The car kind of sums up Toyota's long held attitude towards EVs...

Lol! Betamax. You guys crack me up and I love that unlike some reviewers, you are not slaves to the manufacturers. Keep up the good work.

Lexus and Toyota will need to sell 22% of their cars as zero emission vehicles next year or suffer a £15k per car fine. It will be fun to see what they will be doing in a year from now.

I’ve just bought one! It’s a car that makes no sense at £57,000. If you ever need to rapid charge, it’s a car that makes no sense at any price. If you’re like me, and in 7 years of EV ownership have never rapid charged, and you want something beautifully built with the promise of best in the business reliability and customer service, and the balance of the 10 year warranty (which covers the battery to 600,000 miles) I’d say it’s great. Got a 2 year old top of the range Takumi car, 9,500 miles on it, for £19,500 from eco cars Jonathan Porterfield. So a niche buy, but for some people it still has its place. It’s going to depreciate more than a long range EV with CCS, but planning to keep it for the long term.

I rented this car (the first, 310 km WLTP version) for two months in summer of 2022. I really liked it. Pleasant to drive, good seats, enough information, comfortable, sufficiently big for a small family. However, since it is not possible to charge at our parking lot (all the chargers are taken), I did not buy it. I would have had to recharge at the local ChaDeMo chargers - for instance at our local supermarket. Consequently, I bought a used hybrid instead. It is a bit surprising to hear all the negative comments about the car since I felt it was really pleasant in most ways. If people can charge at home, then you probably do not need to use the ChaDeMo chargers very often. If you do need to charge along the road, it usually took me 30-40 minutes to charge from 20-80 % on the previous 54 kWh battery. That was approximately the time I spent at the supermarket. So, I would say it is not a risky car to buy, given the good follow-up service at the Toyota/Lexus dealers here in Norway.

I think a lot of the legacy auto makers are deliberately releasing shitty EVs so that they can conclude there is no demand and just ignore the energy transition. And then go bust.

It's a Car that has been unknowingly designed to be bought 2nd-hand, - after having suffered 60+% depreciation ... 😎

Betamax, it’s already been said. As a 40kWh Leaf driver I can completely agree. It CAN be done for longer journeys but it’s a PITA. Less companies putting in connectors, understandable given how many new Chademo cars are actually sold. That said, loads still use it and a few CPOs like Gridserve, MFG and (some) applegreen are putting in multiple Chademo heads at new sites.

Toyota / Kia dealership near me. Went for a wander round the other week, the price of a bog standard Toyota EV compared to anything Kia had on offer (Inc the EV6) was laughable. I said to the salesman bet you haven't sold many, he shook his head. Totally out of touch.

I had one, the earlier version for the best part of a year, but chopped it back in for a regular Hybrid. Finding chargers wasn’t the issue, it was the painfully slow charging speed. Totally agree on the nonsensical choice of Chademo, and the Betamax vs VHS analogy is perfect. Chademo is actually technologically superior with the way it talks to the charger, and is capable of 400kW with V2G built in from the outset, but as with VHS, the inferior spec won the war. The exterior is personal preference, as is any car. With a Lexus, you know it’s going to get you there, mine was 100% reliable, unlike some of the other brands you mentioned, I just had to spend half my life charging it 😂

I have to comment, and I am in favour of the ux300e, I thought about many other manufacturers, but the quality was lacking . I dont just need long battery range, I also want smooth ride over these lovely roads, and a touch of luxury which lexus do well. Don't buy new, second hand for sure. Chademo I found them everywhere. I am a petrol head, this lexus has converted me. All the best guys.

I actually WROTE to Lexus CS when I test drove this car 2 years ago when it had the smaller battery. It did have plenty of positives- build quality, cabin build, refinement and comfort and did have a nice turn of speed. All Lexus strong points. But I wrote to Lexus to tell and warn and just question them WHY oh WHY did they fit it with a (50kW max at that time ) Chaedmo socket and fit it with such a small battery for the price (54kWh battery at that time?) ??!! The did reply and promised to take my feedback on board! They obviously did not!

