Get going and the Lexus UX 300e is rather impressive. It has a robust feel and piles on the pace with effortless ease. While the 100-km/h figure is more or less irrelevant in this day and age of mostly city driving, on the highway, it can cruise unperturbed. There is a drive mode selector for “Eco”, “Normal”, and “Sport” modes on the left side of the binnacle top, as well as one on the right for turning off the traction control. Not recommended.
The roll-on performance is actually the most impressive aspect. With no down- or up-shifts needed, the Lexus UX 300e can get its sprint on and overtake in a jiffy. In terms of driveability, it has an “Eco” zone as well as a “Power” zone, the latter of which is the region after 50 per cent or so of the accelerator pedal travel used. It’s when I lift off the accelerator pedal that the third zone on the display, “Charge”, becomes active. This is when the car is recuperating energy under deceleration. There are three levels available but one-pedal operation is not entirely possible. Even so, there is a rather pronounced slow-down effect.
The ride quality, as with all Lexii, is a cut above. The suspension geometry, adept damping characteristics, and cabin insulation all contribute to making the drive experience refined and relaxed. The motor functions silently and there is no real perceptible whine. Toggle the drive selector to reverse and the UX sounds like an alien spacecraft from those science-fiction movies. It truly makes an ethereal sound. It gets a host of assistance features, including speed limit assistance, blind-spot amber alert, cruise control, a reverse parking camera with a 360-degree feed alongside, parking sensors, and, yes, autonomous emergency braking that waits till the very last second; useful, at times, especially when manoeuvring around tight spaces or in stop-go traffic. All in all, it’s a fun car to drive with very respectable driving dynamics and road manners. It’s safe and comfortable and has a lot of tech packed into what initially seems like a simple, no-nonsense interior design. It also has a large 486-litre cargo hold with a powered opening and closing of the rear hatch.
The Lexus UX 300e has not been launched and isn’t yet slated for any date as far as we know. I believe Lexus India are waiting for the right infrastructure and the right moment to introduce their first full battery electric car. As such, there is no price. However, being a size below the NX mid-size SUV means we may expect a tag of Rs 50 lakh, more or less. There are no immediate rivals, save for the Volvo XC40 Recharge which brings twice the power and torque, and, dare I say, the Hyundai Kona Electric, which can match the UX 300e at least in practicality and has its energy recuperation functions well sorted.
Need to Know – Lexus UX 300e
Price: To be announced
Battery Pack: 355-volt, 54.35-kWh, lithium-ion, 153-Ah
Electric Motor: 650-volt, permanent-magnet, 150-kW
Output: 204 hp, 300 Nm
Transmission: Single-speed, automatic, front-wheel drive
Range: 305-315 km (WLTP)
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, trailing wishbone rear
Weight: 1,840 kg
