Lexus UX: There Was An Attempt ™

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
08/20/2018 at 00:02 • Filed to: Lexus

This is a Lexus crossover so small, it could have been a hatchback. Yes, it’s smaller than the NX, and may or may not be a fancy version of Toyota’s Juke knock-off. But of course it’s suicide in America’s entry luxury market to call something a hatchback. So there’s acres of plastic cladding on what would have otherwise been a passable design. I guess it’s not fair to complain about something that all manufacturers are doing, as it’s clearly accomplishing the primary goal: selling.

Even with the F-sport model, you still get a little underpowered 4-banger, putting out as much power as a 2012 Scion tC. No opiton for say the 3.5 out of the GS350. And I guess you can’t even get the 2.0 turbo out of an NX200t. Why, Lexus? Why? There’s a hybrid model as well. Whatever. Fwd or Awd. And of course, CVT only. I know, I know. Why bother complaining when people who don’t buy these don’t care about the CVT, and certainly it’s made many strides over the last decade...

I’d like to see a rendering of this without the cladding. And then make it RWD with the detuned 3.5... the UX300. What’s that, you say? It will never sell? And since I don’t buy new I have no right to complain? True, true...

DISCUSSION (5)

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/20/2018 at 00:20

This reminds me that we saw a BMW X2 today and had a discussion about the fact that it’s no bigger than our cars. It’s just a lifted hatchback.

Everyone is doing it, clearly.

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/20/2018 at 01:39

Michael Woyahn > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/20/2018 at 02:26

Yes, I’m weirdly invested in Lexus’ lineup, but this car really bothers me and you hit the nail on the head. I think it looks good and the interior is fantastic , but man is the powertrain a let down. And as far as I can tell, the only way to get the all important AWD is with the hybrid, which definitely seems like an oversight, especially for this market.

I think a UX-F with the 2.0 turbo from the NX and AWD a la GLA45 AMG would be amazing, but those GLA AMGs are clearly not huge sellers so I see why Toyota wouldn’t go for that. And like you I’d never buy one, so my opinion doesn’t matter. A nother RX may be in the future and that one would be used too so my opinion still doesn’t matter.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/20/2018 at 09:40

The RAV4 only has a puny 4-banger without a turbo, yet no one complains about it around here.

This car is not designed for us; the enthusiast. It is built to meet a price-point in the market, and to help with their corporate fuel economy average. I sincerely doubt most buyers will care about the power figures after driving one. And having to buy the hybrid to get AWD is just fine. In fact, I think it will sell more of these as the instant torque from the electric motors will make this car feel much more awake.

Also, while I cannot personally attest to it yet, they claim their new CVT+1st-gear will alleviate the typical complaints about CVT driving. It will move from a stop with more authority than a simple CVT, and they have also programmed the CVT to have ‘ratios’ and to ‘shift’ more like a normal automatic transmission, so it supposedly won’t hold 3k RPM and hum like before.

Should this just be a hatchback? Yes, and when I was at Lexus HQ earlier this month, I told them that. But the market wants ‘crossovers’, so they built what the market demands.

Would I love to see a hot-ish hatch from Lexus? Absolutely. Odds are it will never happen. Very few Lexus buyers are that concerned about absolute performance, and even fewer want a small, performance-oriented car. Those who do, will have already purchased better models from other brands. A Lexus ‘Miata’ simply does not fit the brand in any way.

fintail > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/20/2018 at 09:46

Like the NX, it looks like a tarted up RAV4 when not wearing the fake sport trim, and the front overhang is grossly exaggerated by that face not even a mother could love. But it will sell , because of a certain demographic who controls the finances of so many .

Hey, at least no faux floating C-pillar.