Discover New Horizons

The UX connues that tradion in the subcompact crossover segment of the market, providing a classy alternave to the German premium brands.

It features the signature goatee beard grille, mean front end and a chiselled rear that expresses some personality.

The model is based on the same plaorm as Toyota's Prius and C-HR. There is an all-electric version, but it's the hybrid UX 250h I drove. It houses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit with a small electric motor offering 184PS.

The Lexus comes with a CVT gearbox, meaning there's only one variable gear, and it's available with front and allwheel drive. The UX is a full hybrid, too (self-charging), which helps improve fuel economy, especially as you can drive a short distance without the engine.

Several trims are offered, with the entry-level UX featuring 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control and electric windows, plus an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigaon. The F-Sport Design adds 18-inch alloys, while the F-Sport gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats and adapve suspension.

The top-of-the-range Takumi boasts a glass sliding sunroof, a head-up display and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system.

An oponal Premium Plus pack adds a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, and a wireless phone charger.

It is the Takumi trim reviewed here. There is an all-wheel drive version, but the model tested is front-wheel drive, geng from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds. That figure is nothing flash, but it does the job adequately and is enough to match its adversaries for pace.

Many cars with CVT gearboxes sound shrill at higher revs. Lexus' isn't perfect, but it's more refined than most I've used.

Ride comfort is reasonably good, but it doesn't absorb bumps and jolts as well as some rivals, such as the Range Rover Evoque. That said, the UX's lower centre of gravity means it seems more planted. As a result, body lean in the bends is well-controlled, although there isn't a tremendous amount of grip, so you find it's prone to understeer on corner entry.

Regenerave braking, which helps recharge the baeries, is also reasonably good, while the UX is noceably less adept at reducing wind and tyre noise compared with some competors.

Lexus UX

Inside, the driving posion is prey low, despite the UX's SUV-leaning credenals as a crossover. However, the vehicle is pleasant to sit in, and there are plenty of plush surfaces.

Space-wise, the UX is beer suited to front-seat occupants. The back isn't woeful, but there's a lack of headroom and legroom if you're on the tall side. In the boot, you get 438 litres of space, increasing to 1,231 litres with the rear seats folded down in a 60/40 split.

The UX earned a top five-star safety rang from Euro NCAP. Kit consists of the Lexus Safety System+ featuring automac emergency braking, dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing, and road sign assist.

You also benefit from a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and auto brake on all but the entry-level model, where it's available as an oponal extra.

Overall, the UX has a lot going for it, and the cherry on the cake is that Lexus's reliability is excellent.

Fast Facts

Lexus UX (Takumi trim) as tested:

Ÿ Max Speed: 110mph

Ÿ 0-62 mph: 8.5 seconds

Ÿ Combined mpg: 53.3mpg (WLTP)

Ÿ Engine layout: 2.0-litre four-cylinder with electric motor and front-wheel drive

Ÿ Max Power: (PS): 184PS

Ÿ CO2: 120g/km

Ÿ Price: £46,750

Too much choice out there? Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something? LET BALDOCK'S RESiDENT TV GLUTTON HELP YOU ON YOUR MiSSiON!

Ted Lasso – Apple +

Being a Spurs fan I've seen enough comedy on the pitch to put me right off football this season. However, this Emmy award winning comedy on Apple + is now in it's third season and I caved in aer needing some cheering up aer another dismal performance by my team. I'm glad I did. Jason Sudeikis has created a real gem of a comedy, strong at heart and crucially it doenst maer whether you like football or not. The premise is simple - Ted Lasso, an American college football coach, is unexpectedly recruited to coach a ficonal English Premier League soccer team, AFC Richmond,depite having no experience coach soccer. The team's owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Lasso hoping he will fail as a means of exacng revenge on the team's previous owner, her unfaithful ex-husband. However, Ted's charm, personality, and humor begin to win over Rebecca, the team, and those who had been skepcal about his appointment. There are strong performances all round parcularly from Juno Temple, as the team's PR rep and Hannah Waddingham as the Richmond owner. There are life lesson's abound from Ted Lasso from his commied opmism, loyalty and steadfast dedicaon, sprinkled with genuine laughs, I'm sure him and team will push you into extra me. All 3 seasons are available now.

The Night Agent - Nelix

Its been a while since I'd come across a real bingeable thriller that permits me to leave my brain at the door and just watch and engage with something. For those of us who remember DVD's ( silence at the back) I remember watching Prison Break as the first bingeable box set and I have to say, this does recall that 'ooooh shall we watch one more' feeling.

FBI agent Peter Sutherland (played by Gabriel Basso from Super 8), one year on from prevenng a metro line bombing, sits in the basement of the White House waing for a secret phone to ring that never does. Then you guessed it, one day it does ring with an emergency message. Cue a ght spy thriller that takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster through the classis Presidenal conspiracy theories, espionage and agent betrayal. It never takes itself too seriously, which I like, however the dialogue is ght, the acon engaging and like the best thrillers one minute you're on episode 1, the next you're on the season finale. All 10 episodes are on Nelix now, with I'm sure a second season to come.