2022 Lexus UX 300e new car review

Electric cars are at the cutting edge of modern motoring, but this battery powered luxury SUV has something for fans of old school cars.

The electrified UX is the brand’s first battery powered machine, but despite its modern makeover it has some very old school kit.

Here are five things you need to know about the Lexus UX300e.

There’s a CD player for audiophiles

The electric motor may be hyper-modern but your tunes can be old-school. Not many new cars have a CD player, but Lexus delivers one as part of a banging Mark Levinson audio setup. Bust out the 90s CDs, folks.

The Lexus UX is one of the few new cars to come with a CD player.

The cabin is lined in comfy faux leather and the layout basically mirrors petrol-powered UXs. The UX platform was built to accommodate both petrol and electric models, which means the interior packaging isn’t as smart as dedicated EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It all feels very familiar and goodies include steering wheel heating, power heated and ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, power tailgate and strong safety.

The non-EV UXs have just received more tech upgrades, so we can presume the UX300e will enjoy likewise soon.

This is the brand’s first full electric vehicle

Late to the party? Certainly. Especially as the luxury Japanese brand has been pumping out fuel-miserly hybrids for years.

An electric Lexus makes perfect sense: prestige brands align well with super-smooth, silent, deluxe travel. They can now do so with zero emission electric motors rather than lazy, thirsty V8s. The polar ice caps are grateful.

It’s driving range means its best suited to urban driving.

The UX is Lexus’s smallest SUV – Mercedes GLA/BMW X1 size – and the UX300e joins petrol and hybrid versions in the range. An entry-level UX200 Luxury is about $53,000 drive-away.

The UX300e electric is about $77,700 in red or black, or a chunky $82,500 drive-away for other colours. Nobody said going green would be cheap.

The 315km range isn’t great

For similar money a Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD claims 507km, a Kia EV6 Air 528km, Tesla Model Y RWD 455km, Volvo CX40 Pure Electric 418km and Mercedes EQA250 408km.

The UX300e’s battery is smaller than these rivals, and the Lexus’s maximum DC (public) charging rate is only 50kW, making ultra-fast charging impossible. Rivals can charge at three or four times the speed.

The cabin is well appointed.

It takes roughly 80 minutes to go from empty to fully charged at a 50kW public charger. Our test saw a 200km range gain in an hour, costing a paltry $8.88. Many owners will use their UX300e as a city car or second car, meaning the range is probably enough.

There’s free charging and other perks

The UXe’s purchase price includes three years free charging on the Chargefox network, which has more than 1400 chargers, a free home wallbox to AC charge in about 6.5 hours and a complimentary three-year Encore Platinum subscription. That means valet parking and four eight-day loans of other Lexus vehicles, such as an LS limousine or LX off-roader.

You get free fast charging via the Chargefox network.

If you’re worried about charging the UX300e on a long road trip – or want to go bush – order a free Lexus alternative instead. It’s a tasty perk. The warranty’s good at five-years/unlimited km, while the electric battery’s covered for a generous 10 years or 160,000km.

It’s a lovely drive, but not a great EV

In most instances it drives, feels and behaves much like a normal Lexus.

The EV transition is painless here. It’s surprisingly lively if you floor the throttle, with 300Nm instantly going through its front wheels. The ride in town and on motorways is serene, bumps are effortlessly absorbed and the deep-carpeted, sink-in seat cabin is near silent. On rougher roads it can crash over bumps, but its low centre of gravity and decent steering means it feels stable through a fast corner. It’s a good Lexus, but not a great EV.

The competition at this price offers better range, faster charging and more cabin space, although none match Lexus’s ownership perks.

Originally published as 2022 Lexus UX 300e new car review