2025 Lexus UX 300H Hybrid: A Close Look

FRONT VIEW

The Lexus UX 250h has been discontinued, now called the 300h for 2025. It has a few improvements over the previous version. We got two examples to look at, an FWD for photography, and an AWD, where we racked up 500 miles of driving. 

Photos by Chad Haire

PRICE SHEET

The base price of the UX starts at $39,490. This makes it the least expensive vehicle in the Lexus fleet. As always, there are options that jack the tab as seen here. Our drive sample had "all the fixins" so it was just under the $50K mark. While this might seem high, keep in mind the UX 300h is totally made in Japan, which assures high-quality standards.

ENGINE

Under the hood is a small 2.0-liter engine hooked to a strong lithium-ion battery. Horsepower is up from 181 to 196. Fuel economy is listed at 44/40 mpg with an average of 42.

SHIFTER

The transmission is a CVT. For 2025 a new shift-by-wire system is used. Instead of a push button or rotary wheel, Lexus uses the traditional stick shift to choose gears.

INFO SCREEN

Deluxe models get a 12.3-inch info screen. Base models make do with the old 7-incher.

CABIN

The interior has excellent materials and workmanship. No cost-cutting was observed. Yes, it is a tight fit in there, but it is a compact SUV after all. We only had one gripe, and that was the sun glare reflecting off the gauge cluster on a sunny day, a common issue on many Lexus vehicles overall.

REAR HATCH

The rear hatch is opened for storing gear, but with that slanted door angle, only 17 cubic feet of space is available. There is no spare tire, as there is no room under the floor. Folding the second-row seats will free up more storage ability. 

FUEL ECONOMY

The front wheel drive version gets a slightly better fuel economy rating over the AWD, at 43 mpg overall compared to 42. Our test car was the latter. In 500 miles of driving, we averaged 36 either in city or highway driving. This was in a desert environment with day temperatures 95-115 degrees, and night in the high 80's. On one night run, we were very careful to drive as slow as possible to get the best number and recorded 37.7 mpg. Hybrid vehicles perform better in cooler climates, so the potential to get the 43 mpg claimed is still there in a different environment.

REAR VIEW

While the price of the UX 300h is high, the reliability and resale value are too. For someone who wants a quality SUV, and doesn't need much room, this might do the job.