Lexus UX 300e

The Lexus UX 300e is the Japanese brand’s first all-electric car. With a 53.4kWh battery pack, the UX 300e boasts a range of 315 Kms and supports rapid charging at 50kW. It can be topped up from 0-80% in around 50 minutes and charged at home overnight, in just over eight hours.

If you need to take a longer trip, it can also be topped up pretty quickly. Lexus has included 50kW rapid charging for use at compatible public charging points, taking the car from 10 to 80% in 50 minutes. At home it can charge at a maximum of 6.6kW using a wall box, taking it from 0 to 100% in around eight hours. AC and DC charging cables are included as standard, and the charging port is found where the fuel filler used to be, at the rear of the car.

Its quiet electric motor also accentuates the refinement we have come to associate with Lexus cars, while giving the UX an impressive turn of speed. It has 204 HP, front-wheel drive and a single forward gear, so 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds arrives with an effortless surge. You aren't quite pinned back in the seat, but it feels plenty fast enough for a crossover, particularly around town.

With few changes from the standard car, the interior features plenty of quality materials and a sturdiness evidenced by a lack of any rattles or unwanted vibrations. The touchpad-controlled infotainment screen takes some getting used to, but it at least now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It might be the brand’s first attempt at an electric car but the Lexus UX 300e gets a lot of things right. It's smooth, good to drive and pleasant to sit in. The range-topping Takumi model is expensive, but entry versions still offer a reasonable amount of kit and are better value.

There's no getting away from the fact that batteries are heavy, and this relatively small SUV weighs 1,840kg. At least the battery pack is low to the ground, and Lexus has managed to give the UX 300e responsive handling and a planted feel. Despite its weight, body lean is kept under control even along a twisting road. There are also paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust the level of regenerative braking and the retardation you feel when releasing the throttle. However, it doesn't offer one-pedal driving even in its strongest setting.

Lexus has topped our owner polls for years, and positive feedback for its interiors has been part of the praise. Refinement is often cited, and the near-silent electric powertrain certainly helps in this regard. There's a solid feel, with no rattles from the dashboard, lots of quality materials and comfortable front seats. The latter can even adjust to quite a low position, which somewhat defeats the object of the SUV body but should please keen drivers.

Even the base version of the UX 300e comes with plenty of kit: front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, a rear-view front camera and eight-way adjustable seats. Premium Plus pack adds luxuries like leather, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a wireless phone charger and keyless entry.

And it doesn't stop there, because Takumi pack models have a bigger 10.3-inch infotainment screen, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, head-up display, all-round cameras and advanced headlights. The regular Lexus UX has already been subject to Euro NCAP crash testing and was awarded the full five-star rating. This included an impressive 96% score for adult occupants, as well as 85% for child occupants. Part of the reason for the high score is active safety technology including autonomous emergency braking, road-sign recognition and headlights that automatically switch between dipped and high-beam.

Range-topping Takumi versions get additional safety kit, including advanced LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree parking view and rear-cross traffic alert that can stop the car if it detects a collision is imminent.