The Lexus UX is a nimble and versatile subcompact luxury SUV. It has plenty of standard tech and safety features, plus a fuel-efficient powertrain.

What’s New for the 2023 Lexus UX

The UX was first introduced for the 2019 model year. For 2023, it receives a new touchscreen for the infotainment system. Lexus has also improved the handling dynamics. Finally, all-wheel drive (AWD) is no longer standard equipment.

Design

The 2023 UX comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels in various designs. The F Sport trim adds body-colored fenders, a black-contrast roof, and other unique styling elements.

Powertrain

No matter which model you select, the 2023 UX comes equipped with a hybrid powertrain that uses a four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, making a combined 181 horsepower. Power is routed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the front wheels or to available AWD. The F Sport Handling model adds an adaptive suspension system.

The front-wheel-drive (FWD) UX 250 returns fuel economy of 43 mpg city, 41 highway, and 42 combined. The AWD version returns 41 city, 38 highway, and 39 combined. The Lexus UX does not require premium fuel.

Interior

Standard features on the 2023 Lexus UX include power-adjustable front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, a genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel, a fully digital instrument panel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and remote keyless entry. The Premium trim adds heated and ventilated front seats. A heated steering wheel is also available. F Sport models have unique cabin styling and the F Sport Handling has sport bucket seats.

The Lexus UX provides 17.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. The rear bench folds, though Lexus has not published the max cargo space available with those seats folded down. The SUV comes with a manual lift gate and it is available with a hands-free power lift gate.

Technology

Lexus has improved the infotainment system for 2023 by adding a touchscreen, though it can still be operated via the central touchpad as well. The base system is an 8-inch touchscreen, and the upgraded version is a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Both units support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The UX is also available with wireless device charging and an upgraded stereo system.

Safety

The UX benefits from the Lexus Safety System 2.5+. It includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Available safety tech includes front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display.

Pricing

At the time of this writing, the 2023 Lexus UX has a base MSRP of $35,850 for the UX 250h. The Premium trim starts at $38,310, which is also the same price as the F Sport Design trim. The F Sport Handling trim has a base MSRP of $43,280. AWD can be added to any of these trims for an additional $1,400. The UX is backed by a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid components are backed by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty.