OUR CARS
Peugeot 508 PSE MILEAGE 7912
LEXUS UX 300e Is this the plush electrified SUV our man has been looking for? MILEAGE 3994 WHY WE ’ R E RU N N I N G IT To see if Lexus’s first EV can compete with established premium electric SUVs
t is now four months into life with the Lexus UX 300e and my commute is just as comfortable as ever. The EV has excelled in most environments, with effortless acceleration and helpful regenerative braking that efficiently brings it to a near-stop in crawling traffic and at junctions. The bulk of my driving is on motorways and A-roads, with short distances in town. It is very good in built-up areas and the compact, precise turning circle proves particularly useful in multi-storey car parks and on roundabouts. The UX clearly enjoys being in its natural habitat – something that was confirmed to me after I handed the keys over to Autocar’s prepress manager, Darren Jones, who lives in an outer London suburb, whereas I commute in from the countryside. Darren is looking for a new car and is currently considering a Lexus NX or UX, among other options, and his checklist is clear: it has to be
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LOVE IT I N SU L ATI O N The interior is calmingly quiet, with little wind or road noise entering the cabin.
LOATHE IT G L ACIATI O N Early mornings are chilly, given that I have the climate control turned off to preserve range.
Laptop-like control pad should be binned comfortable, electrified, premium, SUV-shaped and ideal for urban speed limits. The UX ticks all of those boxes, I would suggest. Darren appreciated the Lexus’s smooth, comfortable ride and the spacious interior. Its relatively short range wasn’t a problem for him and plugging in once overnight provided enough juice for most of his week with the car. In that time, the Lexus proved itself to be a usable EV even without a home charger. Darren used a threepin socket, which charges the battery at a rate of roughly seven miles per hour. With it plugged in from 7pm to 9am, that’s around 84 miles of charge – more than enough for some short bursts of driving around the capital. The few negatives Darren reported included the bright-white interior, which he didn’t think was an ideal environment for his young children, especially after a winter game of rugby, and Lexus’s fiddly infotainment system. I share his feelings about the touchpad. It blends in nicely with the rest of the interior, but even a touchscreen would be much easier to use and safer on the move. Unfortunately, that’s limited to the
range-topping Takumi model. Darren didn’t consider it to be a deal-breaker, but it’s fair to expect more at this price point. Overall, Darren described the UX 300e as an ideal premium electric car for low-mileage drivers living in urban areas. High praise indeed. Not to burst the bubble, but I do have a couple of complaints of my own to report. Evening drives home from the office have highlighted that the LED headlights are angled ever so slightly too high, so I’m constantly dazzling other drivers by accident. Several oncoming drivers have flashed their lights at me aggressively, thinking that I have my full beams switched on. There’s no way to manually adjust the alignment from inside the cabin. Another slight annoyance is that I have not yet managed to set up the Lexus Link app on my phone. This might or might not be user error, in fairness. Either way, the process should be more straightforward. It would be great to be able to pre-warm the car before my morning commute as the winter weather drags on. The UX 300e’s range is modest enough without having to heat the car for longer than necessary on the go. JACK WARRICK
TEST DATA LE XUS UX 300e PR E M I U M PLUS Price £45,245 Price as tested £45,815 Faults None Expenses None Range 150 miles Last seen 9.3.22
OWN ONE? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE jack.warrick@haymarket.com
LAST SEEN 2.3.22
As is customary on faster cars, Sport is one of five driving modes you can select on the 508 PSE. It’s subtle in the same way as the car’s performance, but you will receive the full 355bhp, heavier steering, stiffer dampers and a sharper throttle response. It also generates the highest level of battery regeneration to keep the electric power flowing. RB
Audi Q4 E-tron Sportback MILEAGE 2175
LAST SEEN 2.3.22
Dynamic differences between the standard Q4 E-tron and this coupélike version have so far proved to be marginal, if even noticeable. Which is no bad thing: both have a quiet, refined and easy-going manner that makes journeys long and short relaxing. Electric power has always felt ideal for premium motoring, and the Q4 is an embodiment of that. MT
Polestar 2 MILEAGE 10,027
LAST SEEN 9.3.22
Gah. I got a nail/tack in the tyre, too close to the sidewall to be repaired. I called Brackley Tyre Warehouse late afternoon and by 11am the next morning they had sourced and fitted a new Polestar-specific Continental Premium Contact 6 (245/40 R20). Pressures are a relatively high 45psi at the front, 41psi at the rear. Miles have just clicked past 10,000. MP
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