Thoughtful, intelligent design is a Lexus hallmark, and it is especially evident in the new UX 200 (priced from RM236,443.50). Its size befits a crossover SUV that was always meant to be nippy and at home in urban environments. It is no surprise, then, that the Lexus UX has a best-in-class turning radius of 5.2m.
Its compact nature means the details of the cabin – the clean lines, the cockpit feel, the little touches such as the traditional Japanese quilting on the upholstery – are all the more important. The Luxury variant (RM274,998.50)adds amenities such as seat ventilation, a tailgate kick sensor, and a 360-degree camera that rounds off the rougher edges of active city life.
The thoughtful interior of the Lexus UX is matched by the cleverness of its mechanics. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine under the hood is one of the most thermally efficient ever from Lexus – which makes it one of the most efficient production engines ever made. Its 169bhp drives the front wheels via a 10-speed CVT transmission – but one with a useful trick. It has a conventional first gear that injects a torquey immediacy to take-offs, before handing it off to the CVT transmission and its customary smoothness and efficiency. It all adds up to a stellar combined fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km.
The Lexus UX does not disregard performance, however. The marque’s Active Cornering Assist, which brakes the inner wheels during aggressive cornering, combats understeer tendency and hence helps energetic drivers take advantage of the rigidity and low centre of gravity of the underlying GA-C platform. The F Sport variant (RM290,335) includes extra dampers that provides additional stability, as well as a front performance rod which stiffens the chassis and sharpens the steering.
Quite naturally, the UX is also packed full of driver assistance systems. Pre-collision braking assist, lane tracing, and blind spot monitoring are ever-vigilant, while the stop-and-go dynamic cruise control makes both traffic jams and long highway stretches that much more relaxing. This is accessed by the intuitive, haptic touchpad-operated infotainment system. The Luxury and F Sport versions include a wider 10.3-inch screen, while the latter adds a head-up display that keeps the driver’s eyes entirely on the road. It is a full-featured suite that is typical of the smart completeness that defines Lexus vehicles.
In conjunction with Christmas, Lexus showrooms will be offering test drives with a chance to win prizes at a lucky draw. These take place at all Lexus showrooms on the weekends of 11 and 12 December, and 18 and 19 December. Click here to schedule your appointment.
