A few months back, some editors in the Kelley Blue Book newsroom passed the time trying to come up with the shortest possible car review. I didn’t win because I hadn’t driven the 2025 Lexus UX 300h yet.
Now that I have, my entry would be two words: Lexus Prius.
That’s not an insult. There is an awful lot to like about that short phrase. But it succinctly explains the appeal of this car.
Yes, it’s something like those limited-time-only recipes fast-food restaurants periodically sell – the chicken sandwich with the cheese from the burger and the dressing from one of the salads. This is the Toyota Prius drivetrain and platform with some luxury bits from the Lexus parts bin.
But it will hit the spot for a certain kind of driver.
My test model was a UX 300h Premium all-wheel-drive (AWD) model in Copper Crest with the optional 12.3-inch touchscreen, head-up display, and wireless charger. It retails for $45,260, including a $1,175 destination fee.
It’s an SUV Because Automakers Don’t Say Hatchback Anymore
Likely no one buys the UX for its beauty. However, Lexus designers have done a great job integrating the brand’s big spindle grille into a subcompact body without creating the awkward look of a puppy that hasn’t grown into its nose.
Lexus markets the UX as a subcompact SUV, but don’t be fooled. Just 6.3 inches of ground clearance make this more of a hatchback than something built for the trail. It’s nearly two inches lower than the RX on the same lot, for instance.
Again, this is not a complaint. Hatchbacks offer wonderful utility, packing a lot of cargo space into a small form. Treating the UX as perhaps the only luxury hatchback on the market also helps make sense of who will want it.
Smooth Power, Urban Agility
Every 2025 Lexus UX uses a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine mated to a hybrid system, with a total output of 196 horsepower. Yes, the one from the Prius. If you haven’t paid attention, the Prius has become an almost sporty machine with its latest update.
Lexus doesn’t intend this as a high-performance machine. If you treat it as a subcompact SUV, it will lose a drag race to the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
But if you treat it as a luxurious hatchback or even a luxury Prius, its 7.9-second zero-to-60 time is plenty. The low-end power of electric hybrid assist means it has plenty of scoot at urban speeds. Passing on the highway was never a problem in my week with the car.
Given its small size, I’d guess few will buy it for regular long highway cruises. The UX excels in tight surroundings. Its small footprint makes it easy to park in urban settings and nimble in traffic. Crisp, light handling makes it a pleasure on tight city streets.
The EPA estimates that the UX should get 45 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway, for a combined rating of 43 mpg. An equivalent all-wheel-drive Prius will get 49 in combined driving. The difference is likely down to the weight of luxury features and a slightly less aerodynamic design.
Lexus Serenity and Softness
So, how is the UX not just a Prius?
It cocoons you in a level of luxury Toyota reserves for its Lexus offerings.
If there’s one thing Lexus does better than other luxury automakers, it’s quiet. Slide into the seat, close the door, and the UX utterly insulates you from the world outside. The highest-end Lexus models dampen wind and road noise further. But I’d challenge you to find a quieter ride for under $50,000.
Lexus doesn’t offer genuine leather on the seats at this price point. They do put it on the steering wheel and shift knob – the places your hands would notice – and the seats are upholstered in NuLuxe, which may be the most convincing faux leather on the market. It’s as soft as Nappa leather and wears well over the years.
Washi dashboard trim is meant to emulate the texture of traditional Japanese rice paper door panels. It’s a small touch, but it adds a hint of personality.
Entry-Level Luxury With Prius Fuel Economy
Luxury automakers haven’t always offered subcompact SUVs (or hatchbacks they call subcompact SUVs). Finding something this small on the premium car lot is a relatively new idea for most shoppers.
The entry-level product is inevitably a bit more basic than most luxury automaker offerings. Lexus doesn’t offer a UX 300h with its softest leathers or a Mark Levinson sound system.
That’s OK. At under $50,000, the UX 300h gives you a luxury car’s sound-studio quiet and designer-surface treatment. It has the mechanical heart and bones of a Toyota Prius, not something meant to run laps with sports sedans. And it gives you access to the luxury car ownership experience, with its low-pressure salespeople, solicitous service technicians, and usually a loaner car ready at hand when you need service.
All of that is accomplished with near-Prius fuel economy. A Lexus Prius. For many shoppers, that’s pretty much what they’re looking for.
