Ben Talks Auto

Tag: Lexus

  • Lexus UX 300h gets a revised range for 2026

    Lexus UX 300h gets a revised range for 2026

    Lexus has updated the UK line-up for its UX 300h compact hybrid SUV for the 2026 model year. The headline change is a simplified range built around five trim levels, plus a handful of equipment upgrades and an extra safety feature fitted across the board.

    The updated UX 300h is on sale now in the UK, with prices starting from £38,095.

    Five trim levels, all front-wheel drive

    For 2026, the UX 300h comes in five trims, all front-wheel drive:

    • Premium
    • F Sport Design
    • F Sport Design Tech
    • F Sport
    • Takumi

    What’s new on the Premium model

    The entry Premium grade gets a useful lift in standard kit, including: 

    • Door mirrors that are electrically adjustable and heated, with Blind Spot Monitor integrated
    • Leather trim on the steering wheel and shift lever
    • Wireless phone charger as standard

    Premium equipment highlights also include chrome roof rails, LED front fog lights, 17-inch alloys, smart entry and start, heated front seats, parking sensors, automatic headlight levelling, and a 9.8-inch Lexus Link Connect touchscreen system. Lexus Safety System+ is included too.

    New Driver Monitor safety feature on all models

    Every 2026 UX 300h now includes a Driver Monitor system. It uses a camera above the steering wheel to check the driver’s condition. If it detects tiredness or signs the driver may be unwell, it issues visual and audible warnings.

    Lexus says it links in with the car’s active safety systems and can bring the car to a controlled stop with hazard lights if the driver does not respond (Emergency Driving Stop). 

    F Sport Design and F Sport Design Tech

    These two trims are largely unchanged for 2026, aside from gaining the Driver Monitor system. 

    F Sport Design adds items such as:

    • 18-inch alloy wheels
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Rear privacy glass
    • Tahara synthetic leather upholstery and steering wheel trim

    F Sport Design Tech adds:

    • Power-operated tailgate
    • Lexus Link Pro with embedded navigation (plus cloud-based route planning)
    • 12.3-inch touchscreen
    • 12.3-inch driver display (combimeter / multi-information display)

    F Sport and Takumi updates

    The F Sport grade adds a multi-illumination entry welcome system for 2026. It also retains features like paddle shifts, aluminium scuff plates, sports seats, leather upholstery, Adaptive Variable Suspension, Active Sound Control and a Sport Plus drive mode. 

    The same new entry lighting is also part of the refreshed Takumi model. As the flagship, it keeps a long list of comfort kit including a mirror memory setting, heated steering wheel, smooth leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, head-up display and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. 

    Hybrid power and performance

    The UX 300h uses a full hybrid system producing 196bhp. Lexus quotes: 

    • 0–62mph: 8.3 seconds
    • WLTP fuel economy: 53.2 to 56.4mpg
    • CO2 emissions: 113 to 118g/km (depending on grade)

    UK prices (OTR)

    • UX 300h Premium: £38,095
    • UX 300h F Sport Design: £38,595
    • UX 300h F Sport Design Tech: £40,195
    • UX 300h F Sport: £45,395
    • UX 300h Takumi: £49,495

    Quick leasing nudge

    If you’re thinking about running a Lexus UX 300h on a monthly payment, it’s worth checking out Rivervale to compare personal and business leasing options and see what offers are available.

  • Lexus brings steer-by-wire to the RZ: driving reinvented for its electric SUV

    Lexus brings steer-by-wire to the RZ: driving reinvented for its electric SUV

    Lexus is rolling out a new steer-by-wire system in the latest RZ electric SUV, aiming to make the car feel more direct to drive while also rethinking how the cockpit looks and works. It is a proper tech milestone for Lexus, and one the brand also links to its longer-term ambitions around advanced driver assistance and future autonomous tech.

    What is steer-by-wire, in plain English?

    Most cars have a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Lexus steer-by-wire removes that physical connection.

    Instead, when you turn the wheel, your input is sent electronically to actuators that steer the front wheels. Lexus says the system includes built-in safeguards, including an immediate back-up system designed to keep steering performance uninterrupted if a fault is detected.

    A new steering wheel design (and why it matters)

    Because the system is electronic, Lexus can rethink how much steering movement you actually need.

    The RZ gets a compact, “aircraft-style” steering wheel shape (so not a traditional circular rim). Lexus says lock-to-lock is set to plus or minus 200 degrees, which should mean far less hand-over-hand shuffling in tight turns. The idea is simple: smaller movements, with you aiming the car where you want it to go.

    There is also a practical benefit. A smaller wheel can open up your forward view and add more space around your legs. Lexus says this supports its “Tazuna” cockpit layout, designed to help you keep your eyes on the road with controls and displays needing less hand and eye movement.

    Steering that changes with speed

    Lexus says the system uses a variable steering gear ratio that adapts depending on speed:

    • Low speed (parking, junctions): a lower ratio for easier manoeuvring
    • Medium speed (winding roads): minimal inputs for a more nimble feel
    • High speed (motorway): a higher ratio for added stability

    If it works as described, the RZ should feel light and easy around town, then more settled and calm at higher speeds.

    Does it still feel connected to the road?

    This is always the big question with steer-by-wire.

    Lexus says its system filters out unwanted vibration (for example harsh jolts from uneven surfaces), but still feeds back “authentic and accurate” information through the wheel. The aim is to keep a natural sense of what the car is doing, without the irritating buzz and kickback you can sometimes get through traditional steering.

    How it works with DIRECT4 all-wheel drive

    Lexus also highlights how steer-by-wire works alongside its DIRECT4 electric all-wheel drive system. The brand claims the two systems can better synchronise what you do at the wheel with how the car responds, with a focus on control and driving enjoyment.

    Which model gets it in the UK?

    Lexus says steer-by-wire is available now and comes as standard on the new RZ 550e F Sport and F Sport Takumi. Lexus also notes it is paired with DIRECT4 all-wheel drive and a feature called Interactive Manual Drive.

    Ben Talks Auto take

    Steer-by-wire is one of those technologies that sounds futuristic until you try it. Done well, it can make an EV feel sharper and more precise without sacrificing comfort. Done badly, it can feel numb or odd.

    Lexus is clearly aiming for the sweet spot: fast, faithful responses, less faff in tight turns, a calmer feel on rougher roads, and the kind of driver confidence you would want in a premium electric SUV.

    If the real-world steering feel matches the promise, this could be one of the most interesting upgrades on the new RZ.