Lexus adds ambience and practicality to new UX
LEXUS Australia has launched an updated version of its UX premium small-SUV, one that has lowered the model’s entry-price by more than $2000 thanks to a reduced level of standard equipment.
With the entry-level UX200 Luxury now able to be had from $44,445 plus on-road costs, Lexus has opted to strip the variant of its LED fog lamps, roof rails, parking support brake, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, smart entry and DAB+ digital radio and bundle it into a new $1980 enhancement pack.
As a result, all of the UX’s existing enhancement packs have been respectively renamed ‘enhancement pack 2’ and ‘enhancement pack 3’ with the new pack – enhancement pack 1 – only available on the base model.
Moving up the range slightly, the UX200 F Sport and Sports Luxury variants have also come down in price, however in these cases the reductions are a much smaller $250 apiece.
The same cannot be said for the UX250h Luxury 2WD however which has gone up in price by $2025, a stark contrast to the $100 price increase experienced by the F Sport and Sports Luxury, however the price increase is at least justified by the addition of more standard gear (enhancement pack 2).
The flagship UX250h AWDs have also risen by $100 each.
More than just a pricing rehash, Lexus says it has used the update to usher in some changes designed to boost comfort, practicality and the driving experience with all models scoring a revised version of the familiar continuously variable transmission.
Cabin ambience has been boosted by the addition of more sound-proofing throughout the cabin, especially around key areas of the boot floor.
As for the boot itself, an between four and 90 litres of extra cargo space has been liberated depending on the variant (wheel sized and drive type) thanks to some repackaging of the floor and deck levels.
Other changes include two new USB-C ports in the rear console in place of the previous type A ports while the Road Sign Assist system has been expanded to now detect school zones.
Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the updated UX embodied Lexus’ commitment to continual and thoughtful upgrades across its line-up.
“The new UX is packed with improvements across all grades in terms of practicality, refinement and technology, and now our entry UX200 unlocks the Lexus luxury lifestyle at an even more accessible price,” he said.
Lexus has sold 1211 UXs so far this year ending November, accounting for 7.5 per cent of the $40,000-plus compact SUV segment – 522 less than it managed over the same period last year.
2021 Lexus UX pricing*
| 200 Luxury (a) | $44,445 |
| 200 Sports Luxury (a) | $55,250 |
| 200 F Sport (a) | $55,750 |
| 250h Luxury 2WD | $52,025 |
| 250h Sports Luxury 2WD (a) | $59,100 |
| 250h F Sport 2WD (a) | $59,600 |
| 250h Sports Luxury AWD (a) | $63,600 |
| 250h F Sport AWD (a) | $64,100 |
*Excludes on-road costs
