The Lexus UX 300e has arrived in Australia, sporting a claimed WLTP battery range of 305km and a $74,000 entry price (before on-road costs).
Lexus says this relatively high cost of entry can be easily justified by plenty of added value thanks to an extensive standard specification along with complimentary Encore Platinum membership, free charging at Chargefox stations for three years (worth approximately $3500) and a wallbox charger installed at your home (around $2000 in value).
Encore Platinum membership – previously reserved for LC, LS, LX and F models – allows UX 300e owners to book any available Lexus vehicle of their choosing if travelling interstate or to New Zealand, as well as providing complimentary valet parking at specific venues and invitations to exclusive events such as track and golf days.
The Lexus UX 300e is powered by a 150kW/300Nm electric motor.
While the UX 300e is the first electric model offered by Lexus, it enters an increasingly popular small EV category.
UX 300e pricing puts it in line with higher-spec versions of the Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Most similar in price to the $74,000 UX300e Luxury is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 which starts at $71,900, whereas a Polestar 2 in Long Range dual-motor guise starts at $69,900.
To reach a similar level of equipment to the UX300e, however, the flagship Polestar 2 requires the addition of several option packs, though it does offer a greater range of 540km according to WLTP measurements.
The Lexus isn’t the cheapest EV but it is very well equipped.
How fast and how far?
The UX 300e utilises a single electric motor located on the front axle which produces a modest 150kW of power and 300Nm of torque. The UX 300e can accelerate to 100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds, which compares favourably with the single-motor Polestar 2 (7.4sec) and the RWD Ioniq 5 (7.4sec).
Under the floor, the Lexus features a 50kWh usable lithium-ion battery which provides the car with a range of 360km according to the NEDC figures.
But using the more realistic WLTP standard, the UX 300e’s range is rated at 305km, which is significantly less than the Ioniq 5’s 430-451km, the Polestar 2’s 440-540km and the Tesla Model 3’s 491-614km
Both Luxury and Sports Luxury trims are available in Australia.
The UX 300e is capable of 50kW DC fast charging which can charge the battery from zero to 80 percent in 50 minutes.
Specification and features
The UX 300e will be available in both Luxury ($74,000) and Sports Luxury ($81,000) equipment levels.
Unlike the petrol-engined base UX, the UX 300e Luxury comes standard with the Enhancement Pack 2, which incorporates a 10.3-inch display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, LED headlights, wireless phone charging and a power tailgate, joining heated and ventilated leather accented front seats, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
UX 300e Luxury buyers will also be able to choose from either cream or black leather upholstery.
You’ll be able to travel 305km on a single charge with the UX 300e.
For $81,000, the Sports Luxury model adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, tri-beam LED headlights, adaptive high-beam, a head-up display and a panoramic view monitor.
On the safety front, both Lexus UX 300e models come standard with a generous array of active-safety systems including adaptive cruise control, lane-trace assist, front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and blind-spot monitoring, as well as eight airbags and front and rear parking sensors.
Lexus UX 300e 2022: prices in Australia
All prices listed are before on-road costs.
- UX 300e Luxury: $74,000
- UX 300e Sports Luxury: $81,000