Can't say I ever owned a Betamax. I'll go for the VHS equivalent car in that analogy too

Outdated before its sold, I think Toyota is trying to prove a point, nobody wants an EV - BETAMAX

I own on and it’s so nice to drive I got it on the cheapest lease ever. A year to go the value is plummeting no problem to me on lease 😊in a year and low mileage I think a sub 20 grand Takumi with 15k will be an absolute bargain. The drive handling and feel of this car is one of the best I’ve ever been. So in a way thanks Chadamo if you want a local car if you’re doing long journeys, then forget it,

I think chademo is max 50kw. I have the smaller battery version of this UX. I took it on a 200 mile trip once and was the only time I did. I have it on a 2 year lease as a company vehicle. At the time it was on a very good value lease, I did it as a tester for an EV. Very well built, super quiet, very dull to drive and a range of 120 miles in winter. The list price has since increased from 2 years ago, I thought £52k was bad enough and I can't disagree with anything you said. Anyone who actually bought one must be a real Lexus fan! Having said that it has done a good job getting me to work at 13 miles each way and is best suited to these short journeys.

I really struggle with the design of lexus. Have done for years. Its ultra niche modern if you liked fancy 1990s stereos. Its kuke they are only targeting older people for whom thr 1980/90s were their peak years. As for chademo. There are currently loads of chargets but you are correct, in 5 years time will there be any left? Thr units obly have a use by date and after rhat i cant see anyone installing new ones with chademo. I thought chademo was 100kw max too. Although mainly 50kw so 0-100 is way over 1.5 hours on thst car. Really poor from Toyota ( sorry Lexus) Betamax by the thr way. I dtayed until the end to see if there was a positive. And thats not a 60k car. Badge or no badge

It’s like they have brought out an obsolete car on day 1 with Chademo. They would make decent interior designers for some other brands though.

Hello UK. I'm from Australia but enjoy this channel as a way to keep abreast with what's happening in a sister country regarding EV's and charging infrastructure. I'm an electrical engineer so also enjoy some of the technical threads even though I disagree with a very small number of comparisons and analyses. So I take my hat off to your team for keeping it pretty real. I don't own an EV because both my quality Japanese made ICE's from around 2014 suit my need. And there in lies the point you have yet to take a closer look at. And that is whether any of the EV variations from PHEVs to BEVs and, just like ICE's, all will be entirely componentised in the very near future. This means when power trains need replacing it'll be some form of refurbished process. In an EV it'll be a battery pack or part thereof in an ICE it already is a short block motor or a long block motor or just a new or refurbished head. So the question at the end of the day is which drive variant and overall market (new or second hand) provides the best marginal utility per trip for each use case or range of use cases. In simple terms we currently spend 5 mins to reliably and completely fill a fuel efficient ICE at a mature network of service stations, drive away and probably think little about range for a period of time e.g. "I filled up on Tuesday so I'll be OK". For an EV are we saying we need a concerted effort and calculated analysis of a number of variables in our decision to extract the same amount of utility (satisfaction) as an ICE? Clearly our marginal utility (satisfaction) will need to accept those few times a year when holidaying, we'll need a thorough travel plan if we own a BEV. Australia is a large country and we do drive significant distances. 4 hrs would not be unusual. Also what equipment standards and investment on top of the EV would we need for our homes, which is where we would typically charge.

I nearly spat my tea out when you said it was Chademo charging. I guess someone (in addition to the designer) is now looking for a job…

Betamax ftw. Was def the better format back in the day! 😂

They're falling in price pretty fast, I don't think I'd buy one at any price though

I actually moved from Lexus to a Genesis GV60 partly off the back of the lack of a proper EV. I've always thought the electrified UX300 was only brought across for regular purchasers who wanted a second, local/short mileage only second car and so chademo was not an issue. Looks aside (and for me it is the interior that counts, as that's where I'll be) it is appears to be a big improvement on the previous model. I had one (pre the UX300e being out) as a loner while my car was in for a service (with yet again nothing needing doing) and I do remember it feeling really cramped and the boot being small.

Best car review ever. Keep up the good work lads

Bit off topic but whens Harrys batteries being fitted

Bonkers decision, this is the legacy car makers finding any way to not sell EV's and claim no one wants them!

I'm new to EV ownership and have been charging at MFG stations , I wondered what Chademo was when I saw the option on there. Don't think I've seen any other public chargers with those plugs.

middle compartment is openable from both sides...

I'm surprise from the famous japanese "know how", seems that Toyota owners live in the different dimension.

11' 43" "...a nd then you come out of your house, and have to look at it!" Literal LOL!! :) :)

Betamax 😂 you got 100% retention from me despite the car.

Nice roasting but totally understandable 😂😂😂 Chadamo WTH

betamax - And as an Ex leaf driver ( now Tesla ) Chademo is the biggest reason I left leafs !

Be fair, if you have it shipped to Japan when you move there it would be dead handy.

It does have a rear screen wiper though.

