Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Lexus NX, UX ready to appeal to EV fans in Korea
Lexus' NX 450h+ F SPORT is seen on a coastal road on Jeju Island, Monday. Courtesy of Toyota Korea
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
JEJU ― Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, recently released its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the NX SUV and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) UX 300e to target the growing number of electric vehicle (EV) lovers in the Korean market.
In order to experience Lexus' first PHEV and BEV, The Korea Times was able to sit behind the steering wheels of the NX 450h+ F SPORT and the UX 300e on a coastal road and a mountain road, respectively, in Jeju Island, Monday.
In terms of design, the combination of the exteriors of both models ― reminiscent of Lexus' sleek, urban look ― and the EV system, is quite a match.
But what surprised this reporter was the driving performance of the two models.
The NX 450h+ F SPORT, the most expensive of the NX models, narrowed the gap between hybrid and battery-powered cars to the point of making this reporter think that he was driving a fully electric car.
When using the combination drive mode, which uses both electricity and fuel consumption, there was little sense of the alienation felt when moving between the electric motor and the gasoline-powered engine in previous Lexus models.
Using the normal mode, this reporter enjoyed smooth driving on the coastal road, and when the road became quiet, the sports plus mode offered the joy of tight but fun driving control.
Lexus UX 300e is seen on a mountain road on Jeju Island, Monday. Courtesy of Toyota Korea
The UX 300e, which was tested on a mountain road, increased the fun of driving by freely moving up and down curves. The fully electric car, which does not have enough space in the back seat, was a vehicle that could be enjoyed with one driver alone or with one passenger next to the driver.
Noise, vibration and harshness-wise, both SUVs are peculiarly quiet, as seen in other Lexus models, with extreme moderation of the sound from the road and wind noise. In particular, the NX 450 demonstrates the noise control capability of the more expensive Lexus cars, which will come as a big attraction for potential buyers.
One thing that's disappointing is the poor infotainment system of the UX model. For Korean drivers, who prefer to have an enhanced in-vehicle experience even in small and relatively inexpensive cars, Lexus seems to promote the UX 300e's overwhelming driving experience as its biggest selling point.
Toyota Korea said it is confident that its new electric cars will be received well among Korean drivers.
“The current supply does not meet the huge demand for our car models,” a company spokeswoman said.
The official added that the NX model is receiving especially huge attention here.
"Here in the Korean market, the Lexus ES sedan is the most popular model, accounting for around 65 percent of total sales. The NX is next. In line with the growing popularity of SUVs, we expect that the demand for the NX will increase here,” the official said.
Lee Byung-jin, the managing director of Toyota Korea, said the company can afford to play a leading role even in the era of EVs.
“We recently revealed our electrification strategy, which is to build a hybrid car, plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicle and even hydrogen car in the future,” Lee said.