is heavier than its siblings, as there’s a 54.3kWh battery located under the floor and rear seats, with a 201bhp electric motor in the engine bay. Lexus claims a range of 196 miles with models fitted with 17” wheels and if you can charge at home on a standard 7.4kWh charger like the Rolec system we use, a full charge will take approximately 7.5 hours. Utilise a 50kWh charger and you can charge the battery to 80 per cent in just 55 minutes. Model range To keep things simple, the UX300e is offered as a single model which retails at £41,745. This comes very well equipped with 17” alloys, Lexus Safety System +, premium fabric upholstery, 7” media screen with remote touch interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, bi-LED Headlights with Auto High
Beam and eight-way electrically adjustable front seats. If you want to upgrade your model to the next level it’s then up to you. You can add equipment via two packs. A Premium Plus Pack gives you smooth leather upholstery, a wireless smartphone charger, smart keyless entry, a card key, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and privacy glass. This takes the price tag up to £45,245. To this you can add the Takumi Pack, which adds 18” alloys, 10.3” Lexus Navigation, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system, a sunroof, 360” panoramic view monitor, Head-Up Display, a hands-free power back door with kick sensor and a Blind Spot Monitor. This model costs £51,345. Interior and tech The interior oozes class. The steering wheel and clock have been lifted straight out of the £50,000 LS saloon and it’s not the part of the interior that’s finished to the very highest standard. Every surface you can see or can’t see is top notch, as is the switchgear, and it’s clear that no corners have been cut. Continued on page 6
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