2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

Name: 2021 Lexus UX 200 Review
Brand: Lexus
Price: 26998 USD

+113

The Lexus UX is a stylish little runabout. The interior design is distinctive, and there are a lot of luxury features. However, utility and infotainment are underwhelming, making the UX's luxury price tag a bit of an eyebrow raiser.

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2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

High fuel economy
Lots of standard and optional safety tech
Maneuverable around town thanks to small dimensions

Cons

Infotainment interface can be difficult to use
Limited rear legroom
Cargo area has a high liftover height
All-wheel drive is only available on the UX 250h hybrid

What's new

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are now standard
Part of the first UX generation introduced for 2019

Overview

The 2021 Lexus UX 200 is a likable compact luxury SUV. It's smaller and less expensive than Lexus' next-size-up SUV, the NX 300, but it's still well equipped with features. The interior is lined with lots of high-quality materials, and even the base trim comes with advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. For 2021, the UX gets even more safety equipment in the form of blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert — both are now standard.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.73 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in California

$220/mo

$254/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

On the downside, the UX 200 offers less interior space and is behind the curve when it comes to infotainment technology, especially compared to top competitors such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB. For more information on the UX 200 and how it stacks up against its rivals, read the full Edmunds rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Below Average

7.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the UX 200 drive? Outright acceleration is undeniably slow (0-60 mph takes 8.9 seconds), but the UX 200 is relatively zippy and playful as a city runabout. Brake feel is reassuring, which helps make the UX easy to drive. Emergency braking performance, however, is lacking. We measured a stopping distance of 129 feet from 60 mph, which is longer than average for a small SUV.

The steering has a good on-center feel and steering resistance builds quickly, which makes the UX feel a bit more substantial than its size suggests. There's not much in terms of road feedback, but the steering is precise and easy to judge. The UX imparts confidence when going around smooth and sweeping turns, such as a freeway on-ramp. But it's less composed on bumpy or tight turns.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the UX 200? Sadly, the smallest Lexus crossover doesn't go big on comfort. The front seat has pleasantly supportive cushions, but the seatback's distinct contour won't please everyone. The ride is rougher than we'd expect too. The suspension smooths out sharp edges, but it still transmits too much of the road surface into the cabin.

Heating and cooling are strong. The heated and ventilated seats aren't the most powerful, but they get the job done. The UX doesn't do the best job of isolating you from traffic noise, and depending on the road surface, there's also noticeable road and tire noise.

Interior

6.5/10

How’s the interior? This is a small vehicle, especially compared to other subcompact SUVs. The front accommodations are a bit narrow. Taller passengers will have to duck in and out of the back seat and will find legroom lacking. The interior is attractively designed, however, even if the controls are a bit confusing to use at times. The infotainment touchpad is especially frustrating.

The bottom of the windows is high, so you feel like you're sitting quite low in the car, and the thick roof pillars create blind spots. You can raise the seat, but then you might find the gauge cluster and wheel are mounted awkwardly low. The steering column lacks sufficient range of motion to accommodate a variety of natural seating positions.

Technology

7.0/10

How’s the tech? The UX's infotainment system display looks nice, and it's not difficult to figure out how to do things, but the touch interface adds a layer of frustration to every interaction. The best results while using voice controls come from following the on-screen guide step by step, but that takes more time and is just as distracting as performing tasks by hand. The optional eight-speaker audio system at least provides strong and accurate sound.

As for driver aids, the UX comes with plenty of them standard. Most of the systems seem to lack the refinement found in more expensive Lexus vehicles. The adaptive cruise control, for instance, is overly twitchy when braking and accelerating.

Storage

6.5/10

How’s the storage? The UX 200 offers an underwhelming amount of storage space. The load floor isn't particularly wide, and the liftover point is a bit high. For small items, you get anti-tip cupholders and a modestly sized console box under the armrest. There's a small shelf in front of the shifter with just enough room for a phone. The door pockets are quite small.

Got small kids? Car seat anchors and tethers are clearly marked and easy to access thanks to large plastic sleeves with doors that pop on and off. Bulky rear-facing car seats may have issues clearing the front seatbacks when being installed or removed. They'll also interfere with front seat travel.

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The UX offers top-notch fuel economy. Its EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined blows competitors out of the water. There's also the fact that you'll be filling up with regular gas in a class where premium is the norm. As long as you avoid the temptation to rev up the engine a lot to compensate for the lack of power, you'll likely spend less on gas in this than anything in the class (except the UX hybrid).

