Starts at $36,340
Rank
What's New for 2025?
The UX gets an overhauled hybrid powertrain that puts out a respectable 196 horsepower — 15 more than last year — while also delivering slightly better fuel economy. To denote the mechanical upgrade, all UX models are now labeled as UX 300h, replacing the previous UX 250h nomenclature. Also, the available digital instrument panel upgrade has been enlarged to 12.3 inches.
FAST FACTS
"While the hybrid-only UX won't knock your socks off with its acceleration, it can get out of its own way, and it gives you a gaudy fuel-economy figure of more than 40 mpg combined. There's real value in this machine as a hyper-efficient urban runabout with style for less than $40k. At the same time, it shares its platform and powertrain with the far cheaper Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, so you'd do well to check that model out, too, if you're seriously considering the UX. By the way, if you're wondering why the cargo capacity is so low, that's the space behind the rear seats, and it's the only figure that Lexus publishes. The UX can haul considerably more than that with the rear seatbacks folded, but we can't quantify it. Still, given that 17 cubic feet is smaller than the trunk on a BMW 5 Series sedan, it’s safe to conclude that the UX isn’t a leader in this area."—Ranked #6 out of 12 Subcompact Luxury SUVs
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Lexus UX that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
The UX is small and slow, but at least it's less slow after the modest power boost it received for 2025. It's also exceptionally good on gas — and small, of course, means easy to park. We confess to liking this sharply styled little runabout, especially at its reasonable-for-a-Lexus starting price.
The UX may be based on the humble and now defunct Toyota C-HR, but it offers something that the C-HR never did: AWD, albeit a limited version that's only operative up to 45 mph. It also shares its platform with the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which you'd do well to check out if you're seriously considering becoming a UX driver. But refinement and feature content will certainly be on the UX's side.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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