2019 Lexus UX 200: The Crossover for Minimalist Families

Lexus UX 200 F Sport: It’s fun, it’s efficient, and it’s easy to park.

Year, make, model: 2019 Lexus UX 200 F Sport
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 169 horsepower, front-wheel drive
Seating capacity: Five
Sets of car seat anchors: Two
EPA-estimated MPG (as tested): 29 mpg city and 27 mpg highway (33 mpg combined)
Price (as tested): $32,150 ($37,050)
Related vehicles we’ve tested: Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX, Ford Escape
In a nutshell: Don’t be afraid by the UX’s small size—simply think of it as a fun-sized chocolate bar. The smaller the more agile it is, and ultimately the easier it is to park around town. This swanky compact crossover is perfect for urban dwellers and young suburban families who don’t believe bigger is better.

Our Time Behind the Wheel

Does size matter? I guess it depends on who you ask. However, even with a full-time family of four (five in the summer and holidays), we don’t have a need for a large vehicle like the Ford Expedition or Lexus LX. Our commuting needs are quite basic and considering we live near downtown Indianapolis, it’s just easier to get around in smaller vehicles. For these and many other reasons, we found the Lexus UX 200 F Sport to be a charming and family-friendly vehicle. Like most others, it’s not perfect, but it manages to check most of the boxes that we’re looking for in a car as a family.

Starting with the outside, the design is youthful and definitely appealing. If you’re not a fan of Lexus’ enormous front grille then you probably won’t agree with me, but if you dig the front end then you will most likely find this little guy pretty charming. Perhaps an interesting fact about the UX is that it looks a lot smaller from the inside than it really is. Like most small cars like the VW Beetle and Mini Cooper, it’s actually quite spacious inside.

This leads us into the actual accommodations. Like most of our test cars, this UX was loaded up with most of the available options included, such as the F Sport package. This includes sportier looks on the outside and also racier and slightly bolstered seats that can be had in a variety of colors, including a pretty spicy black and red leather combination that’s sure to please adventurous types.

The seats themselves were very comfortable, but that’s no surprise to us, as Lexus knows how to build a comfy cabin. The rear seats featured seat warmers and overall they were a great place for the kids. However, tall and large adults may not find them as comfortable as the kids did—at least not for long distances like a road trip or so.

There are 21.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the Lexus UX, meaning that it’ll most likely satisfy your daily needs, but don’t expect it to do much more than that. If you’re going on vacation and transporting four people with four carry-on suitcases things might get a little tight, as you’ll quickly run out of space for things like backpacks, a cooler, etc.

Believe it or not, the most fun characteristic of the UX is its driving dynamics. Typically Lexus vehicles aren’t associated with being sharp or fun to drive, with the exception of its RC F or GSF of course. The UX’s small size and peppy four-cylinder turbo engine make it lively and quite zippy around town. Furthermore, a short wheelbase means it’s very manageable around city streets and a blast to tackle corners when on curvy roads.

Overall

Having driven all of Lexus’ lineup, I can confidently say that I particularly like the UX as well as the space where it fits in the automotive landscape. The infotainment system is still the biggest downside of most Lexus vehicles, but at least now it features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a huge win.

Its truly compact size is perfect for urban dwellers as well as suburban families who don’t care to own the larger-than-life SUVs that many parents rush into just because they have one or two kids. If you’re looking for a swanky ride that won’t break your fuel budget and fit in the tightest of parking spots, the Lexus UX is for you.