2022 Lexus UX Performance

The UX's design writes checks neither of its engines can cash. The 200 models are equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine, producing 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. Most of the power is only available near the redline, so you have to stomp on the throttle if you want decent progress. Anything less than full throttle results in a tepid response. The 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 8.9 seconds is slower than all of its main competitors.

You'd expect the hybrid 250h to offer better performance thanks to an additional electric motor, but you'd be disappointed. It only adds an extra 12 hp (181 hp), but it also adds 300 lbs. The result is a 0-60 mph sprint time of 8.6 seconds.

Around town, the lack of performance isn't as noticeable, but it can become frustrating when merging or overtaking on the freeway. It's one of those cars you have to get used to. You have to adapt to it, rather than the other way around.

It's a pity the UX isn't powered by a small capacity turbocharged engine, as it would have suited it so much better. And it's not a case of Lexus not having access to such an engine. The Toyota C-HR, with which the UX shares a platform, is available with a sweet turbocharged triple in other countries.

Both the 200 and 250h are equipped with the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine. It's an advanced powertrain that employs various technologies to keep it as light as possible. The goal was frugality over performance, so the result is 169 hp and 151 lb-ft. The addition of the electric motor on the 250h takes the power up to 181 hp, but Lexus doesn't supply a torque figure for this particular engine.

Both engines are mated to what Lexus calls a 10-speed continuously variable transmission, or CVT as it's known colloquially. A CVT transmission doesn't have gears but rather mimics the effect of a gearchange to make it feel more like a traditional torque-converter automatic. In any case, customers in the market will likely not care whether it has ten gears or a hundred.

Fortunately, Toyota has more experience with CVT transmissions than most manufacturers, and the result is a CVT that's not as annoying as you might expect. It does a good job at city speeds, but it's less adept at freeway speeds. Merging and overtaking can be a daunting task, but it's a case of learning to cooperate with it, especially if you want the best fuel consumption results. To get rid of that annoying CVT drone, Lexus pumps some fake engine noise into the cabin. We're not huge fans of these systems, but we have to admit that they work well when the alternative is listening to a strained four-pot/CVT combo when travelling at top speed..

The standard 200 models are all front-wheel-drive, while the 250h models are all-wheel-drive. It's not a traditional all-wheel-drive system as we know it. There isn't a prop shaft sending power from the front-mounted engine to the rear wheels. Instead, the battery is mounted in the rear, and an electric motor powers the rear axle when needed.

The UX 200 has EPA-estimated figures of 29/37/32 mpg for city/highway/combined. That is an impressive set of numbers given its dimensions and engine size. The 250h hybrid does even better, with EPA-estimated mileage of 41/38/39 mpg. You can see the electric motor at work at slower speeds within the city, while the benefits are less pronounced on the highway. Still, it remains a remarkable achievement compared to non-electrified configurations, especially because it has 300 extra pounds to carry around. The 200 UX has a 12.4-gallon tank and an estimated range of 397 miles. The 250h has a smaller 10.6-gallon tank, but thanks to the added efficiency, it can do an estimated 413 miles.