Lexus UX 250h F SPORT Photo Journal - Touring Back Roads New England

The Lexus UX 250h F SPORT is a five-passenger all-wheel drive compact crossover. Lexus has combined equal parts luxury, hybrid efficiency, modern infotainment, and sporty hatchback attitude to build a rather unique vehicle. We can’t name another vehicle that mimics it.

We took the UX tester we had to springtime New England to find out how the UX behaves off the beaten path. We traveled mountain roads, switchbacks, and rural dirt roads in the UX and discovered that the UX is the perfect companion for such a journey.

The UX 250h F SPORT uses a 2.0-liter engine and hybrid powertrain to provide outstanding efficiency. The UX is rated at 41 MPG City and 39 MPG Highway. These are impressive numbers for an AWD crossover vehicle without a plug. However, what we liked most about the UX’s powertrain was its smooth quiet demeanor.

In many circumstances, the UX makes no noise at all from its running gear other than that mandated by safety requirements. This makes the UX relaxing, and an ideal partner for watching the natural world around you on a trip.

The UX 250h F SPORT isn’t spoiled by low-profile tires and a stiff ride.

To the contrary, the UX is so smooth over even the most rocky of dirt roads that it seems to glide above the surface. However, turning and stopping are crisp and satisfying on the paved sections of a mountain pass.

We used the head-up display along with Android Auto and Google Maps to keep us focused on the road ahead. Lexus has developed a set of ergonomically-pleasing controls for the multi-media system that you can operate intuitively with your right hand. Volume, station selection, and more are easy to operate via muscle memory. The UX is a vehicle that helps you keep your priorities straight.

We dropped the glass, opened the moonroof, and turned up the comfy seat and steering wheel heaters on our drive on a crisp 50-degree afternoon. Though not a substitute for a convertible, the UX has an open-air feeling when driven this way that is a practical alternative. Button everything up, and the UX offers Zen-like isolation from noise and vibrations for the highway ride home.

Those shoppers for whom a battery-electric vehicle is impractical should consider the Lexus UX 250h F SPORT. The UX provides a great mix of premium features, practicality, driving enjoyment, and a low environmental impact.

Lexus UX Fast Facts:
Starting Price Including Delivery Fee = $37K
Price As Tested With Options = $43,885 including delivery fee
EPA Greenhouse gas rating 8/10 (Higher is better)
EPA Annual Energy Cost Estimate $1,050
Safety Scores: NHTSA Safety Rating 5 Stars & IIHS Top Safety Pick
Warranty: 4-year/50K Comprehensive, 6/70K Powertrain, 8/100 Hybrid components, 10/150K Hybrid battery
EPA Cargo Volume 17 cubic feet behind the second row
EPA Passenger Volume 90 cubic feet

Photo Notes: All photos by John Goreham except interior image courtesy of Lexus. Photography location Hillsboro, NH.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. Following his engineering program, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin