2024 Lexus UX goes hybrid and electric only with more power, tech

The 2024 Lexus UX small SUV has dropped regular petrol power – and is now sold in hybrid and electric variants only – to coincide with an update to its technology, safety features and hybrid system.

Prices have risen by up to $6715, though some UX variants gain previously-optional features as standard, narrowing the price difference to between a reduction of $300, and an increase of $1170.

The price of the cheapest Lexus UX has climbed by $9285 with the deletion of the petrol version, which means the newly-introduced, smaller LBX city SUV becomes the company's least expensive model, from $47,550 plus on-road costs.

MORE: 2024 Lexus UX updated in Japan with more powerful hybrid

Lexus Australia has followed its Japanese and US counterparts in axing the base UX200 petrol – and introducing a new, more powerful and more efficient UX300h hybrid to replace the UX250h.

Unchanged for 2024 is the UX300e, after a major update introduced last year, with a larger battery and a 50 per cent increase in driving range.

The UX300h develops 146kW, up 11kW, from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, one or two electric motors, and a new lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed 15 per cent higher output from each cell than the previous nickel-metal hydride battery.

Contributing to the power boost is a 5kW increase from the 2.0-litre engine – now quoting 112kW/188Nm, through changes to the intake and exhaust – and a more powerful front electric motor, now developing 83kW/206Nm (up from 80kW).

In all-wheel-drive models, the rear electric motor has been boosted to 30kW/84Nm – up from 5kW/55Nm – while being lighter than before.

Lexus claims fuel consumption has decreased from 4.3 to 4.2 litres per 100 kilometres for the UX300h front-wheel drive, and from 4.6 to 4.4L/100km for the all-wheel drive (AWD).

Other changes for the UX300h include a shift-by-wire gear selector, with a new shift knob in the cabin.

The 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen introduced last year now supports wireless Android Auto (previously wired) – in addition to carry-over wireless Apple CarPlay – while a larger 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is standard across the range (up from 7.0 inches).

There is a new colour head-up display in the UX300e Luxury.

Safety has seen an upgrade with the addition of safe exit assist, which alerts occupants if they are about to open the side doors into the path of oncoming vehicles or cyclists.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can now detect motorcycles in the daytime, and cyclists at all hours, while also avoiding collisions with vehicles crossing at an intersection.

A driver monitoring camera has been added on top of the steering column to ensure the driver is watching the road, the low-speed parking AEB system is said to have been improved and works with the 360-degree camera on some models.

Lexus says "electrically controlled braking is standard on the UX range," with a new Vehicle Braking Posture Control system claimed to vary "the front-rear brake force distribution to minimise pitch and roll, making for a more comfortable driving experience."

Sonic Copper replaces Blazing Carnelian on the exterior colour palette, while Solis White replaces Rich Cream on the list of interior upholstery options.

All-wheel-drive hybrid models gain more equipment, with the Enhancement Pack seemingly deleted from the UX F Sport and Sports Luxury AWD hybrids, and many of its features made standard.

New for both UX300h F Sport and Sports Luxury AWD variants are a sunroof and smart key card, while the F Sport also receives a heated steering wheel, 360-degree camera, and 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system as standard.

The 2024 Lexus UX is available to order now.