Betamin, surely. I drive a 2020 Leaf, bought for the theoretical V2X capabilities, but I regret it every time I make a long journey. The car can charge at 100 kW in theory, but I've only found one charger that does more than 50. And that's 10 minutes from home, so I never use it.

Maybe he it has V2G as standard. It’s defiantly Betamax of the future, which is here now.

I’ll trade your Betamax for a Grundig Video 2000! 😂

For some luxury cars, I keep an eye on the depression and would think about buying in the future. I will not be adding the lexus to the list. An old ipace from 2018 is a supervisor car. You could have two old ipaces let alone two MG4's for the price of that. This is truly a betamax car in a streaming world.

In london, all the source london points i have used have a chademo cable but only a CCS socket so if in london and using source london this maybe more convenient. (I have to get my ccs cable out). In 10 years it will probably be all tesla connectors :)

Good choice of word. Used to have a Betamax top loader. Complete with wired remote control. It's as relevant to today as the Lexus.

Like other Toyotas and Hondas the designers appeared to have a few months spare after they had finished designing the cars. So they just kept on designing and adding all the extra frills and creases.

A casette player, is it standard or optional...?

You won't get me saying Betamax because I didn't watch to the end.

If that had been released ten years ago it may just have been acceptable. Not so much now.

It surprises me it still running chadamo as lexus in the update said the 71.8kw battery was getting ccs charging its was in all the press releases they even had a ccs at full charge in May 2023 . So I am surprised by this and disappointed

Interestingly the UX 300e Premium is $79900 nz here in NZ. Equivalent to £40k ish. And we currently get $7k back from the govt. way different price!

You learn something every day. I thought it was the law that from something like 2020 all cars had to have CCS?

Betamax, just so Toyota can say there's no demand, by our Hydrogen car in 10yrs time

Never mind Betamax, does it connect to Blackberry and Nokia devices?

In answer to your first comment, no I don't want to buy a car from a company not interested in EVs. All those creases over the whole of the outside are going to be a nightmare in the event of even the slightest bump! In twelve months time I predict insurance premiums will rise for this model. In a Lexus no one can hear you scream......

It is sad. I really love the look of the EV and Hybrid Lexus offerings lately. I really like the lines of the RZ450e, but for the price that you pay they need to be competitive on at least range.

I got my Lexus serviced in the week, the warranty runs out to 15 years with the battery in hybrid. (Great value second hand) I asked about IF they're selling many ev's? - It died as soon as Japan announced the solid state battery release in 24-48 months. - If the solid state does get released they are saying 900 km -400-500 miles on a single charge

Honestly I still like CHAdeMo in a world with more rapid chargers that can share output power. Ive pulled up to some stations and been able to skip the queue that way. The issue with the car is the complete lack of passion for any interesting or specific EV building design for efficiency. I kinda like its size and silhouette, but 3.5 miles per kWh is not good enough

Not worth the money and, yes, Chademo is the equivalent of Betamax.

The chad mo standard does allow for two way charging. So you could charge your house 🤔 Quickly runs behind wall week..... It's two cars stuck together... Or a bad star trek teleport incident

Oh no not me Betamax

The exterior looks like the end product of a demolition derby! One thing in it's favour - it has a rear window wiper! - - - Betamax! See, I did watch it to the end! 🙂 (don't know why, though!)

Betamax! The Lexus UK sales reps must be furious about the charging ports. I feel like going to a Lexus garage just to see how they upsell this car to me. 🙂

Do they make adapaters for the chademo connections that would allow you to use the more standard chargers? Or are you just stuck with chademo? I cannot see the reasoning behind going with chademo outside of it being originally designed for Vehicle to load. Can this car be used this way?

I suspect that many of the buyers will never drive more than 100 miles away from home. They never have a need to go north of Watford Gap, have a nice day out at Eastbourne and travel to Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted for holidays. Is £57k a lot of money? In Yorkshire yes but in London where a Victorian terraced house costs you £1m than it doesn't seem as bad. Would any sane person buy one, probably not. But then again people buy capers and goats cheese which make no sense in my mind, but each to their own. 😂

Has it got a cassette player and a Traffic master system?

Manual gauge looks weird on a digital dash

Yep some of us (who know what Beatamax was) did watch to the end. What are they doing but people will buy it because of the brand. Same as Toyota (which has toy in the name), people will buy because of the name

I can only see this as being a second car for local runs that can be charged at home. And there's probably enough demand to keep this going in Lexus' current market share. A bit like the odd person that has never moved on from campaigning for betamax..

