Compact Luxury. The Lexus UX 200 review!

April 18, 2021 Jonathan Ho Off Lexus, Reviews,

From the moment we stepped into the Lexus showroom, its design and atmosphere of the entire showroom is like no other. It really gives you that feeling of what we Malaysians would describe as “atas”, the ambience of a five-star hotel lobby which makes you feel elevated yet at home. Also greeting us was the product specialist, and then we were treated to food and drinks as part of Lexus hospitality. All visitors are treated the same, Lexus customer or not.

We especially highlighted the pleasant showroom experience simply because its not something even other luxury car manufacturers offer. Even if you have no plans for a new car, we still suggest stopping by a Lexus showroom and no other showrooms will feel the same way again.

Over a drink, the product specialist sat down with us to give a brief introduction to the vehicle that we were going to be driving for the next three days. With the formalities done, we were handed over the keys to a Celestial Blue UX 200 Luxury.

The UX 200 comes in three variants: Urban, Luxury and F Sport. The Luxury variant we were testing offers similar specs to the F Sport variant except for the sportier aesthetics and that Lexus LC-inspired dynamic instrument cluster plus heads-up display.

So how does the car drive? Upon us driving out onto the LDP highway we were very much taken aback by the handling of the car. The UX 200 really handles well and rather planted for a crossover. Suspension pliancy is also on point where it’s just balanced enough not to roll around corners while maintaining a plush ride.

No surprises then, as the UX is based on the proven TNGA platform. Lexus also did a great job with the steering feel where it’s weighted perfectly for both low and high speed maneuverability.

NVH levels in the car is rather good as the windows are double glazed which helps reduce wind and exterior noises. Engine noise is not very noticeable even at high RPMs. Only noise is from the CVT upon harsh acceleration but even that is a very refined rumble.

Under the bonnet is a 2.0 liter in-line four Dynamic Force engine which outputs 169hp and 205Nm of torque which is mated to a 10-speed Direct-shift CVT which is sufficient to get the car going, albeit not very exciting. What it may lack in power you gain in economy, and the UX 200 fuel economy is rather impressive where we could achieve a combined average of around 8 to 10 liters per 100km on the trip computer.

What makes the Lexus UX stand out from the competition?

The interior. The UX interior styling and quality really sets this car apart from its rivals, including those from a higher segment. The dashboard is covered in a soft, textured material inspired by Japanese Washi paper. The ventilated front leather seats are also finished with Sashiko-inspired quilting, which is a technique used in the making of traditional Japanese martial arts uniform.

Even the buttons have a nice feedback when depressed. Only thing that we didn’t like in the interior are the indicator and wiper stalks which felt cheap when compared to the rest of the interior. Infotainment wise, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available and controlled through a touchpad which is not the most intuitive but functional.

It will be better if there is an option of a touchscreen as offered recently in the latest LS, hopefully in the upcoming model. Sound system is a Lexus-branded premium 8-speaker system which is most likely sourced from Pioneer which is good, but an option for a Mark Levinson upgrade would be welcomed in this price range.

In the safety and driving aids department, all UX 200 is equipped as standard with 8 airbags, Lexus Safety System Plus which includes Front Pre-Collision Warning, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist with Lane Departure Alert, and Active Cornering Assist.

Other useful features include individual tire pressure monitoring which comes in handy to know when it’s time to inflate your tires or even to detect slow punctures ahead of time. Luxury and F Sport gets the additional Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

In the illumination department, the UX 200 is equipped with an ultra compact 3-beam LED projector lights with automatic high beam function which illuminates dark roads at night very well without dazzling oncoming traffic. The party piece would be the striking rear Aero Stabilizing Blade Lights which is not only stunning to look at, but fully functional as it’s sculpted to be part of the car’s aero.

Lastly would be the surround-view camera which we find the resolution of the cameras rather low as we have seen better ones in cars costing much less.

So is this the car for you?

Should you like to stand out from the crowd, the UX 200, especially in this color does the job very well. While the UX 200 might not be impressive on paper, what’s harder to come across is the impressive interior quality and competent driving dynamics, combining that with Lexus’ signature customer service and superior reliability image, the UX 200 starts to become a compelling choice.

Prices of the UX 200 start from RM244,000.00 for the Urban Variant, the one that we drove sits right in the middle at RM284,000.00 and RM300,000.00 for the range-topping F Sport variant.