2022 Lexus UX Hybrid

The Lexus UX, hybrid or otherwise, took over the CT's job of being the gateway to Japanese luxury car ownership. To be frank, the CT was a horrible car with many flaws, so we're happy Lexus built a replacement for the subcompact from the ground up. The UX has everything going for it. It's a crossover, which already makes it relevant, but the hybrid powertrain adds another layer of the "want one" factor. To be honest, it needs all of these things to take on the established players like the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Volvo XC40, most of which are new or heavily revised. The UX is still the only compact luxury crossover with a hybrid powertrain, but it will soon lose this unique selling point as its German and Swedish rivals launch new models in the USA. The hybrid powertrain is the most powerful available in the UX, offering 181 horsepower. Its combined fuel consumption figure of 39 mpg is exceptional as well.

As an entry-level model, the Lexus UX is an exceptional vehicle, mainly because it doesn't feel entry-level at all. The interior quality is superb, and the exterior styling helps it stand out in a crowd. We reckon this is exactly what shoppers are looking for in this segment: the comfort, handling, and ride quality of a hatch, neatly wrapped up in a stylish crossover SUV body. On the downside, the hybrid engine only offers 181 hp. All of its competitors are faster, but for the moment, none of them can match the UX's stellar fuel economy. You have to ask yourself whether you want the best performance or economy. The standard AWD also makes the UX better suited to cold-weather states in the US. Some might not like that the UX isn't sporty at all, even though one of the trims has the word "sport" right there in the name. But we definitely dig the UX's well-balanced suspension setup, even though it errs on the side of comfort.

The base UX 250h has an MSRP of $35,200. F Sport trim adds $2,340 to the base price of the Lexus UX Hybrid, while the top-spec 250h Luxury will cost you $40,240. These prices exclude Lexus's destination charge of $1,075.