Betamax! Lol. Does seem like they made this for Japan and decided it was cheaper to just ship that exact version to UK instead of swapping to CCS. One has to view it as a non-DCFC EV. Maybe the battery will last a very long time as a result.

What the hell. Toyota put CCS on the BZ4X so why not this?

Lexus are incredibly reliable ICE cars but they generally look quite dull and I find the interiors vomit inducing.

Betamax. Just watched this after seeing the old model going cheap at BCA auctions. I now know why and this will go the same way. Thanks for your videos.

What is the current car manufacturer obsession with all-black interiors? It's like sitting in a bl**dy cave! The unremitting black-ness makes me feel claustrophobic. Please, give us the option of white/pale headlining at least.....?!

This Lexus car is picking up a lot of wind noise inside the cabin as well.

You can get a top of the range 2 year old one for £21k which is horrific depreciation for the first owner. But makes it quite a good value premium EV, but hampered

i have a conspiracy teory here strange for me but still here i is i thinkthey releasy this kind of "halfmeasure" of a EV so they can say it did not sell so we will stopp making evs and sell somthingels.

All that design busyness looks like a nightmare to clean

Same as Toyota/ Subaru they have produced an EV that is 15years out of date, only a newbie to EV would even consider this car simply because they don’t know any better.

I’m a huge fan of Lexus and have a CT200h but the UX is not on my list to replace it because I want an EV and it isn’t good enough

Wow! separate Chademo and AC charging … just like a 2009 Mitsubishi iMiev …. Where have you been Lexus that was 14 years ago!!!!

Tell it like it is boys. I do agree.....not the best looking car, by quite a margin 😊 Chademo ??? What's that all about ?? 🙄

Not 100% but only possible plus is due to Chademo V2H is possible with correct charger.

What about a Chademo to CCS2 adapter. They aren't cheap though £600ish

I lusted for vector gaming!

At first I thought it was designed as a posh city hire car but once you pointed out the space issues then I just had to agree with you……And like a Betamax it’s resale value will be sub prime.

I couldn't get in these, and my wife couldn't see out or get to the pedals. Very disappointing. I am currently driving a Yaris which has more space inside than any lexus. Amazing.

Betamax

Maybe someone will come up with a CHAdeMO to CCS adapter ?

The CHADEMO plug is a massive .... mess!! I own a non-tesla and have to put up with the UK's poor charging network, that charge double that of Tesla charging.... Happy to put up with that. But Chadamo... No ferkin way.... I would rather suck on a diesel exhaust pipe than try to move around the UK on Chadamo...!!

Well no one is going to BetaMax in one of these, is it ChadaMo? Wonder if they sent out a design kit to the Sun, Daily Mail etc on what a EV should look like & have. Amazing that a company should make such a major mistake on a car.... It's a bit like putting a petrol filler pipe on a diesel.

Choice of chademo makes it d.o.a. for UK market

Betamax, yes kept watching until the end. However, you summed it up at the beginning. Who would want to buy an EV from a company that don’t believe EVs are the future of vehicles. They’re obviously not going to put the effort into it.

Betamax! What ever salesman can actually sell these is either the greatest salesman of all time or the biggest scam artist going 😅

Appreciate your honesty but Toyota are never going to give you a car to review ever again 😂😂

I've been a part of the EV world for years and there are few times I've been as perplexed as with this car. £57k? Chademo? They basically don't want to actually make any and so price them stupidly, I guess. May they burn up in their hydrogen bubble.

I got as far as Betamax as well! That was what I was thinking from the point when you opened one of two charging flaps. Heading towards being a ***USED*** Enyaq owner. How will I manage with just 33% of the original battery capacity after someone else has used it for a year or so and almost maxed it out on 12,000 miles of driving!! I must be mad!!😂😂

Betamax (still here, but I guess that's obvious) Surely it can't be beyond science to make a chademo adaptor. I have a Nissan env200 which is fine for my purposes and to be fair, I've not really run into any charging problems, but I can see them on the horizon.

That anteater nose, Mazda wore it better! Is this car a dare? Interesting screen, can you watch 2.55:1 letterbox movies?

Chademo??? Not just Oh Dear, Oh Dear and more like OMG!!

Lexus the 2023 Betamax, cracked me up 👌

The only people who will buy this are the ones that have done zero research. I'm tempted to go into a dealership and see just what lies the salespeople will tell you. I'd buy one in a few years for peanuts if, and only if wireless charging took over and it was cheapish to install on this car.

Just played it thinking it was yet another slag-off for the Lexus 450e. Then I realised its the 300e with CHAdeMO (rolling myself laughing)

Betamax!