11.18.2019

Good Thing, Small Package: The 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT

Front 3/4 view of 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT
The 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT.
"Little" and "luxury" have a hard time co-existing in American minds. Houses, cars, diamonds, boats---bigger means more expensive and more expensive means luxury.

Or so it went. There's a new generation of luxury buyers coming into their peak earning years who realize that luxury is an experience, not a physical measurement. If a small crossover SUV that gets good gas mileage makes sense for them, then why can't there simply be a luxurious version of that?

That's where the 2019 Lexus UX 250h comes in. It is the smallest of Lexus' three crossovers---the big RX, the medium-sized NX, and now the UX---and there are a lot of good things that come in this small package.



Rear 3/4 view of 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT


The one I drove for a week was UX 250h F SPORT. The "h" stands for hybrid---meaning it has a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor that work together to produce the right blend of power sources for any given condition.

Hybrid powerplant in 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT


The payoff is in gas mileage. The UX 250h gets an EPA-estimated 41 miles per gallon in the city, 38 on the highway. Pure gasoline UXs are available too, but the fuel economy drops to 29 city/37 highway. If most of your driving is in town, you'll save quite a bit of money getting that extra 12 miles to the gallon, making back the two-thousand dollar premium for the hybrid pretty quickly.

Interior view of 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT

View from rear cargo area forward in 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT


The base price of the 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT is an even $36,000. And for that price, you get the hybrid powerplant we just talked about, 18-inch F SPORT wheels with run-flat all-season tires, LED fog lamps, and special F SPORT seats, front and rear bumpers and grille. There's also an electronic parking brake, a six-speaker Lexus premium sound system, its own wi-fi hotspot, smart watch and Alexa skill integration, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, and smart key access with pushbutton start.

The test car also had some extra-cost options:

  • Blind spot monitor ($500).
  • Wireless phone charger ($75).
  • Windshield de-icer ($100).
  • Navigation system with 10.3-inch color display, voice command, an upgraded eight-speaker Lexus premium sound system, auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink and a power tilt/telescope steering wheel ($2,200).
  • Parking assist and rear cross-traffic alert with braking ($565).
  • A power rear door with kick sensor ($600).
  • Premium Ultrasonic Blue Mica paint ($595).
  • F SPORT Premium Package with moonroof, rain-sensing wipers and heated front seats ($975).
  • Heated F SPORT steering wheel with paddle shifters ($150).
Front view of 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT

Rear view of 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT


With $1,025 delivery, processing and handling fee, the bottom line came to $42,785.

If you're looking for practicality and economy along with luxury---and know that those are not mutually exclusive things, the 2019 Lexus UX 250h F SPORT may be exactly what you're looking for.