Lexus UX250H vs Lexus UX

What's the difference?

Most cars get secretly cheapened as they travel through their model lifecycles.

Yes, while facelifts often usher in headline advances like updated electronics and more equipment to boost attention, in too many cases, engineers are forced to cut costs, especially where they cannot be very easily detected, such as with removed sound-deadening, inferior carpet quality and deleted minor items, like bonnet struts. Hello, latest Ford Ranger!

Every cent saved is extra profit made.

Now, we cannot tell at what level – if any – the penny-pinchers pilfered the Lexus UX for its Series II update last year, but the completely unexpected result is a small SUV/crossover that feels and drives noticeably better than before.

Keep reading to find out how and why. 

Replacing the long-standing UX250h, the more powerful Lexus UX300h hybrid sits at the luxury end of the compact SUV segment, and the latest update brings a refined line-up along with tweaks to both design and technology. In this review, I’m looking at the base Luxury grade to see what it's like to live with this hybrid day-today and how it stacks up against its nearest rivals.