Big battery update for Lexus UX300e

Lexus has given its first battery electric vehicle a massive upgrade in battery capacity

The UX300e battery is shifting from 54.3kWh to 72.8kWh, which increases the driving range by more than 40% to 450km under the WLTP standard.

Nor has pricing risen with the change, the entry ‘Premium’ model remaining $79,990 – under the government’s Clean Car Discount limit. The limited model is $10,000 more.

Orders are being taken now for the upgrade that is expected to arrive in Lexus dealerships from June this year in two variations, the Premium and the Limited. Pricing has not

Lexus New Zealand Vice President, Andrew Davis, says the upgrades to the UX 300e, which was launched in 2019, reflect the pace of change in Lexus vehicle development.

“The uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand continues to accelerate and luxury car buyers want a balance between an electric vehicle that fits their lifestyle and a vehicle that has the latest safety and in car connectivity,” Davis says.

“The range extension gives Lexus UX 300e motorists a little more freedom to travel further without needing to stop for recharging.”

Andrew says the UX 300e and the soon-to-launch Lexus RZ are the first of many new, exciting electric vehicles to come over the next few years as Lexus has been selected by its parent company to lead BEV development.

The UX 300e offers maximum power of 150kW and 300Nm of torque and gets from 0 to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds. This is faster than the hybrid UX despite the slight extra weight from the battery.

An update to the rear performance damper has also been fitted to enhance the driving performance.

There has also been a major upgrade to the multimedia system, the new Lexus interface has been upgraded from a 10.3” display to a 12.3” touchscreen display. Customers can now also use the “Hey Lexus” dynamic voice recognition feature and wireless Apple CarPlay®, the screen has been brought forward so that it is closer to the driver.

A third upgrade to the UX 300e in 2023 is to the safety package which is standard across the range. The Lexus Safety System+ now includes Intersection Turn Assist and Emergency Steering Assist. Curve Speed Reduction has also been bundled into the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system.