Lexus UX Subcompact Crossover Revealed!

Give me a sedan any day of the week. Not sure if it's age (60+) or nationality (English) or location (Ireland) - but what is the trend for SUVs all about?

Photo Gallery: The Lexus UX 250h F SPORT at the Geneva Motor Show

Real life is better than digital.

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Gecko

Are we sure there will actually be a UX 250? The press release says:

"The UX 200 and UX 250h will start production this fall and go on sale in the U.S. in December. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date."

This is one of my UX-related disappointments. I was hoping that UX 250 would be offered from the get-go at least in North America and Russia and the other eastern European republics more amenable to larger-displacement naturally aspirated engines, but no. It'll be worth watching what Toyota USA does with the UX 250 trademark. Renewing it also renews hope that Lexus will eventually offer it, while letting it die unused (a la CT 300h and CT 400h) will be yet another major letdown.

My other UX quibbles: Why do the rear outside door handles have to be so far forward from the rear edge of the doors themselves? The rear doors are pretty narrow, and this only accentuates the fact. And the washi-paper-look trim is something Infiniti already did with the 4th-gen G-series a decade ago. judging strictly by the pictures, I'd say Infiniti did it better.

Other than that, I'm impressed by the front and rear styling, and I like the Rioja Red interior.

What i've read in today's announcement is so frastruting!! A lost opportunity from Lexus ....

Chika Kako, Chief Engineer of the UX:

... drew on her experience in materials development... applying an uncluttered “less is more” approach.

What?! Are we talking about the same car? Because both interior and exterior of the UX are screaming MORE...!

Chika Kako, Chief Engineer of the UX:

...The first-ever Lexus UX is designed for the modern , fresh, driving,” ...

Yes, in 2011...:thumbsdown:

mediumhot

1. Lexus finally got the guts to pull off sharp triangle sculpting at the back that first premiered on LF-Gh seven years ago. It took them a while.

2. They were benchmarking Q3 for paint options, both gold and organic green are signature hues on Q3

@Gecko, XC40 is nothing spectacular in person, reminds me of old Freelander but again whole class is one big meh! and UX blends in just fine. I have no clue what are the benefits of premium CUVs over common badge midsize sedans that you can buy for the same money.

XC40 is pretty plain in real life, or should I say looks cheaper. X1 is also pretty plain. I still like XC40, but lets be realistic, average model that will be most sold is going to be 150hp diesel with manual and cloth interior and looks pretty cheap inside.

UX will fit fine, likely be more extravagant option with interior being easily the most luxurious.

TMC press pictures always look bad. We need to see it on showroom floor to judge all the detailing that is not seen even in better live pics from unveil where they have white car against white background.

Well, it is OK, I am positive today. 5/10.
A lot of plastic from the outside, inside very nice, but a DVD player today ...
Hopefully they make a lot of advertising with this, otherwise no one will notice him.

OlFius

but a DVD player today ...

i never understood this comment from people, you do realize only reason to remove CD player is cost cutting?

Also, a lot of stuff has not been unveiled yet.. like infotaiment and tech. No talk about ML or the fact that it has big heads up display.

spwolf

i never understood this comment from people, you do realize only reason to remove CD player is cost cutting?

It is not about a cost price, but about functionality.
We use our smarthphone and/or a usb stick nowadays...
Looks like the 90's. That's all.

Here are some videos:



Looks a lot better but even here, who ever thought of putting a white car in white background is plainly bad at their job. Not to mention that they did not power the interior so it is all very dark inside. Very bad marketing by Lexus.

OlFius

It is not about a cost price, but about functionality.
We use our smarthphone and/or a usb stick nowadays...
Looks like the 90's. That's all.

so use your smartphone and usb stick? There is wireless charger and at least 2 usb ports at front and 2 at the back. I dont see what extra functionality do you get if you remove cd drive because Lexus will save $20.

spwolf

so use your smartphone and usb stick? There is wireless charger and at least 2 usb ports at front and 2 at the back. I dont see what extra functionality do you get if you remove cd drive because Lexus will save $20.

You actually give the answer already. If there is so much better alternative.
That space on the dashboard could be used differently.
So, and why not a cassette player, that is becoming a hype again.

OlFius

You actually give the answer already. If there is so much better alternative.
That space on the dashboard could be used differently.
So, and why not a cassette player, that is becoming a hype again.

I would guess because cassette tapes are not around 30% of the music sales in the US and more in Europe and other countries (like CDs).

As a recent article said (la times 4 days ago):

"Our industry is global, and CDs remain an important way for people buy music in some of the world's biggest markets like Japan, Germany and France," Resnikoff wrote. "As long as there are music fans who want CDs and vinyl, and there are plenty of those customers out there, we will make sure our music is available in those formats."

Gecko

For comparison:











How could you ever purchase UX over either of these two - especially the Volvo? I couldn't.

I do. I prefer this UX, a lot. And even if I work for Lexus, I haven't got the occasion yet to see the UX in the flesh, which will make my judgement even more extreme. The UX shows enough original design aspects to stand out of the crowd without being too bizarre like the concept version.
The BMW is very old fashioned in its design, interior and exterior, because it never changes. The same design, generation after generation. The Volvo XC40 is rather original, but this XC40 lacks the stylish standing of bigger sisters XC60 and 90. The interior looks fine, but shows a lot of hard plastics in reality (just like the Jaguar E-Pace interior).

Coming back on the BMW models: it strikes me that every time I see a new BMW, it looks like the previous version. And they all look alike. Very boring. Same issue at Audi and Mercedes. The designers working at those German 3 have the easiest job on earth. Or the most difficult one, if you look at it differently :laughing:
At Lexus, all models have some family aspects, but no single Lexus model is a copy of another Lexus. Exterior nor interior. So kudos to Lexus for bringing us some different luxury!

