Tag Archives: Crossover

Crossover, electric, Lexus, Manufacturer, SUV

Premium performance from Lexus

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Lexus UX 300e

By Bill McCarthy

LEXUS styling and build quality has always been impeccable, not to mention its brand desirability as a premium vehicle.

And as the rush to electrification gathers pace, the brand is in a pretty unique position to take advantage, having been a leader in the hybrid market for a good 15 years, when the RX 400h hit the roads. Parent firm Toyota goes even further back with the iconic Prius.

Now Lexus has gone the whole hog with the compact UX 300e, a stylish car that is now available in full electric mode as well as hybrid.

It has a striking design, all sharp angles and creases with sculpted side panels. It features the now familiar spindle grille, together with eye-catching light clusters, distinctive bespoke 18-inch aerodynamic alloys on this model. In addition, the chiselled-looking rear end with full width light bar gives it a real road presence.

As with the growing trend with full electric cars, it is barely distinguishable from other UX models, with just the word ‘electric’ on the door.

It is offered with single equipment grade, UX, but options like the Premium  pack here and Takumi Packs provide additional equipment features.

The interior is typical Lexus quality, refined with high-end leather hand stitched leather seats and finish to dash and doors together with soft materials throughout. Major functions are controlled by a central touchscreen and can also be operated from a small keypad next to the drive selector. 

The standard specification includes aluminium roof rails, bi-LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, illuminated entry, eight-way power front seat adjustment, power steering wheel adjustment, seven-inch display, reversing camera, six-speaker audio system with DAB, four USB ports and Aux socket and smartphone connectivity using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Premium Plus Pack here adds smooth leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, rear privacy glass, smart keyless entry, card key, smartphone wireless charger and illuminated door handles with puddle lights.

On the road, the front-wheel drive battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) system uses the latest lithium-ion technology, and high performance motor to deliver a claimed range of up to 196 miles and rapid acceleration from a standing start, so typical of electric cars.

A clever touch is the heating element system under each of the battery’s modules. This minimises the impact of low temperatures on the driving range, ensuring full power is available from start-up.

It hits 60 in under eight seconds, however despite feeling stable, piling on the power causes the steering to snatch, or torque steer slightly.

Otherwise it accelerates away smoothly, with only a hint of road noise intruding into the cabin. The handling is good and it feels agile when cornering, while the steering is direct and nicely weighted.

It also offers a stable ride, with low centre of gravity, thanks to the battery being located under the car body and the electric motor set low in the engine compartment, while new shock absorbers give greater control.

Despite the large battery, boot space  has actually increased by 47 litres to 486 litres, when loaded to the roof, which is made easier with the availability of a hands-free power tailgate.

In practical terms front head and legroom are excellent but it is a bit more cramped in the back and three adults might feel some discomfort over longer journeys.

You would expect a hushed interior with a premium vehicle and cabin noise is reduced by the thickness and weight of the battery pack under the cabin floor, which acts as a sound-insulating barrier. In addition, undercovers and wing liners reduce the noise generated by small stones, dirt, water and the road surface, while acoustic window glass reduces wind noise.

Safety kit is comprehensive and includes full complement of airbags Pre-Collision System with pedestrian detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist, Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam

Lexus rarely disappoints and this model is no exception.

FAST FACTS

Lexus UX 300e Premium Plus Pack

Price: £45,995

Mechanical: 201bhp, 150kW electric motors driving front wheels via auto transmission

Max Speed: 99mph

0-62mph: 7.5 seconds

Electric range: 196

Insurance Group: 38-39

C02 emissions: 0 g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/62,000 miles

Crossover, Manufacturer, Motor reviews, Renault, SUV/4X4, Vehicle type

Renault Capturs the mood

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Renault Captur

By Bill McCarthy

Even the best things must evolve and Renault’s top-selling first crossover/compact SUV Captur  has been completely refreshed, offering a more premium finish, efficient engines and a new five-year warranty.

Like its predecessor, it is a good looking car with a wide choice of engines, including a new plug-in hybrid, which deliver good economy and is both practical and surprisingly refined for this type of vehicle.

 There are three trim levels, including Play, Iconic and S Edition, driven here, and a choice of three petrol, two diesel, plus the plug-in hybrid engine. Starting at just over £19k, offer an attractive package.

 Based on the firm’s CMF-B platform, (Common Module Family) which is shares with the Clio, it comprises 85 per cent new parts compared with the previous-generation and is longer than before by 110mm.

In true SUV style it offers a hint of ruggedness with rear protection skid plates, protective mouldings that run the length of the lower body and the prominent wheel arch extensions.

It is also very well equipped for the price, with even the entry level model offering high levels of kit including smart alloys, cruise control, a split-folding and sliding rear bench seat, stability and traction control, electric windows front and rear and electrically adjustable door mirrors.

It has slightly curvaceous appearance, while the large diamond Renault badge, which dominates the grille, separates neat LED light clusters, which are standard across the range. The trademark C-Shape daylight running light signatures remain, while the base of the doors are shaped to prevent shoes or clothing being soiled when getting in or out. 

‘It also handles well, taking sharp bends with ease and never feeling unsettled, even on the roughest roads despite its higher stance.‘

The interior is a big leap forward on the previous model, with the layout angled towards the driver. It is what Renault call the ‘smart cockpit’  and is dominated by a 9.3-inch tablet style touch screen, which is effectively the brains of the car, with the  EASY LINK multimedia platform featuring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 4G connectivity.

 It now features a ‘floating’ centre console for better access to the gear change and more storage space which features a wireless smartphone charging pad. In general, the interior has a much more premium feel, solidly built, with good quality soft touch to dash and doors.

It is practical and spacious enough to accommodate four people in comfort, but for a fifth it is much tighter, despite the extra 17mm of legroom and the sliding rear bench seat which can also be folded down in a 1/3 or 2/3 pattern. Headroom to the rear is also not that great however, but boot capacity has been increased by a significant 81 litres, up to an impressive 536 litres. 

A moveable boot floor to split the payload over two levels adds to the practicality, as do a number of bottle holders, pockets and container bins throughout the cabin.

 This model featured the relatively small, but pretty powerful 1.3 litre petrol engine. It is a refined unit with 130 hp and 240 Nm of torque on tap, but still delivering real world fuel consumption figures of more than 44 mpg. The torque gives extra grunt when overtaking on the motorway and the vehicle is a refined cruiser.

It’s quick enough, hitting 60mph in just over 10 seconds. This model was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it’s also available with a new 7-speed  EDC dual-clutch gearbox that features steering-wheel mounted gearshift paddles.

It also handles well, taking sharp bends with ease and never feeling unsettled, even on the roughest roads despite its higher stance.

Renaults have always been one of the safest brands and the Captur offers a comprehensive range of safety kit, including on this model a 360° camera and active emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection.

Adaptive cruise control is available as is traffic sign recognition, alert is also included, as is cruise control with speed limiter function. Automatic high beam functionality is also available with the standard LED headlamps, while six airbags, hill start, ABS braking, Isofix child anchors and stability programme help to achieve five stars in the  Euro NCAP tests.

An impressive evolution from Renault with a top selling model and don’t forget the latest five-year warranty for peace of mind.

Factfile

Renault Captur S Edition TCe 130

Price: £23,495

Mechanical: 130bhp, 1,333cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via six-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 121mph

0-60mph: 10.6 seconds

Combined mpg: 44.1

Insurance group: 14E

CO2 emissions: 127g/km

Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles