Finally, a Serious All-Electric From Toyota?
After 23 years and 15 million hybrids, Toyota’s Lexus division proudly presents the company’s first full production battery-electric car. They have had two limited production RAV4 EVs and, of course, have championed fuel cell electric vehicles, but this represents the first corporate commitment to volume EV production. It’s in the smallest of the Lexus crossovers—the UX—and uses 300e as its sub-model nomenclature.
This is exciting news, if you’re in China and ready (and able) to go out and get yourself a new electric ride. It’s also shown on Lexus’ European website, but if you go to order one there, you won’t see it listed. Just be patient. If you’re in the U.S., be very patient. But it’s likely coming at some point.
I tested the Lexus UX 250h hybrid 13 months ago (there’s also a UX 200 petrol-only car), and it seemed like a good candidate for full EV status. The UX was the first Lexus to use Toyota’s modern Global Architecture Compact (GA-C) platform, which also underpins the ubiquitous Corolla, so it’s thoroughly modern and high-tech. The UX 250h earned a nice EPA rating of 41 mpg city/38 highway/39 combined. The EV will do better, of course.
The European stats list a 150-kW motor (204 horsepower) with 300 Nm of torque (221.3 pound-feet). The website says it recorded a 7.5-second zero-to-100 km time (0-62 mph), which isn’t neck snapping, but should be fun enough. The European EV test cycle gives the UX 300e a range of 400 km (248.5 miles), but Europe’s test is a bit more generous than the American one. If the UX 300e arrives with more than 225 miles of range, it’s competitive, although there are other EVs with 259 miles these days and some Teslas exceed that. And more models coming to market all the time.
The Lexus UX 300e is a tidily sized crossover in a configuration that pre-COVID-19 was booming, so it should do well in the U.S. if priced right. There is really little competition in luxury small SUVs now besides Tesla’s new Model Y. If it’s the size of a Hyundai Kona Electric, costs $5,000 more, but is twice as nice, it may have a real shot. It still looks like a Lexus, though, so if the huge 3D grille and busy styling turn you off, it’s not for you.
My hope is that with this car, Toyota finally opens the faucet on building and selling pure EVs, such as a real production RAV4 EV, for example. Now that would be a real winner.
Related Stories You Might Enjoy—Toyota/Lexus EV/Hybrid Forays
Road Test: 2019 Lexus UX 250h Hybrid
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Road Test: 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric
First Drive: 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV
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