Words by Gugu Masuku

Through the years, Lexus has become known to consumers as a brand for the older generation, whether this was intentional on the part of the brand or not, that’s the perception. Aside from some of their more recent offerings and sport portfolio, they’ve traditionally produced vehicles that lean more towards subtle and, dare I say, dated in design and appearance. There may be an audience for such a vehicle but it’s a very niche corner and Lexus has happily played in this little section of the sand pit, until now.

 

The UX wears sharp lines and edges and wears them well

 

 

The recent launch of the brand new Lexus UX has broken the mould for the luxury brand. The UX is bold and edgy in design, calling out to a new target audience and demographic—millennials. The UX wears sharp lines and edges and wears them well. At the front, the single grille makes a bold statement and is cheered on by alluring daytime running LED lights. The rear has its own mesmerising charms, you are left fascinated by a single combination light that runs across the width of the boot and beams in bright red when the brakes are applied.

 

The UX is a new face in the crossover segment, although Lexus likes to see it as a compact SUV; whichever you see it, the UX is the new kid in that very complex block. It pits itself against the likes of the BMW X2; Mercedes Bens GLA; Audi Q3 and the Jaguar E-Pace. Of course, where the UX starts to pull ahead is in its box of extras. As we’ve come to expect from Lexus, there are lots of standard features that you would pay a lot of extra rands for with other brands. As it stands, the UX is available in 3 derivatives: the 200 EX, 250h SE, and 200 F Sport. The immediate inclusion of a hybrid in a new model is a bold statement from Lexus, re-enforcing their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and producing environmentally conscious vehicles.

 

Once you get cruising, the added tranquility of the hybrid motor elevates the feeling of effortlessness.

 

 

Behind the wheel, you don’t feel shortchanged—not even a little bit. The UX boasts a very premium interior with a few noticeable firsts for Lexus, like an ergonomic audio control that is perfectly fitted to the end of your armrest for intuitive access. This is all good and well but what matters most is how it behaves on the road. This crossover is a joy to drive around town, light and soft in its stride, especially in hybrid guise. Once you get cruising, the added tranquility of the hybrid motor elevates the feeling of effortlessness. For those with a zeal for spirited driving every now and again, the F Sport caters to this need perfectly with Lexus’s Adaptive Variable Suspension.

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