Frankly, I am a bit surprised being one of the few that like the UX. I don't understand all these negative comments here. Or did you all really seriously expected that this model would be an LC 500 on high heels?:confused:

As a recent article said (la times 4 days ago):
Edit, in 2016 75% rated CD as more wanted feature than bluetooth, few months ago in survey more people listened via CDs than streaming.

I also buy CD / DVD's, that's not the point, but I do not take it with me in my car.
I want to listen to that music both in the car and at home, so the smartphone / usb is an excellent solution. And let us be honest, CDs are not practical in a car.

Joe

Coming back on the BMW models: it strikes me that every time I see a new BMW, it looks like the previous version. And they all look alike. Very boring. Same issue at Audi and Mercedes. The designers working at those German 3 have the easiest job on earth. Or the most difficult one, if you look at it differently :laughing:
At Lexus, all models have some family aspects, but no single Lexus model is a copy of another Lexus. Exterior nor interior. So kudos to Lexus for bringing us some different luxury!

Hi Joe,

you're right when you talk about the Germans, with the exception of Mercedes, who dare to renew in recent years, as today the Mercedes-AMG GT has been proposed.

OlFius

Hi Joe,

you're right when you talk about the Germans, with the exception of Mercedes, who dare to renew in recent years, as today the Mercedes-AMG GT has been proposed.

Correct, Mercedes has renewed its style in recent years (and positively, in my opinion), but I feel most of the models now look the same again. It's sometimes hard for me to separate C sedan from E sedan or even S at a distance. The same comparing C and E estate versions, or GLC coupe compared with GLE coupe... Nice cars, but not a lot of personality. And then I don't even talk about the interior, with this big horizontal digital tablet coming back on every dashboard... ;)

Gecko

How could you ever purchase UX over either of these two - especially the Volvo? I couldn't.

The Beemer is nothing new, and the interior looks cheap and cramped. The Volvo I think has a similar setup to the UX - both have a workable exterior that's a simplified version of their upscale models, and both have a better-than-class interior. But Lexus IMO is the higher-end brand of the two, and I think snobbery looms large in this class so I give the tiebreaker to the UX.

Ian Schmidt

The Beemer is nothing new, and the interior looks cheap and cramped. The Volvo I think has a similar setup to the UX - both have a workable exterior that's a simplified version of their upscale models, and both have a better-than-class interior. But Lexus IMO is the higher-end brand of the two, and I think snobbery looms large in this class so I give the tiebreaker to the UX.

After seeing XC40 normal interiors (not base, not fully optioned), it is nowhere close to this. But styling of exterior is certainly more purposeful overall.

I like this new media/radio/volume controls. In general, whole interior looks luxury, including this shot... a lot more than CT, HS, NX ever did... even nicer than ES.

F sport shifter and whole integration of the shifter into that centre console is way better than Lexus have done before even in better models:

Seems like wrap-around coupe like interior... also sitting in it in videos, you sit on it like in coupe, even if it is higher off ground.

Color heads up seems pretty big:

Real life pictures look great, I think a lot of people dumped on the Lexus official photos for being bland. I think the UX could be a great seller, they did a nice job here.

OlFius

You actually give the answer already. If there is so much better alternative.
That space on the dashboard could be used differently.
So, and why not a cassette player, that is becoming a hype again.

I really want to add. I’m the one who bought CDs just for listening to them on the way to work. It is supposed to have better quality or at least I feel so. It’s not about functionality but about the ways and means.

If most people on Edmunds say the CHR has enough power, then the pair of UX should be fast enough for most people's driving. I understand it's underpowered compared to the competition with 200-250 HP but hopefully torque curve is much improved. I'm still waiting for a Lexus BEV though because I've had it with all these new engine and transmission complexities. :)

internalaudit

If most people on Edmunds say the CHR has enough power, then the pair of UX should be fast enough for most people's driving. I understand it's underpowered compared to the competition with 200-250 HP but hopefully torque curve is much improved. I'm still waiting for a Lexus BEV though because I've had it with all these new engine and transmission complexities. :)

Still, makes you wonder why they did not offer 2.5l with 208hp for US market... making it cheaper and further away from NX?

For Western Europe, Hybrid will likely be 90% of sales and for Russia who knows, maybe hybrid will be more than 30%.

New self lightening vent controls, looking interesting and unique:

Gecko

How could you ever purchase UX over either of these two - especially the Volvo? I couldn't.

XC60 owner here. I suggest staying away from a Volvo if you value engine response a lot. That 2.0 turbo has big power numbers but a ridiculous lag to the point I call it painful to drive. The B48 is the golden standard but the X1 is way too cramped. Maybe the X2 could be a good choice.

I agree with you @Joe ... all the negative comments surprise me. Admittedly the white on white makes for a terrible debut. But I was expecting a design more extreme like that 'concept from another universe'. I am appreciating the sculpted 3 dimensional design that is striking, yet refined and more cohesive overall than say that of the NX. The base grille seems to me the best iteration yet of the spindle grille on par with the LC spindle. I luv the LF-1 like taillights and the overall multi-dimensions of the rear fascia. And I think the interior is exceptionally designed with top material quality especially for entry level. I can't wait to see it in real life in Atomic Silver to highlight the exterior detail with Noble Brown interior ... I know I tend to be more conservative, but I have to say I think they hit this one out of the park. They're going to sell like hotcakes. I prefer a larger vehicle or I would buy this one in a heartbeat.

Wow! ...

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