2022 Lexus UX 250h hybrid

The 2022 UX Hybrid Series comes in 3 trim levels- UX 250h, UX 250h F Sport, and UX 250h Luxury, where the F Sport trim will be reviewed separately. The base trim UX 250h, even though it is an entry-level model, comes with most of the luxury amenities we expect like dual-zone automatic climate control, faux leather upholstery, and power-adjustable front seats. Yes, we know these aren’t particularly luxury items, but it’s a base trim. Apart from the mentioned features, 18-inch wheels and shiny aluminum roof rails come in as standard. Lighting duties are carried out by LEDs all around, and the rearview mirrors get a heating function.

Generally, the F-Sport trim gets a better engine, but today, it is about the hybrid mill, and while it doesn’t get that extra power, it does get sporty exterior bits and cabin upgrades. Now the top trim, the UX 250h Luxury is bathed in creature comforts and posh interiors. Everything you expect on a luxury SUV like leather seats with memory settings and sound-deadened cabin and heating/ventilation, it's all there. What’s interesting to see is that the price difference between the top and base trim is not much, and this will make the decision-making easier.

Which Trim should you buy?

The base trim Lexus costs over $36,200, and spending 4 grand extra you get the fully equipped Luxury trim, and that’s the one we will suggest as well. The F Sport variant does have the best visual appeal, but we think that the increase in premium is not justified. If you buy the base trim and go through the options list, you are going to cross the 39k mark anyway.

The 2022 UX 250h comes with a 2.0L inline-4 engine with hybrid assistance that produces a combined output of 181 horses. The transmission of choice is the tried and tested CVT with AWD as a standard drivetrain option. The 250h’s clever hybrid transaxle design helps the engine and a motor to work in tandem to power the front wheels, while a standalone motor drives the rear wheel.

Despite having an additional torque boost from the rear-mounted motor, the acceleration figures are unimpressive, taking about 8.6 to reach the 60 mile an hour mark. In contrast, its non-hybrid front-wheel-driven counterpart manages it in almost the same time. Most of this can be attributed to its lazy CVT transmission, which does bog it down. Even though the performance is a bit on the lacking side, it more than makes up for it with its silent and smooth engine.

Lexus always aims at a comfortable driving experience rather than sporty dynamics unless it's an F Sport trim. The SUV is best experienced in urban driving as the engine has a decent amount of torque to pull you through gaps. The steering is well-weighted, and the tight turning radius makes it an ideal choice for tight spaces. It is not the most communicative unit out there, but that's asking a lot for a city-oriented car.

The Lexus UX 250h has the least powerful hybrid engine, and that makes it take about 8.6 seconds to reach 60 MPH. The same can be said for the CR-V as well as even though the power output is higher, the acceleration is still decent at best. Hyundai Tucson & Toyota RAV4 are the best performers in terms of acceleration. Being the one with the highest combined torque output, the RAV4 does manage better quarter-mile time, but the Tucson, thanks to its 6-speed auto, gets to 60 the quickest with just 7.1 seconds on the clock.

Being a hybrid SUV, fuel economy is probably the most important thing you will check first, and the 2022 Lexus 250h gets the best mileage in the hybrid class. It returns 41 MPGe in the city and 38 MPGe on the highway. But we are not happy, since even though the Lexus has the best mileage technically, it actually showcases the unimpressive range. The overall traveling range does suffer significantly due to that small 10.6-gallon fuel tank, managing a maximum of 434 miles in the city.

Even though the UX 250h is the winner when it comes to individual economy figures, it gets absolutely demolished by the competition when it comes to tank range. The tiny 10.6 is smaller by around 2 gallons than the other cars, here thereby cutting down its overall range by almost 80 miles than the least efficient of the other three. When comparing the maximum range, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offers the most at 551 highway miles.

The 2022 UX 250h’s cabin is spacious and classy, to say the least. The dashboard has quite an eccentric design with plateau-like layers stacked on each other. Everything is covered in synthetic leather, and with the contrasting stitching, the cabin does look upmarket. The switch arrangement done on the UX 250h is something we have stopped seeing, especially since the climate control console has those nice flip switches. Everything feels ergonomically placed and the functionality levels are high.

The seats on the base trim are plush and comfortable and have lateral support for the lower back. With the power adjustability and ventilation (optional), these seats are sure to make you feel at home on longer journeys. The second-row space has some limitations, and the maximum legroom is limited to 36.3 inches. The overall interior of the Lexus is top-notch we would say. The seats, even though are covered in faux leather, have some nice patterned stitching and two-zone climate control is an added convenience. Moreover, all the panels are covered in leather and soft-touch plastic.

