Looking to experience everything Lexus offers but thought pricing out of reach? Lexus packs decades of experience into a subcompact sized entry, representing an on ramp into the Lexus family while benefitting from twenty-five years of gas-electric hybrid leadership. Not only does the spry 2025 UX300h deliver quiet, pleasant transport, it also delivers some of the best fuel mileage of any vehicle sporting the Lexus front spindle grille.
Each gallon of gasoline delivers an eye-popping 43 miles utilizing regular, 87-octane fuel (instead of pricier premium varieties) when filling the 10.6-gallon tank. All 2025 UX trims sold in America come with hybrid technology standard with front-wheel drive or available (and recommended) Midwest-friendly all-wheel drive (a mere $1,570 extra in all trims).
The UX subcompact crossover entered into the Lexus Lexicon back in 2019 after a few years traveling the Auto Show circuit teasing the greater public as a concept car. Historically within the luxurious Lexus family, X represents a crossover body style. Our UX tester slots under the preppy compact NX, slotting under the uber popular mid-size RX which slots under the three row TX. Lexus recently introduced its first all-electric EV in crossover bodystyle but went in a unique bi-alpha direction with the RZ designate. Go figure.
Fast forward to 2025, and UX cashes in as the first Lexus boasting a fifth-generation hybrid system pairing a 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder internal combustion engine with up to two electric motors/generations boasting a total system horsepower reaching 196 (up nicely from 2024 s 181 horses) and working in tandem with a planetary-designed, smooth riding continuously variable transmission (CVT). It s a major step forward for UX which also sees a new battery strategy.
Lexus updates UX s direct current (DC) 222-volt battery pack, introducing a lighter-weight lithium-ion design popular with traditional EVs. During the early years of Prius development, Lexus parent company Toyota utilized a nickel metal hydride design, a system still in use today within larger Lexus/Toyota products. Both have distinct chemical advantages with UX s new, versatile, 60-cell lithium-ion battery design stowing completely under rear seating and offering up uninhibited cargo room behind second-row seatbacks.
Both battery designs conveniently self-charge, meaning no need for a nightly plug-in to a home-bound wall socket. The battery pack recharges itself through the nifty and self-sustained process of regenerative braking. Each time the foot activates the brake pedal, friction created through kinetic energy gets captured into the large battery pack for reuse as electricity. No driver input needed as the system regulates itself.
As with most hybrid electric vehicles sold by Lexus and Toyota, UX easily qualifies as a full hybrid electric vehicle (sometimes designated as FHEV). This system employes a larger battery pack and can drive in pure electric mode for short distances. The UX includes a EV button near the gear shifter when harvesting this request. Less expensive mild electric vehicles (MHEV) use a smaller electric motor and battery pack to assist the transmission and engine, but don t directly power the wheels. Both mild and full take advantage of regenerative braking with mild designs delivering less impressive miles per gallon returns.
The updated fifth-generation hybrid system brought with it an updated suffix definer in the form of UX300h (any small h dangling at the end represents hybrid electric vehicle or HEV, known in earlier time as a gas-electric hybrid). From 2019 through 2024, the 250h suffix teamed with the UX prefix. Lexus and parent company Toyota turbocharged the gas-electric hybrid (or HEV) revolution a quarter century ago with the game-changing Prius a name connotating high gas mileage returns. Toyota and Lexus enjoy the largest array of HEVs with years of financial and technical investments. If purchasing an HEV, one can t go wrong when selecting Toyota/Lexus.
For now, UX300h stands solely as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Some Lexus products offer HEV models AND a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) twin, a version requiring a nightly plug-in to a nearby wall socket delivering approximately 35 miles of pure electric driving before switching over to onboard hybrid technology. The PHEV option currently adds more to bottom line pricing (an extra $10,000 or so) and designate with a plus (+) symbol at the end of its alpha-numeric name.
In 2021, Lexus finer tuned its F Sport accessories and higher-performance F sub brand , merging the two and creating four F levels or tiers: F Sport (Design), F Sport (Handling), F Sport (Performance) and just plain F. Think of just plain F as the highest performing of the quad adorning track-ready brakes, advanced aerodynamics and lighter weight building materials straight from the factory. These distinctions come into play within UX s four available 2025 trim levels.
Standard, Premium FSport (Design) and FSport (Handling) round out available trims. Pricing starts at $37,515 for a front-wheel drive Standard model. Our Premium tester with recommended all-wheel drive started at $41,110.
