Bigger battery and better tech comes at a bigger price

Lexus has updated its all-electric small SUV, revealing a bigger battery, bigger driving range and bigger suite of tech – including a slick new multimedia touchscreen.

The other thing that’s bigger is the cost (up by $8000), so is this sparkling new iteration of the UX300e improved enough to justify its $79,990 price tag? Or are the other luxury electric small SUVs in the market more enticing? Let’s find out.

There are two variants of the Lexus UX300e: the lower-grade Luxury at $79,990 and the top-spec Sports Luxury at $87,665. So, I guess at the very least buyers can expect luxury in whichever variant they choose. 

The Sports Luxury I’m testing for the week is $7695 more expensive than the previous iteration, and with this price increase comes a larger 72.8kWh battery and WLTP-claimed range of 440km – a much-needed increase over its predecessor’s 315km. It also comes with a bigger infotainment touchscreen, acoustic front glass and wireless Apple CarPlay.  

Luxury it may be, but this is certainly one of the more expensive electric small SUVs on the market. Closest in price is the BMW iX1 XDrive 30 M Sport at $84,900 and the Mercedes EQA 250 at $82,300. The lower-grade BMW iX1 eDrive 20 starts at $78,900, while Volvo’s XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is $76,990. 

If you’re not committed to going electric but want to stay (a) eco-friendly and (b) Lexus, then the UX250h hybrid is priced from $54,320 to $66,495, depending on spec. 

Design-wise, the UX300e isn’t worlds away from any of its petrol or hybrid siblings, which all share the Lexus trademark spindle grille. It’s also not glaringly futuristic like many of its electric rivals.

The UX300e’s 18-inch alloy wheels are a nod to this car’s sporty side, but the plastic mouldings around the base unfortunately don’t say premium design. 

This test model came in Celestial Blue, which is an extra $1750.

The UX300e’s seats and trim are a beautiful buttery-soft leather and come in a Rich Cream colour palette, which sounds like a delicious biscuit. The buyer can also opt for White Ash, Black and Hazel colour options.  

Lexus designers have used Sashiko on the seats – a traditional Japanese stitching technique that renders a sumptuous-looking quilting pattern, all the while keeping your seating ventilated. Both front seats feature electrical adjusters and have heating for cold days. Dual-zone climate control is also standard.

The driver’s instrument display is crisp and clear, but offers limited customisation. 

In a nod to the car’s performance credentials, the driving mode is controlled by a dial to the upper left of the steering wheel. There is something a bit more exhilarating about the twist action to jump into Sports mode rather than tapping a button. 

To the left is a huge 12.3-inch infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation. Below the screen are a series of keyboard buttons that control the air conditioning. I like haptic buttons and find them far more accessible than a touchscreen while driving.

The central console is brimming with features that are equal parts glossy and practical. Included are two good-sized cupholders, a wireless charger, two USB-C ports, and a 12-volt socket, although you can find an older USB-A port in the central storage unit for wired phone projection.

The central storage unit, which doubles as an armrest, is side-hinged to be accessible from either side. The plastic surfacing of the centre console feels a little impractical, and I can imagine owners scratching it with keys.

The second row doesn’t feel as luxurious as the first, and is impacted by the low, sloping roofline which makes the whole space feel tight. Leg room isn’t generous either. Two USB-C ports are provided, along with cupholders in the middle seat’s seatback when it is pulled down as an armrest.  

There are top-tether and ISOFIX points in the outboard rear seats, and as an added precaution, the car comes with a rear-seat reminder when you switch off as part of its suite of safety technology. 

At 314 litres, the boot (complete with electric tailgate) is one of the smallest in its segment. I was able to fit a pram or a set of golf clubs in there but nothing on top of that.

The 12.3-inch screen, which is new for the 2024 model, supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto and the visuals are impeccable, with the same interface as an iPhone or Android screen.

It’s a bit frustrating that Android users have to plug in every time, especially in a car of this price. At least wireless connectivity was never an issue for me as an iPhone user.

The UX300e has DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation, a wireless smartphone charger and 13-speaker sound system. The 360-degree camera display is crystal clear, too. 

There are two smartphone apps that make life a bit easier for a Lexus owner, and can be set up by the Lexus team upon purchase. The Lexus app offers vehicle information and benefits such as fuel discounts.

The Lexus Connected app does more. It can locate your car in a busy car park, monitor fuel levels and even control the car’s climate from afar.

The Lexus UX scored five stars for safety by ANCAP when tested back in 2020. This rating expires December 2025. 