Value

8.0/10

Is the UX 200 a good value? The UX comes with a nicely designed and constructed interior with a lot of soft-touch materials. Every surface seems to have some sort of texturing, which adds depth and visual interest to the cabin. Lexus' warranty is typically better than average.

Wildcard

7.5/10

The UX looks very nice on the inside, especially with the Luxury package. The car's design and execution make it stand out from the crowd. It seems to be aiming for "zippy city runabout with style" and it succeeds … even if we could stand a little more zip.

Which UX 200 does Edmunds recommend?

The UX 200's upper trim levels offer a few attractive features, but we'd recommend the base trim level. Aside from a parking assist system and some upgraded headlights, the base trim comes standard with all of the UX's available safety equipment. And with the optional Premium package, you can add heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

2021 Lexus UX 200 models

The 2021 Lexus UX 200 is an extra-small five-passenger SUV that comes in base, Luxury and F Sport trim levels. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (169 horsepower, 151 lb-ft of torque) that sends power to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is not available on the UX 200, but it does come standard on the UX 250h, the hybrid version of the UX (reviewed separately). Feature highlights include:

UX 200 Base
The base version of the UX 200 comes standard with:

LED headlights
Dual-zone automatic climate control
7-inch infotainment display
Simulated leather upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
Six-speaker audio system
Wi-Fi hotspot

Standard safety features for the UX 200 include:

Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Lexus and the car in front)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (steers the UX 200 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Options for the base UX 200 include:

Premium package:

Sunroof
Heated and ventilated front seats
Automatic wipers

Hands-free liftgate
Upgraded headlights
Heated steering wheel
10.3-inch infotainment display with navigation and eight-speaker sound system
Wireless smartphone charging
Parking sensors with automatic braking (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking, and can apply the brakes to minimize or avoid a collision)

F Sport
The F Sport trim builds on the base trim by adding:

Sport-tuned suspension
Unique 18-inch wheels
LED foglights
Augmented engine sound generator
Steering wheel-mounted paddles that control simulated gear shifts
Sport front seats
Upgraded digital gauge cluster

Luxury
Compared to the base trim, the Luxury adds a few more extras, including:

Standard Premium package
Hands-free liftgate
Driver-seat memory functions
Illuminated air vent knobs
Noise-reducing front windows

The Luxury and F Sport are eligible for the same options as the base trim, if not already included.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Lexus UX 200.

5 (60%)

4 (20%)

3 (5%)

2 (5%)

1 (10%)

