The Lexus UX is a compact five-door hatchback, with raised ride height and five seats. Though classed as a small SUV, it is more akin to a crossover due to that smallness. Consider it an alternative to a Mercedes-Benz GLA or Subaru Crosstrek.

Entry/egress up front is fairly straight forward, and as long as the rear occupants don’t mind, there is plenty of legroom if the front seats are slid back far enough. Headroom and shoulder space is also sufficient.

Stylish and beautifully presented, the UX’s dashboard is in keeping the Lexus’ luxury reputation, enhancing the premium ambience that the quality trim and materials offer.

For 2023, the revised UX is quieter inside, and brings in a two-inch larger centre touchscreen (now 12.3-inches) as well as a completely overhauled multimedia system. The fiddly old system has been turfed.

Ventilation is good, storage is excellent, and the driving position is first-class. Other than poor side/rear vision, there’s little to complain if you’re sat in the front of a UX.

Further back, rear-seat access is tight as a result of small door apertures. Longer-legged passengers may find leg/knee room to be very limited, and three larger folk may have discomfort being squeezed three-across.

On the other hand, Lexus has not skimped on the quality or ambience back there, while amenities like air vents, USB outlets, cupholders, overhead lighting, a map pocket and overhead grab handles are also present.

Overall, the UX should be viewed as a small and meticulously built and presented hatchback on stilts. The interior is worthy of the luxury badge.

All UX grades offer eight airbags, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Standard equipment levels in the base Luxury grade include a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth telephony, ‘Hey, Lexus!’ voice recognition, 10-speaker audio, DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation, climate control, an electronic park brake, keyless entry/start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote engine-start/door-unlocking/hazard flashers/buzzer, acoustic windscreen glass, heated/powered mirrors, a powered steering column, heated/powered front seats, roof rails, alarm, a powered tailgate and alloy wheels.

Going for the hybrid version also ushers in a kick sensor for that powered tailgate, a wireless phone charger, cornering lights, headlight cleaners and rear privacy glass. These form part of an ‘Enhancement Pack 2’.

For goodies like LED headlights, auto-folding mirrors, a sunroof, surround-view camera, head-up display, larger alloy wheels, memory settings for the front seat, premium leather upholstery, upgraded audio, ritzier finishes, and all-wheel drive, you’ll need to forgo the base UX Luxury grade and step up to the Sports Luxury or F Sport models.

The latter, by the way, introduces sportier trim, firmer suspension, and a host of other changes designed to make the UX seem a little bit racier.

Two powertrains are offered with the Lexus UX.

The first is the 200, featuring a 1987cc 2.0-litre twin-cam four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 126kW of power at 6600rpm and 205Nm of torque at 4800rpm.

Meanwhile, the UX250h hybrid employs a variation of that 2.0-litre engine, making 107kW of power at 6000rpm and 188Nm of torque between 4400 and 5200rpm. It is paired to an 80kW/202Nm electric motor mounted up front and 1.4kWh Ni-MH battery slung underneath the vehicle, for a combined power output of 135kW.

If you want all-wheel drive (AWD), another, rear-mounted motor is available in higher grades, but not in the base Luxury.

The Lexus UX is fitted with soft, sumptuous seats up front that are heated as well as powered, as you would expect from the brand. They offer both comfort and support, even after a long spell in them. They recline and slide, and offer lumbar support.

The rear seats are also well-padded, and benefit from a thoughtful angle, to help maximise comfort. However, three larger people will struggle to fit across the back bench easily, as shoulder space is limited due to the comparative narrowness of the UX.

Amenities back there include a centre armrest and cupholders. There backrest is also split, allowing for longer items of luggage in the cargo compartment to be placed into the cabin while still allowing for either one or two occupants (at a squeeze) to also ride along.

All figures are on the ADR 81/02 test cycle.

The UX200 has an Urban, Extra Urban and Combined fuel consumption figures of 7.0/5.1/5.8 litres per 100km respectively, for 132/103/107 grams per kilometre of carbon-dioxide emissions respectively.

Buyers can use standard 91 RON unleaded to fill up the fuel tank, which is 47 litres in capacity in the 200 and 43L in the 250h. Brimming it means you can enjoy up to 920km of range in the 200 and 1000km in the 250h, between refills.