• Typical high quality Lexus interior
• Plush materials and excellent driving position
• Lots going on; infotainment is a black mark

How is the quality and layout?

The UX300h has a revised interior design over the 250h, complete with a new centre console unit to match some updated details in the door frames. It’s an interior that’s packed with as many interesting angles as the exterior – which can make it seem intimidating at first. Thankfully, it’s more cohesive overall and generally very easy to get to grips with, despite oddities such as the drive mode control built into a stalk on the side of the instrument cluster.

Getting comfortable behind the steering wheel is also straightforward, thanks to an impressive amount of available adjustment. You don’t sit especially high up like you might expect of an SUV – there’s more of a hatchback feel to the UX. However, hunkered down with the cabin swooping around you, this is a very pleasant place to be if you’re travelling in the front. The digital instrument panel distinguishes between the driving modes very clearly as well.

The interior’s build quality is very impressive, as we’ve come to expect from Lexus products, but we can’t help but opine that an opportunity was missed with its redesign. The cabin is perfectly adequate, but it has a bit of an old-hat feel to it, like one might find in an Ineos Grenadier or other high-end utility vehicle. Such minimalistic ruggedness can be forgiven when compensated by off-road capabilities or a strong need for durability, but since the 300h doesn’t have either of those things, it just seems rather dull.

That being said, there is a range of upholstery to choose from with fabric, Tahara synthetic leather, and genuine smooth leather options. A number of trim colour choices are available to liven the cabin up. The newly re-designed switches in the door panel arguably add a touch of modernity, but they can feel quite far away.

Infotainment and tech

Luckily, some of the more aggrieving quirks of the previous cabin have been removed. Take the infotainment display, for example. We never got on with the old touch pad control system, but the new touchscreen display is bright, crystal clear and very responsive. The systems and functions within the software are very easy to navigate through, while phone connecting your phone up is a wholly pain-free task.  

Comfort

• Excellent front seats on all UX models
• Rear is short on space but similar quality
• Refinement is good unless you’re hurrying

Not much road or wind noise sneaks into the cabin of the Lexus UX, which makes for relatively stress-free long journeys. And we’ve been very impressed by the seats on all models.

The standard chairs are wide and firm, but comfortable and with plenty of lumbar adjustment; heating and cooling functions are available. F-Sport models have tighter-fitting seats, especially around the hips, but these also prove comfortable on longer trips.

Those in the rear will be having less of a good time thanks to the limited space. But the quality and comfort of the seats themselves is every bit as good as the front, unless you’re relegated to the titchy middle position.