Testing the 2024 Lexus UX250h, Your City Sipper Companion

Lexus today unveiled its all-new entry into the hotly contested small luxury SUV segment with the 2024 UX250h. Sleek styling and standard all-wheel drive aim to attract new younger buyers to the reliably luxurious Lexus brand.

Powering this pint-sized prowler is an ingenious two-pronged powerplant: an 181-horsepower turbocharged ticket paired with an electrified electric assistant to help get this hybrid hungrier off the line.

And get it hungrier off the line it does – with a fuel sip of just 40 mpg per city and 37 on the highway, owners can cruise for coins and be less hurting at the pump.

But luxury is standard too – every UX comes equipped from the factory with eye-catching LED whip lights, an 8-inch touchscreen, and the ability to plug your smart device via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto without charging extra a penny.

Starting around $34k, the base UX packs plenty of posh amenities without busting customers’ budgets, though our test Lex came in a tick higher at $40,975 as the range-topping Luxury model complete with all-wheel assistance.

With its schemes of sharp creases and aggressive face, the new Lex certainly turns heads whether in the hills or on the strip. Flanked by matching mirrors, the front end growled ready to pounce on any pavement thrown its way.

Sliding inside, materials and fitment flaunt first-class quality thanks to contrasting stitchery sewn throughout the thumping tunes. Plush quilted seats welcome your behind with bolsters built for biz.

While pilots find plenty of padding below, taller tykes may feel chair space is tighter than a trombone – legroom is there but not for really stretching those limber limbs.

2024 Lexus UX250h Tested: City Sipper

Passengers perched in the rear row won’t find vast valleys either, but headroom proves heavenly even for hoops stars hooking a ride. Cargo’s similarly cramped at just over 20 cubes sadly.

But pinch those pedals and this hybrid hops with seamless synergy between e-electricity and gas gizmos. Under acceleration, the engine eagerly enters earning extra effectiveness efficiently.

Out on the open road, the ride revels in a plusher personality, soaking up bumpy boulevards without any ruckus in the rump. Body motions stay bound for a buttery ride no matter the route.

Steering sweeps through s-curves smoothly thanks to its lightness but lacks lively feedback for feeling truly frisky. Braking brings bold stopping power if not the best feel off the pedal.

Turning the corner needs only average space to park this Lexus, measuring just over 36 feet tip to the tailpipe. Inside, noise is nobly nonexistent even at hyperhighway speeds.

Safety tech delivers too as standard, with adaptive radar guidance, lane departure warnings, and blind spot monitoring backing every drive. We spotted 36 mpg in more surface street slogs than open freeway flying.

Zooming up to highway speeds reveals acceleration more adequate than afire but merging and passing prove pleasantly practical. Transitioning tread between electricity and ethanol engages effortlessly.

Step deeper into the “S” setting to unleash a little more of the revving fury within but furious this firecracker is certainly not meant to be. Sometimes smooth is just swoon-worthy too.

Lux touches like onyx accouterments, ambient mood lighting, and available nubby ‘Nuluxe take it to the next level. 17-inch whirlybirds help harness highway harbors better than larger lug nuts too.

The rearview camera provides a wide field of view for backing blessings but could benefit from bumping the zoom to squeeze into slimmer slots.

Inside infotainment runs like butta on the fingers-free 10.3-inch display with physical controller buttons below for fast intuition. Standard tech truly tops most.

Real-world efficiency matches if not beats EPA estimates, making fuel funds painless whether filled at full-service or self-serve. Pricing tops typical tough competition from Germany and Japan too!

Soaking up bumps with brilliance while buffering noise, the ride rivals luxury leaders. Interiors impress as well at a more modest cost.

Cargo and rear spaciousness can’t compare to some foes but most families will find fit. Performance proves perfectly pleasing for daily commutes.

Sipping fuel and being kind to greenies, this hybrid is easy on energy usage and your earnings to boot – and standard AWD adds weather-wise ways.

Edge lord looks may divide but stand-out status is here for those who like to be noticed. For others, more subtle sophistication sits just a trim change away.

In the end, the new Lexus UX250h stays a smart, smooth operator and remains one of the top small luxury crossover picks, packing plenty of posh with promises to please most passengers needs both practically and prestigiously for the long haul.

The 2024 Lexus UX250h is shaping up to be a game changer in the hybrid small luxury SUV segment. With advanced battery technology allowing for increased all-electric range and quicker recharges, this new model aims to convince even more drivers to make the switch to electrified power.

Word on the street is that Lexus engineers have found a way to squeeze even better fuel economy from the new plug-in hybrid powertrain paired with a larger lithium-ion battery pack. Rumored EPA figures could top 80 miles per gallon equivalent when operating solely on electricity.

2024 Lexus UX250h Tested: City Sipper

Sources inside Toyota’s luxury division say the new UX will be able to replenish around 60% of its battery capacity in under 30 minutes using next-gen ultra-fast DC charging stations. This should alleviate any range of anxiety for those tackling longer road trips.

Early leaks from prototype testing reveal the electrified engine is smoother and punchier than before. Zippy acceleration from a stop should satisfy drivers looking for a responsive yet refined daily ride.

Luxury improvements keep coming too. Protoypes sport buttery Nuluxe leather-trimmed interiors with Japanese Takumi craftsmen ensuring perfection down to the last stitch. Passengers will feel like royalty.

Advance safety tech will also help parents rest assured. Rumor has it the new UX’s standard “Lexus Safety System +3.0” uses next-gen cameras and radar and brings features like left turn oncoming vehicle detection and intersection turning assistance.

Whispers from dealer principals divulge the crossover seeks to woo non-Lexus lessees with intriguing new exterior colors like Infrared glass flame and Ultramarine hydro blue pearl. The striking hues are sure to turn plenty of heads.

Inside sources say the new infotainment is a major step up, running on the latest Toyota New Global Architecture with a huge 14-inch screen, cloud-based apps, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Passengers will stay fully charged too with multiple charging ports.

Early reports claim the sleek new nose achieves a record-low 0.29 drag coefficient for ultimate efficiency. Aerodynamic enhancements like active grille shutters and underbody panels help it slice through the air.

Suspension gurus tweaked the multi-link rear and front McPherson struts for a ride that’s poised and pampering over any pavement. The UX might just become the new gold standard for comfort in its class.

With the electric power bump and range extension, the new model could qualify for valuable tax rebates. Stacked savings on fuel and subsidies could make it a true bargain for budget-minded buyers.

Early buzz is that come launch, the 2024 UX250h plug-in will leave rivals in its electronic dust and thrust Lexus to the forefront of the luxury electrified movement. It seems the crossover’s reign has only just begun.

TEST: Lexus UX 250h najlepší z malých SUV - Auto SME

Sources suggest all-wheel drive will remain standard to extend the vehicle’s appeal to customers in colder climes. Snow and ice-covered roads shouldn’t faze the new UX thanks to its advanced traction control systems and torque vectoring differentials.

Word on the grapevine is miniature exterior tweaks like new LED lighting, subtle chrome accents, and redesigned alloy wheels help give the new UX a freshened premium presence without spoiling its sharp style identity.

If early insider accounts prove true, the 2024 UX250h plug-in hybrid promises to boost Lexus into new green frontiers of efficiency, technology, and driving pleasure. Its success could reshape the entire luxury automotive marketplace for years to come.

With any luck, the all-new Lexus UX250h plug-in may finally convince this reporter to trade in his gas guzzler for an electrified steed. Its allure of silent speed and depleted fuel bills is simply too seductive to ignore. Watch this space for a first-hand test drive soon!

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