Lexus UX 200 Test Drive: Steady Performance, Amazing Comfort!

DISCLAIMER: All opinions expressed are translated directly from Caricarz’s writer, Sofea Najmi. 

Recently, one of our writers has had the opportunity to test drive a luxury car Lexus UX 200 Luxury, one of the variants of Lexus UX 200. This car is a compact SUV imported from the country of the rising sun, Japan.

As soon as the writer found out that she was reviewing the car, she began to do a lot of research to know a little bit more so that it will feel better when getting into the car beforehand.

At that time, the writer thought that when she knew a lot about the car she’ll be trying, she would not be very surprised when the car was in front of her eyes as would have knowledge of how the car was. The author's suspicion was wrong.

Charming exterior design

From an external point of view, the Lexus UX 200 Luxury will definitely turn heads. It's alluring! The author fell in love with the design of this car from the very first glance. Although the car received is blue, which was not the author’s favourite colour, but the blue on this car looks quite charming.

It can be seen that the exterior design is given such intricate details. The premium feel is clearly visible on the exterior of the car with its front grille and Lexus signature spindle pattern.

According to CariCarz video team member Shaun Stephen:

"Lexus has a clear L-finesse design philosophy for almost all of its car models."

L-block front grille

The design of every corner of the exterior is quite expressive. The indentation lines on the vehicle’s body not only help improve the aerodynamic features of the car but also make it look more elegant.

At the rear, the use of long and horizontal LED Aero Stabilizing Blade Lights meets the width of the car exudes an attractive aesthetic feel. It looks a bit futuristic especially when it is lit at night.

All of these unique features make the Lexus UX 200 stand out from the rest on the road.

The luxury of an interior cabin

They say, curiosity kills the cat; If the exterior is already turning heads, how will the interior look? Without wasting time, the writer opened the car door and wow! The interior definitely did not disappoint.

The first thing noticed is the premium touches on every corner of the cabin. The first time sitting in this car, the writer could feel the difference in terms of comfort level compared to other cars. It wouldn’t be a surprise, as this is the most expensive car the writer has ever touched at that time.

Almost 15 minutes was spent by the writer in the car to adapt to the layout and facilities available. Through the observation, materials used in the cabin space feels luxurious - like a person sitting in the driver's seat, you can definitely feel the exclusive “wealthy” aura (even if it’s only for a while).

The finishes used for the interior of this Lexus UX 200 reflects the beauty of traditional Japanese art. To quote Shaun based on his review video:

“(This car)  exhibits the ‘Washi’ dashboard trim, the texture of ancient Japanese paper sliding doors. Even on top here you can actually feel, this feels like a paper kind of feel but it’s not paper, it is actually leather. ”

Meanwhile, the leather-wrapped seats are trimmed with Sashiko stitching. According to Shaun, this seat "uses the same Sashiko stitching which is used for on martial arts uniforms, such as Judo uniforms."

Ergonomic features 

Not only that, what is exciting about this car is that every important feature available on the car is easy to reach and is visible to the driver. Creative design ideas, as well as ergonomic features, are integrated into the disclosure of the interior design, especially on the centre console.

Infotainment system that points towards the driver

To make it easier for drivers to control the infotainment system, Lexus provides a trackpad next to the gear lever. This is one of the interesting ergonomic features found on the Lexus UX - while leaning back in the seat or while driving, the driver can control the system with more relaxation.

The Lexus UX 200 infotainment system is controlled using a trackpad

Important buttons on the steering wheel of the car, very convenient for the driver. Awesome!

Size 

Speaking of the size of the car, in the opinion of the writer, the legroom of the front seat has no issue, but it is quite narrow for the rear passengers.

The inconvenience in terms of size of this car is replaced by the presence of air conditioning and also a special USB charger port on the second row of this car.

Safety

While the UX is the cheapest model Lexus has to offer at the moment, it’s still luxurious combined with all the essential safety features whether passive or active. 

This car model is equipped with important features such as 8 airbags, blind-spot monitor, rear traffic warning, cornering brake control and so on.

Also available is the Lexus Safety System+ safety package which includes a pre-collision system, dynamic radar screen control, a permanent lane system and even an adaptive high-speed flashlight system.

Driving

The writer has driven this car during the day and night, in urban and rural areas. All that can be said is, the Lexus UX 200 is a perfect car model for any situation. Comfortable for casual or long-distance use.

The driving comfort is unmatched by any other car the writer had used at the time. The pickup feels quite solid, especially when using the Sport mode, the car’s acceleration power feels very satisfying when the oil pedal is pressed.

Our CariCarz video team that has tried this car also has the same opinion: "The driving is very comfortable, the performance is there."

Other driving modes available are Eco, for more fuel-efficient use (great savings!), and also Normal if you’re looking for a balance between performance and also savings.

According to Shaun, the colour of the instrument cluster, as well as the car’s infotainment system, will change according to the theme or driving mode.

In addition, the suspension is also amazing considering the writer is driving at full capacity with passengers in the car including those in the back seat. Although there are potholes, the impact is not very noticeable and it is definitely smooth. The car didn't even feel bouncy nor bumpy when she overcome those uneven road conditions. Thumbs up Lexus!

Technically, the Lexus UX 200 uses a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, with power channelled to the front wheels via a 10-speed Direct-Shift CVT. The UX uses the MacPherson Strut as the front suspension system and the Wishbone Trailing at the rear.

At night on poorly lit village paths, the Lexus UX’s highly adaptive flashlight system helps a lot. The writer does not have to bother adjusting the light to respect the car from the opposite direction.

In Conclusion...

Overall, this car is quite responsive even without having to put much effort into the car. The safety features provided are also very convenient for the driver in various driving situations. The Lexus UX is a car that is completely relaxed and satisfying to drive.

To know more about the Lexus UX 200, check out our video down below!