An array of extras included $595 for the exterior color upgrade, $900 for a heads-up front windshield projection, a $75 hit for the wireless Smartphone flat pad charger, $250 for a cold weather package (including a heated steering wheel) and $1,405 for an upgrade of the in-dash screen including navigation. A trio of dealer add ons ($395) and $1,150 destination charge brought the bottom line to $46,255.
Our Copper Crest exterior hue popped with colorful distinction, worth the extra $595 investment and all-new to UX lineup in 2025. Wheel wells include squared framing with body-colored protective cladding. Narrow strap-like door openers also claim the Copper Crest color. A high side belt line narrows depth of side windows, creating a bottom-heavy, well-planted look. The prominent line starts at front wheel well top and travels upward towards the back end s red, three-dimensional wrap-around headlight housing. Lexus does a great job executing an eye-popping design into a subcompact body.
The Lexus hourglass-like spindle grille up front with nose-like projection includes black diamond shaped crossover filling within the bottom half and arrowhead styles above the center synch. The Lexus L logo occupies the center position. Eighteen-in wheels come standard throughout the entire trim level selection. A power tilt-and-slide moonroof arrives standard in all trims except Standard where its optional.
Maneuvering into UX requires a slight sit-down motion rather than a step-up maneuver found in larger crossovers/sport utility vehicles thanks to a relatively low 6.3-inches of ground clearance. Four ceiling grab handles, one above each door, awaits riders. A narrow arm rest between front buckets performs double duty as dual-hinged top with a shallow storage inside. The topside swings open from the left or right side benefitting both front riders. Front seats in all trims include eight-way power adjustments.
Just ahead of the arm rest; the short, predictable and intuitive transmission knob guiding UX into reverse, neutral and drive. Park requires a finger press of a prominent P square just north of the reverse R . Up front resides two side-by-side beverage holders. Also in the region, a four-square push button pad with heated/cooled seat and heated steering wheel activators.
The center, multi-function, digital display window arrives with an eight-inch size in all but FSport (Handling) which arrives with a 12.3-inch version. Our Premium tester offered the larger sized screen size as an option. The 12.3-inch design included a flat backside extending up from the center dash and includs a built-in twist dial for on/off/volume (no second twist knob for station selection exists). The touch sensitive screen reacts to gentle finger touches or via secondary steering wheel toggle push options. Recently retired and not a moment too soon, the Lexus interface finger pad between front seats used to motivate an in-screen curser which often times resulted in frustrating, slower results while diverting too much attention away from driving responsibilities. Heated seat buttons now occupy the space.
To the touch screen s left resides the highly animated instrument panel also offering two sizes depending upon the trim selected. All trims arrive with a 12.3-inch size save for Standard with a seven-inch version. The IP ensconces below a curved portion of the dashboard top with two bolt-like twist cylinders emanating from each side. The left side activates/deactivates traction control while the right selects from three drive modes (Normal, Eco, Sport). The FSport (Handling) adds two addition modes: Sport + and Custom.
A wireless, flat phone charge pad remains optional in all trims at the bottom center console region (like to see this standard sooner rather than later). Wireless Apple CarPlay integration, wireless Android Auto compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity all come standard.
Above the wireless charger inlet and below a pair of manually-operated rectangular air vents, a row of eight push tabs operating all HVAC functions one desires to monitor dual-zone front temperatures. Between these HVAC tabs and steering column; the electronic start/stop push button.
Back seat riders enjoy room for two adults, although Lexus markets this crossover as a five seater. Expect tight leg room especially for taller-dimensioned riders. The 60/40 second row backrest folds down and extends the cargo region s girth with a high cargo floor design; very workable but smaller than many rivals.
During the 2024 calendar year, Lexus enjoyed its best sales year ever in in its 35-year history in North America, pumping out 345,669 units, a 7.2 percent increase from the previous 12-month cycle. The UX represented 8,877 units and a worthy entry point into the Lexus nexus.
2025 Lexus UX300h
Price as tested: $46,255
Engine: 2.0-liter four cylinder hybrid
Combined Horsepower: 196
Wheelbase: 103.9 inches
Overall Length: 176.97 inches
Overall Width: 72.44 inches
Overall Height: 59.84 inches
Curb weight: 3,575 pounds
Fuel economy: 44 mpg city/ 40 mpg highway
Hybrid Component Warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles
Assembly: Japan