Adult occupant protection was rated at 96 per cent, child occupant protection rated 88 per cent, vulnerable road user protection at 82 per cent, and safety assist was rated 81 per cent.  The UX300e has two front, two front-side and two front-knee airbags, plus two-row curtain airbags.

The UX300e comes with the Lexus Safety System+, which includes a pre-collision system with daytime pedestrian and cyclist detection, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-departure alert, an SOS button and dynamic radar cruise control. 

A colour head-up display projects information onto the windscreen ahead of the driver, including current speed, cruise control settings and satellite navigation instructions. 

For the most part, the safety features are unobtrusive. However, Lexus’s extremely conservative safety parameters mean the parking sensors can often go off in typical traffic jams. These can be switched off.

Lexus offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre , which is competitive to other premium brands. The UX300e’s 72.8kW battery is covered by a 10-year, 160,000km warranty which is better than the eight-year industry norm. Lexus also offers free installation of an AC home charger from JET Charge. 

Servicing intervals are 12 months or every 15,000km, whichever comes first. Lexus also offers capped-price servicing at $295 annually for the first five services, for a total of $1475, which is very sharp pricing. 

When it comes to insurance, we received a comprehensive insurance quote of $3427, which is not unusual for this type of vehicle. I was also quoted $3468 yearly for a Mercedes EQA electric small SUV.

Our quotes were for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history and personal circumstances. 

The Lexus promises a WLTP-claimed 440km driving range, and when fully charged the car’s onboard range estimate claimed 450km range. This is a significant increase on old model’s claim of 315km, bringing it much closer to rivals in this regard.

This extra range comes courtesy of a bigger battery: 72.8kWh, up from 54.4kWh. 

Lexus’s official energy consumption figure is 16.9 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres based on European WLTP testing. I recorded 17.8kWh/100km from a 400km mix of highway, city and suburban driving. 

When it comes to charging, the UX300e can charge at a maximum speed of 6.6kW on AC charging, and at 50kW on a DC fast charger. Neither of those speeds are competitive.

There are many aspects of this car that befit its luxury title, but none more so than the sound of it. Lovely, peaceful silence. The only point where I can hear anything other than my podcast of choice or a whining toddler in the back is when I’m accelerating, and this acceleration noise is in fact optional. It’s a synthetic noise Lexus claims helps the driver gauge their speed.    

As expected for an electric car, acceleration is seamless. It’s also stronger than its petrol and hybrid siblings, and quick enough to keep ahead of other traffic, but it’s not neck-snappingly quick like some EVs are.

The car has paddle-shift switches on the steering wheel that allow the driver to flick between four levels of deceleration – which is linked to the vehicle’s energy recuperation skills. These take a bit of getting used to, but is good for energy efficiency.

On the highway, driving feels effortless and the serenity of the quiet cabin is at its most enjoyable. And on less refined suburban or city roads, the car filters out the coarseness of speed bumps and potholes admirably.

Lexus’s singular focus on delivering a comfortable commuter – and not a wannabe sports hatch – means the UX300e is exactly that. Because of the sloped roof, I did find visibility out the back compromised, but I had no such complaints about the visibility out of the front and sides. 

The updates Lexus has made to the UX300e may have led to a steep price, but this investment has resulted in better range, and an excellent suite of technology. 

This is one really plush vehicle that’s thoughtfully finished, comfortable, packed with features, and ultimately nice to drive.

Where rivals have the edge over the UX300e is in the second row and boot, both of which are tight. If you’re someone who regularly has back-seat passengers or needs a big boot space, the UX300e is not for you. 

Lexus needs to improve this EV’s charging performance, however, because charging times are a friction point to ownership.

And then finally there’s the cost. A drive-away price of over $80K makes this small SUV one of the most expensive in the EV market. Competitive servicing prices and complimentary extras go some way to mitigating that high price tag.

Once you’ve made the decision that your next car is the Lexus UX300e, it’s time to decide between the Luxury and the Sports Luxury variants.

At $7675 less than its higher-spec sibling, the Luxury forgoes the colour head-up display, panoramic-view monitor, acoustic front side glass, tilt and slide moonroof, and interior and exterior colour options that the Sports Luxury comes with. It also has 17-inch wheels rather than the 18-inch wheels of the Sports Luxury. 

Lexus tells us the UX300e is in good supply at dealerships, so customers shouldn’t need to wait. Head to your local Lexus dealership to take a test drive, which you can find here. 

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to the Lexus UX300e since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.