Cargo carrying capacity is bound to be hampered by the battery packs stored below the floor, and the Lexus has the lowest storage capacity in the group with just 21.7 cu.ft. of it available. The Lexus is also the least spacious car in this comparison. The Hyundai, on the other hand, offers an ample amount of cabin room and also its 38.7 cu.ft. of trunk is the biggest in the competition. Standout interior features expected are:

• 8-way power-adjustable seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The base trim of the 2022 UX 250h comes with a decent infotainment system. You get a 7-inch screen with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay as standard. The optional navigation package adds a bigger 10.3-inch screen with live traffic info and SD card support. The specialty of this infotainment system is that these screens are not touch-sensitive.

The touch-pad control is a disaster and sports the worst kind of user interface we have even come through. Even if it was a touchscreen, the far up placement of the screen would make it impossible to use when driving. The standard 6-speaker audio system sounds good and is something that Lexus does better than others. Standout infotainment features expected are:

• 7 inches / 10.3-inch screen(optional)
• Navigation
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• Satellite radio
• 6-speaker premium audio system
• Trackpad for navigation
• Voice command support
• Lexus Enform remote access app

The 2022 Lexus UX 250h has a rather unconventional design on the outside. The front end of this Lexus pretty much took the inspiration from their products in their own stable. The hourglass-shaped grille and sharp headlights with upside inverted DRLs are all design cues taken from their sporty sedans, which is not bad by any means. The F Sport package does liven things up and packs enough goodies to justify the extra cost.

Numerous sharp body lines flow throughout the shoulder line of the SUV and intermittently end in the middle of nowhere. Even the tail light assembly protruded out acting like an air diffuser. The tailgate itself has a lot of sharp cuts and shapes. The rear bumper gets some aggressive cladding, and the tailpipes remain hidden, showcasing its eco-friendly nature. Overall the design language just hangs perfectly below the point of being overdone.

The 2022 UX 250h is the smallest Lexus you can buy, and it is the tiniest SUV in this comparison as well. The overall dimensions of this SUV are very small, and that has made the second row cramped as we saw in the interior section. Hyundai Tucson’s bigger dimensions and longer wheelbase make it a more spacious SUV overall compared to its rivals. Standout exterior features include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Bi-LED headlights
• Body-colored fender flares
• Continuous LED taillight
• Blue inlays on the Lexus Badge
• Head rearview mirrors
• Aluminum roof rails

We should not worry about safety when it’s a Lexus as the brand is known for its impressive federal crash tests ratings. Obviously, the 2022 model is yet to be tested, but based on the 2021 models rating, we can get a concrete idea about its structural safety. The IIHS has given the “Top Safety Pick” overall safety rating to the UX lineup in 2021, and the same chassis did score 5 stars back in 2019 on NHTSA’s crash tests. That said, it scores poorly with the standard headlamps, but the tri-beam LEDs get a superior rating from the same department. The active safety features list on this SUV is quite extensive. Standout safety features that should come standard are:

• Forward Collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Road sign recognition
• Automatic high beams
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alerts
• Front & rear parking sensors
• Adaptive tri-beam LED headlights(optional)
• Pedestrian detection

2022 Lexus UX 250h vs 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

This is going to be the easiest comparison since the RAV4 will get you the value for money and practicality while Lexus is all about luxury and less performance.

The RAV4 provides more power and gets similar fuel economy but lacks on inside comfort and technology. The Lexus triumphs on the inside with premium build and creature comforts. If you want your money well spent and can live without all the luxuries of life, then the RAV4 hybrid is for you.

2022 Lexus UX 250h vs 2021 Honda CR-V hybrid

One thing is very certain that you won’t feel as cozy or luxurious inside the CR-V as the Lexus. The CR-V Hybrid has a better interior space compared to the Lexus, and the horsepower figures are a little better as well.

Technically, the CR-V does return a slightly low mileage but we get more power in return. The main area where the CR-V stays behind is the build quality and craftsmanship. Price is something that differentiates them, so you are the one to decide on what you want.

2022 Lexus UX250h vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson hybrid

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid would be the closest rival to the Lexus as it gets similarly cozy on the inside which was the main strong point of the Lexus. Driving the Hyundai is equally refined, and the cabin stays very quiet while cruising on the highways.

Also, the base trim of the Tucson is considerably cheaper than the Lexus. If you like the daring design of the 2022 Tucson, then there’s nothing stopping you from getting one.

The 2022 Lexus UX 250h should be an ideal choice for the buyers who are okay to trade power with luxury and everyday fuel economy. Even though the Lexus lags behind the rival SUVs when it comes to power, it more than makes up for it with its relaxed and comfortable experience. Its compact size and maneuverability are a blessing in urban areas. The exterior styling is very much aggressive, and this will attract a lot of eyes. Thus, summing it up, the 2022 UX 250h should be a viable option for buyers looking for a true upmarket experience without compromising economy and reliability.