2026 Lexus UX

Historically, the most affordable entry point into a luxury brand has been a small sedan. However, in 2026, the most budget-friendly Lexus is the UX, a small SUV with a standard hybrid powertrain that gets up to 43 mpg in mixed driving. Although its sub-$40K starting price makes it accessible to a wide range of drivers, it never feels cheap. The design, comfort, and overall build quality are par for the course for a Lexus. The Lexus brand’s virtues, packaged in a small hybrid SUV, make the UX a compelling option for a practical, value-packed luxury vehicle.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury subcompact SUVs, including the Lexus UX.

The Lexus UX is priced lower than most competing subcompact luxury SUVs. The only one that undercuts it on price is the Acura ADX, which is roomier, but doesn’t offer a hybrid option. European rivals like the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA are all pricier.

Class-Leading Resale Value

Before buying a UX, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The Lexus UX is the reigning champ in its segment for our Best Resale Value Award; it holds its value better than any other subcompact luxury SUV. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

In our testing, we found the Lexus UX to deliver a pleasant and quiet driving experience. Although on the less exciting side of this segment, most Lexus models prioritize comfort and efficiency over pulse-pounding performance, and the UX is a typical Lexus in this sense. The motors were enhanced in 2025 for a bump in horsepower, but acceleration is still on the leisurely side.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, but upgrading to all-wheel drive (AWD) adds an electric motor to the rear axle for ever-so-slightly quicker acceleration and better all-season traction. A nice perk of the F Sport Handling trim is an Active Variable Suspension (AVS), which enhances both comfort and handling. We think it’s a great upgrade if your budget allows it; it makes the UX feel like a bigger, more expensive luxury SUV.

SUVs this small don’t always ride very well on long highway trips, but the Lexus UX has a long enough wheelbase and a compliant enough suspension to be comfy in highway cruising. It delivers a nice balance of comfort and agility, with its small footprint making it easy to park and maneuver in city streets. For many folks who don’t need a ton of space, the Lexus UX is a just-right-sized premium SUV.

Powertrain

We found front seat comfort to be a strong suit of the Lexus UX. This is a strength of all Lexus models, and we’re glad the brand’s most affordable model doesn’t miss out on comfy front seats. Every trim uses NuLuxe faux leather upholstery. The F Sport Handling trim features a sportier interior design with “F Sport” branding, red accent stitching, and available Circuit Red upholstery.

Rear-seat passengers aren’t as fortunate as the front-seat occupants. Even for a subcompact SUV, the back seats are pretty tight. We felt cramped when we climbed back there with only 33.1 inches of legroom, which is the least in this class. It’s a similar story with cargo room: there’s 17.1 cubic feet behind the back seats, which is almost 30% less than the Acura ADX.

The base trim has an 8-inch infotainment display, but the Premium and F Sport models get a bigger 12.3-inch screen. Regardless of screen size, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity come standard. Oddly, a wireless phone charging pad is a $75 individual option on all trims. We find the Lexus Interface to have one of the best voice-control systems of its kind. Just say “Hey Lexus,” and the built-in assistant can help with navigation, music, climate, and more.

Lexus Safety System+ 3.0
Every 2026 Lexus UX comes standard with this suite of driver-assistance features, including full-speed adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist. It helps bring a little extra peace of mind to every drive, and it makes highway driving more relaxed.

F Sport models
The F Sport trims of the Lexus UX are inspired by the brand’s F subbrand and bring a sportier look and feel to this premium SUV. The F Sport Design trim is primarily an aesthetic upgrade that builds on the Premium trim, but F Sport Handling adds the sophisticated Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which sharpens handling and enhances comfort.

Proactive Driving Assist
This is one of our favorite Lexus features that many of its rivals lack. It uses cameras and radar to assist with braking and steering, slowing you down when approaching another car or when the system detects a pedestrian or cyclist. It’s especially useful in city driving with heavy traffic, mitigating the need to slam on the brakes.