4.2

20 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

A great value

JS, 03/20/2019

2019 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

We traded in a 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn for a 2019 Lexus UX 200 with Premium Package in Eminent White Pearl with Birch interior. At the time of this review, I have driven this car for 850 miles. The UX is the cheapest way to get into the Lexus brand via a new car. The window sticker for our car was $36,718 and it comes with plenty of features that make up for a great … value: Moonroof, auto dimming inner rearview mirror with compass and homelink, rain sensing wipers, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, power rear hatch door with kick sensor, blind spot, full safety suite with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert with automatic braking, parking assist (sensors in the front and back of car), pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and road sign assist (the car has a camera that will recognize speed limit, yield, do not enter, stop, and a few other signs and display them in the instrument cluster). I think the key is to keep this car under $40k and not get it fully loaded. We decided against the F Sport package as well as the upgraded 10 inch screen. If you’re considering this car, you’ve likely read and watched some video reviews already and you might be concerned about the power and if it’s adequate. I’m finding this car to be plenty powerful around town, and I’m coming from a VW GTI which is much quicker. While this car is slower, it does not feel as slow as some people are making it out to be. Put the car in Sport mode and you have plenty of power to accelerate around town and on the freeway. Our other vehicle is a 2018 Lexus RX450h F Sport. I’m surprised how many features this UX has that either carry over from the current gen RX or are even better. For example, the RX has a heated steering wheel but it’s only an on/off button, whereas the UX has an auto feature and two stages (high and low). You also have the new Lexus Concierge which turns both front seats and the steering wheel on “Auto” and all three will adjust to the climate control. Of course, you also get Apple CarPlay which the majority of the Lexus lineup still doesn’t have.  Another thing that I was surprised to learn was that the UX offers a black headliner with certain interior colors — even without having to opt for the F Sport package. This is something I always prefer to have in a car, and it’s nice to not need the F Sport package just to get it. Speaking of the interior, we had a tough time deciding between the black interior vs. birch interior. We ended up with birch which is a very, very light gray (almost looks white). Most people were advising against it in favor of maintenance, but we took the risk and are so happy with the decision (so far). The black is just too dark, especially on the doors where nothing seems to break up the design other than the door handle. With birch, you get a little more contrast. The seats are extremely comfortable and the car glides like butter. You don’t feel like you’re driving the “cheap” Lexus. It’s actually very smooth, quiet, refined, and more fun in Sport mode than I would have thought. The back seat is pretty small, but you can still fit adults back there as long as all passengers aren’t 6+ ft tall. Here are my gripes: (1) We’re not quite getting the 33 combined MPG. I’ll continue to monitor and update this review as time goes on though. (2) There’s a lack of storage throughout. No sunglass holder, side pockets in front doors are small and they don’t exist in the rear doors. But that’s about it so far. We love everything else.  Do yourself a favor and consider this vehicle! You get so much for your money, including Lexus reliability and an impressive warranty. **UPDATE March 2020 (1 yr later)** We're still loving our UX! It has been reliable the entire time. We now have 15k miles on the car and have only gone to the dealer for 5k, 10k, 15k services. At the 10k service we mentioned a slight rattle in the front passenger door when playing music. The dealer was able to fix it with some insulation of some sort. No other issues to date! We continue to enjoy the smooth ride. The birch interior has also held up really well. It doesn't show any dirt, which is surprising given it's near-white color! **UPDATE Sept 2020 (18 months after purchase)** We are still enjoying this car! We're at just under 20k miles. Recently brought it to the dealer because of a rough shifting from 1st gear to CVT. The master tech performed a software update and checked some other items and it's much better, but still not perfect. I can live with it though. Putting it in Sport mode gets rid of the issue completely. We also had them lubricate the center armrest lid because it started to squeak when opening and closing. It's back to normal now. Looking forward to bringing the car on a road trip in a couple weeks. Last time, we got over 40 mpg on average while in Eco mode averaging about 68 MPH.

So What’s Not to Like

Steven Moore, 01/26/2019

2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I traded in a ‘16 RX350 for this ‘19 UX 200. Believe it or not this car is even more refined and immensely more satisfying. I could not believe how extremely quiet and isolated the smaller SUV has become. It absolutely turns on a dime. It is tremendously responsive in every detail from breaking to steering to every input you can conceive. The updated electronics are amazing. The …

Great Lexus Value

David D., 04/13/2019

2019 Lexus UX 200 F SPORT 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I just leased this car, and love the flexibility. Currently, I also drive the LC500, and needed a more flexible car, with additional space for extra passengers, and to do shopping for larger items. I have had 8 Lexus' since 2001. I love this car. The size is perfect, the look is sporty, interior is not as expensive as my other Lexus', but I really needed a daily driver, to go to work …

Replaces Mazda CX5 with Lexus UX200 - Happy!

Bosh, 03/16/2019

2019 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I was looking for a Car from a Premium brand that I would use for regular commute mostly in the City of LA. For the price, fuel economy, reliability, resale and safety - Lexus UX200 was a GREAT buy for me. I looked at X1, Q3 and GLA, they all have certain things (like rear space for passengers in X1 and the cargo space etc.,) going better compared to Lexus whereas certain other things …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Lexus UX 200, so we've included reviews for other years of the UX 200 since its last redesign.

See all 20 reviews of the Lexus UX 200

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2021 UX 200 Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$220/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	21.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the UX 200 models:

Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist: Monitors lane markings, warns you if you are drifting, and can even help steer the vehicle back into the lane of travel.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: Helps drivers maintain a preset distance by adjusting the vehicle's speed in relation to the vehicle directly ahead.
Intelligent High Beams: Switches between high and low beams automatically by using cues from a camera that helps detect when other vehicles are present.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.73 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which UX 200 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Lexus UX 200 models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Lexus UX 200.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

A great value

So What’s Not to Like

Great Lexus Value

Replaces Mazda CX5 with Lexus UX200 - Happy!

2021 UX 200 Highlights

Safety

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2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

2021 Lexus UX 200 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.73 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which UX 200 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Lexus UX 200 models

Most helpful consumer reviews

A great value

So What’s Not to Like

Great Lexus Value

Replaces Mazda CX5 with Lexus UX200 - Happy!

2021 UX 200 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

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Related Used 2021 Lexus UX 200 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Lexus

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Lexus UX 200 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.73 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.}