While you usually expect a car to perform as good as its exterior looks, that’s not always the case. The Lexus 2020 model was a winner. But, the 2021 Lexus UX 200 F Sport is the opposite. It looks a lot better than it actually performs, which is unusual since it’s a Sport version.

MotorTrend reviewed the 2021 model, and they had little good to say about it. What problems did it have, and is it worth paying the high price tag for it?

What does the Lexus UX 200 F Sport get wrong?

MotorTrend had little good to say, but they had plenty of problems to report. One of the biggest issues they had with the UX200 was its speed or lack of it in this case. The 2.0-liter Inline four-cylinder produces 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. 

The speed wasn’t enough to provide high acceleration marks. The Lexus UX200 only clocked an 8.9 second time for a 0 to 60 mph run, which is much slower than the Mazda CX-30 or the Kia Seltos. A reviewer felt you had to punch the pedal to the floor to get any power to accelerate when you needed to. 

The transmission paired with it is a 10-speed CVT. But, according to the reviewer, it was slow to respond and felt like it was in low gear all the time. They had to put it into Eco mode in order to quiet the engine sounds in the cabin and to keep the motor revs down. 

It also doesn’t have a very user-friendly interior. The radio’s volume button is on the center console. Accessing it becomes a problem if you have a passenger using the armrest next to it. The infotainment system isn’t easy to use either for some of the apps. If you want to turn on or off the air conditioning, you have to go through about three menus to find the control. 

What does it get right?

When it comes to interior material quality, the Lexus UX 200 outshines some of its competitors. The F Sport seats are pretty supportive, with the heated/cooled technology, and they are covered in exquisite leather material. 

The suspension system is great, enabling the vehicle to ride well on almost any type of road surface. You’ll only feel the smaller lumps and dips, but anything larger than that is usually absorbed and unnoticeable. 

Maneuvering the vehicle is rather easy with the precision steering it offers. The exterior styling is also impressive, with just the right curves and lines to catch anyone’s eyes. 

Where does the Lexus UX 200 F Sport stand in terms of value?

As MotorTrend stated, we should treat the Lexus UX200 F Sport as an appliance. That means it’s a vehicle that will get you from one point to another with little fanfare. In that sense, this compact luxury crossover would be just fine. 

The problem, however, is with the price of the vehicle. With it being used as an appliance, it would cost almost $36,000 for the base model. Paying that kind of money for a vehicle that seems slow, and isn’t as user-friendly as you would like, doesn’t seem quite right, especially for one that’s packaged as a Sport model. 

There are just too many other alternatives on the market where you could get more for your money. The Mazda CX-30 and the Kia Seltos offer more in terms of luxury and performance. If you want something with more sport added, the Mercedes-Benz GLB or the Jaguar E-Pace are better options. 

Despite it being a nice-looking vehicle with some positive points about the interior, it really isn’t worth spending the high price on. You’re better off going for an alternative that has more speed and is easier to use than the Lexus UX 200 F Sport. Or you could simply stick with a regular UX model.