The Cheapest Lexus In America Has One Major Drawback originally appeared on Autoblog.
Lexus does affordable luxury better than most
It’s tough being a luxury car fan if you have a tighter budget. In this case, you generally have two options: Buy a much smaller luxury car from a brand that isn’t German, or get the luxury car you want off the used market. If you must have a new luxury car that won't break the bank, Lexus has always been a strong alternative. But what is the cheapest Lexus you can buy right now? And what else can you get for the money? We’ll answer these questions here.
Related: This Is The Cheapest New Mercedes In America
The Cheapest Lexus Is The UX 300h
The cheapest new Lexus model, and the brand's cheapest SUV, is the base UX 300h, a subcompact crossover that starts at $36,740. Rivals like the Volvo XC40, BMW X1, and Audi Q3 all cost more. One of the only luxury crossovers that costs as little as the Lexus is the Acura ADX, which begins at $35,000.
Unlike all these rivals, the Lexus is the only one with a standard hybrid powertrain, so running costs are lower than average. Of course, efficiency isn’t the leading quality one expects of a luxury car, so it’s good to know that the UX 300h delivers in other aspects, too.
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Design: Upscale And Sporty
View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article
Lexus’ previous attempt to offer a more affordable, smaller model came in the form of the rather forgettable CT hatchback. Fortunately, the UX is a much more convincing interpretation of a downsized Lexus. The Spindle grille and sharp creases instantly link it to more expensive members of the Lexus family, but the UX’s smaller size gives it a sportier, more youthful look. The rear three-quarter angle is a little awkward, with a fender that juts out a bit awkwardly, but it’s an attractive little crossover overall.
The base trim isn’t obviously identifiable as the cheapest of the bunch. It still comes with the following features:
18-inch alloy wheels
Aluminum roof rails
Bi-LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights
Power moonroof (optional)
Other trims offer sportier looks, especially the F Sport versions, but all of these will cost over $40,000. That's not nearly as much as Lexus' most expensive cars, though, which will cost you over $100k.
Related: This Is The Most Expensive Lexus Model In America
Interior: Stylish And Plush, But Not Much Space
The UX has a nicely designed dashboard with a center stack that’s angled towards the driver. It may be the cheapest Lexus model on sale, but the materials are mostly soft-touch and the switchgear operates with a quality feel. The steering wheel and shift knob are trimmed in leather, while the seats are upholstered in Lexus’ NuLuxe faux leather.
What’s less impressive is the UX’s space utilization, and it’s one of this crossover’s main compromises. It has only 33.1 inches of rear legroom, whereas the BMW X1 has 37 inches in its second row. At 17.1 cubic feet, cargo space in the UX is also poor for a crossover. Most rivals offer more, including the X1 with 25.7 cubic feet. The new Acura ADX, a more price-comparable rival than the X1, also has more rear-seat and cargo space than the Lexus.
The standard features in the cheapest UX include the following:
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Eight-way power front seats
Six-speaker sound system
Eight-inch touchscreen display
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Blind-spot monitoring
Full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control
The base Acura ADX has larger display screens, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and wireless charging as standard, so it’s better specified than the Lexus. However, the UX still has a pleasant interior if you don’t need a lot of space.
Performance: Below-Average Performance, But Excellent Economy
Every UX comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that produces 196 horsepower combined. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional, but all models have a CVT.
With FWD, the 0-60 mph time is eight seconds, and it drops to 7.9 seconds with AWD. Although the low-end punch from the electric motor and the UX’s small size make it feel quite zippy, many rivals are quicker. For instance, the base Audi Q3 needs 7.1 seconds to reach 60. The Lexus is quicker than the AWD Acura ADX, though, which needed 8.7 seconds to reach 60 in independent testing.
As is typical Lexus, the UX is refined and easygoing on the move. It’s quite nimble, too, if not as sporty as hotter versions of the BMW X1.
The efficiency of this affordable Lexus is one of the best in the segment. FWD models return 45/41/43 mpg city/highway/combined, and AWD variants get 44/40/42 mpg.
Other Cheap Lexus Models
Besides the UX, these are some other cheap Lexus cars worth considering at under $45,000.
Lexus IS: $40,535
It has been around for a while and will be discontinued soon, but the base Lexus IS is good value at its price point of just over $40k, making it the cheapest Lexus sedan. It has a 241-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, and it’s comfortably quicker than the UX (0-60 in 6.9 seconds). As with the UX, rear-seat space in the IS isn’t generous, but this rear-wheel-drive sedan is more fun to drive than its crossover sibling.
Lexus NX: $40,965
The NX is Lexus’ compact SUV and it starts at a few hundred dollars more than the IS sedan. This has significantly more space than the UX, so if you have a small family, it’s a much more sensible choice. A 203-hp engine is standard in the base NX, so performance is similar to the UX, but efficiency is poorer. Heated front seats and a larger infotainment display form part of the NX’s more generous standard spec.
Summary: The UX Is A Decent Gateway To Luxury
From its appealing looks to the premium interior, the UX does a good job of concealing its lower price within the Lexus range. Its highly efficient powertrain is also appreciated at this price point, as its fuel costs will be reasonable. Adding to the sensible nature of this crossover is its good resale value.
The main downside to the UX is the fact that it’s rather impractical. The back seat will be fine for smaller children, but adults won't enjoy long trips back there and the trunk doesn’t offer the space advantage over sedans that most crossovers do. For a single person or couple, it’s a strong choice.
The Cheapest Lexus In America Has One Major Drawback first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 10, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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