[Updated] Lexus Australia confirms UX 300e electric SUV specifications ahead of November launch
Lexus’ UX 300e electric crossover is expected to reach Australia in November 2021. Images: Lexus Europe
[Updated 17/11/21] Lexus Australia has confirmed the UX300e will start from $74,000 MLP before on road costs. Lexus will continue to insist the UX300e receives an annual service, but this will be capped at $295 per year for the first five years.
Lexus Australia will also offer three years complimentary DC charging for customers at Chargefox stations, and will include a 7kW AC charger, along with the cost of installation.
In a media release that flew under the radar this month, Lexus Australia has confirmed that the UX 300e all-electric crossover will in fact make it to market before the end of 2021. The Lexus UX 300e (short for Urban Explorer according to the company) is the first Battery Electric Vehicle from the luxury brand that has become synonymous with hybrid petrol powertrains, and combines Lexus’ love-it-or-hate-it “L-finesse” design language with the company’s reputation for quality interiors and a zero-emissions drivetrain.
Drivetrain and Battery
Offering a 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery, the UX 300e sports a WLTP rated range of 305km (Lexus Australia quotes the NEDC figure of 360km); somewhat limited against competitors from Kia, Hyundai, Tesla and Volvo. In European market guise at least, the UX 300e features a CHAdeMO plug for DC fast charging, and a Type 2 plug for AC charging. Lexus claims around 50 minutes will provide a 0-100 percent charge at a maximum rate of 50 kW.
The Nissan Leaf is the only passenger vehicle on the market in Australia that utilises a CHAdeMo connection as far as we are aware, and while most rapid charging stations still fit at least one connector, we feel the majority of manufacturers and charging companies are moving towards the CCS standard. Lexus Australia has yet to confirm if cars manufactured for Australia will continue with CHAdeMO or not.
With a respectable 150 kW and 300 Nm, the UX 300e cruises to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds. Utilising a front drive/front motor combination, we expect similar levels of wheel-slip to Hyundai’s Kona or Kia’s Niro EV, but it won’t be anything that traction control can’t manage.
Comprising 288-cells mounted in the floor and under the rear seats, the UX 300e is air-cooled rather than liquid-cooled like BEVs from Tesla, Hyundai, Volvo and Polestar. While Lexus claims this saves complexity and weight, we’ve seen the air-cooled Nissan Leaf suffer considerable battery degradation over time when compared with liquid-cooled BEVs. For its part though, Lexus offers a 10-year 1 million km battery warranty overseas.
The UX 300e features 288 cells mounted in an air-cooled module system.
Lexus UX 300e Australian specifications
The UX300e will be offered in Australia in Luxury and Sport Luxury variants. In typical Lexus fashion, a high level of standard equipment is fitted, with acoustic glass, LED exterior lighting all round, smart entry and start with keycard, heated, ventilated seats with heated steering wheel, powered front seats, wireless charging and smartphone mirroring via Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The Sport Luxury variant adds larger 18-inch alloy wheels, tri-beam LED headlights with dynamic levelling and adaptive cornering, a moonroof, head-up display and additional interior detailing. View the full inclusions list below:
LEXUS UX 300e Australian Pricing
The UX 300e has a starting price in the UK of £41,745 (approx. $77,264 AUD), and while a straight conversion is never accurate, we expect to see the Lexus slot into that $75,000-$80,000 price bracket to compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz’s EQA at $76,800, and Volvo’s XC40 Recharge at $76,990. We’ll update this article once we hear more on pricing. Lexus Europe states that the battery is “Carefully sized for the real-world needs of urban customers in Europe” - time will tell if that resonates with buyers down under. What are your thoughts on the UX 300e? Let us know in the comments below!