The compact crossover sector is the fastest growing of all in the motor industry. Now Lexus has joined the fray with one called the UX that comes with a relatively attractive price tag.
Any car manufacturer that does'nt have a compact crossover in its line-up - and there are few at this stage - is'nt at the races, as they say. It was the Nissan Qashqai that started the craze - a car dressed up as a small SUV and, in reality, that's all most crossovers are. However, many people who buy them are delighted with the height of them and the ease of entry they offer. And besides, they're not boring old hatchbacks.
Volvo raised the stakes when it brought out the XC 40 and it went on to win the European Car of the Year title and a string of other awards. Luxury manufacturers also wanted a piece of the action and now it's the turn of Lexus with its UX. It's due in Ireland in the next few months, with a starting price of €40,200.
Lexus has'nt exactly followed the herd with this car and has set out to produce a car that combines the more attractive qualities of a hatchback with those of a crossover. Hence the car is not as high as other crossovers, which may or may not go against it. The lines are clear and edgy and come from the same pencil as has drawn those of the LC coupe - perhaps the sharpest car ever produced by Lexus - and the newer RX.
The engine is a 2.0 litre petrol hybrid, mated to a CVT automatic transmission that is reportedly quieter than the CVT's Toyota and Lexus have used previously. There is a 176 horse power output from the engine.
There are three drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport. Sport is designed to increase steering feel and changes the powertrain controls for the engine/hybrid system and transmission to enhance acceleration. At 320 litres, the boot does not appear to be overly generous.
The entry-level car is the S-Design, which comes with a predictably good list of equipment as standard. It has 17" alloy wheels, a 7" infotainment screen, the Lexus Safety System, a 6 Speaker audio system, a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, dual zone climate control, road sign reading capacity, lane departure alert, LED headlights with automatic high beam adjustment, a rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, LED front and rear fog lights, electrically adjusted and heated mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.
The level above this - the Executive - gets 18" alloy wheels, leather upholstery, smart entry for the driver, passenger and boot door, heated front seats, rear privacy glass, satellite navigation, LED front fog light that "corners" with the car, illuminated entry and an auto dimming mirror.
