Lexus UX review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

Lexus calls UX 250h models ‘self-charging hybrids’, which means you never need to connect a UX to a charging point. The flip-side is that you shouldn’t expect the same high levels of fuel-efficiency that a plug-in hybrid promises, as the realistic all-electric range is limited to just a couple of miles. 

Official WLTP fuel economy figures are 50.4 to 53.3mpg for front-wheel-drive UX models. The range of values is due to some equipment, such as larger alloy wheels, affecting fuel consumption. As for all-wheel-drive variants, these are claimed to be capable of returning 47.1mpg.

As for emissions, Lexus claims that two-wheel-drive models will emit between 128 and 120 g/km of CO2, while all-wheel-drive versions will produce 136 to 137g/km. Again, the range of figures is due to the different specifications available. 

When it comes to tax, those models that emit under 130g/km will cost £175 in year one and £150 per year thereafter. The higher polluting versions will cost £215 for the first year and £150 from then on. Also, any new car that costs more than £40,000 is taxed an additional £325 for the second, third, fourth and fifth years it is on the road. 

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Fully-electric models promise to be easier on the wallet in terms of running costs. Lexus claims a range of up to 196 miles is possible for models with 17-inch alloys and 190 miles for those with larger 18-inch wheels. This is made possible thanks to a 54.3kWh Lithium-ion battery pack which supports up to 50kW DC charging. 

Using the maximum power supply possible, zero to 80% charge will take 52 minutes. Using a 6.6kW wall box (which is a fairly common output for domestic wall boxes) to do the same charge takes just over six and a half hours, while a three-pin plug would take nearly fifteen and half hours. 

The charging port itself is a Type 2 number and is located in the same area as a traditional fuel filler cap. While UX 300 e models don’t have any tailpipe emissions, they do come with an efficiency rating. Official figures suggest 3.6 to 3.7 miles per kWh is possible but factors such as outside temperature will impact this. 

Insurance groups

The overwhelming majority of UX models sit in insurance group 22, 23 or 26. That said, Lexus is yet to confirm which insurance group the UX 300 e will qualify for. Still, the more mature clientele Lexus typically attracts and the number of active and passive safety features included across the range should help keep insurance premiums relatively low.

Depreciation

It is still too early to predict how quickly the Lexus UX will depreciate, but the combination of SUV practicality, impressive fuel economy (or zero tailpipe emissions) and a reputation for reliability means that it’s likely to hold its value well. Perhaps not as well as the BMW X1/X2, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40, but better than some of the compact SUVs from the volume manufacturers.