There are lots of compact-sized, luxury-brand crossovers.

And there are lots of hybrid crossovers, too.

But there's just one compact-sized, luxury-brand crossover that's a hybrid, too.

The Lexus UX 250h.

What It Is

Per the above, the UX 250h is a small hybrid crossover made by Lexus. It is the only model of its type in the segment and it averages better than 40 mpg, which is about 10 mpg better than other small, luxury-brand crossovers that aren't hybrids like the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLB, for instance, can manage on the highway. It is also priced lower to start — $35,400 for the front-wheel-drive version and $37,250 for all-wheel drive — than the nonhybrid small crossovers mentioned above, which start at $38,600 and $39,800, respectively.

This is remarkable because it is usually the case that a hybrid costs more to buy than an otherwise similar nonhybrid, which takes away from the savings you might realize by driving it.

Of course, there's a cost for everything, and when it comes to the UX relative to models like the X1 and GLB and others in the class, it comes in the form of being a little slower to get going, and a bit less leg room on back and cargo room (the latter item due to the UX's drivetrain layout and lower-than-others roofline).

What's New for 2023

The hybrid UX 250h gets an updated 12.3-inch optional LCD touchscreen and new F Sport iterations (Design and Handling).

What's Good

The only small luxury-brand hybrid that costs less to drive than most economy-priced cars.

Costs less to buy than more expensive-to-drive, small, luxury-brand crossovers.

Doesn't look like every other small crossover.

What's Not So Good

With rear seats up/in use, cargo space available behind them is small.

Backseat legroom (just 33.1 inches) is significantly less than in several rivals.

Takes longer to get up to speed than nonhybrid rivals.

Under The Hood

Every UX is powered by a combination 2.0-liter gas engine/electric motors (AWD models have two, one driving the rear wheels) and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack to store electricity generated by the engine. It powers the motor(s) that provide supplementary power when the gas engine isn't needed - which allows for it to be automatically turned off during light-load cruising, deceleration and when the UX isn't moving.

That's how the UX achieves 43 mpg in city driving and 41 on the highway.

On The Road

The UX isn't slow, in relative terms.

It is actually quicker than some of the V8 sleds of the '70s, believe it or not (as Jack Palance used to say). And it feels quicker than it is, so long as you don't need it to be actually quick. Part-throttle acceleration is up to par with the ebb and flow of traffic, and the torque provided by the electric motor(s) is EV-like and similarly silent. This Lexus has no trouble at all comfortably holding 75-80 mph, which is about as fast as highway traffic is generally flowing.

But if you need to merge with traffic going that fast, then you will notice how quick the UX isn't.

The upside is this is mostly a problem of nonanticipation. Every person reading this who has driven a slow car knows exactly what that means.

Said another way, slowness is only a problem, mostly, if you don't anticipate the need to build a head of steam and maintain it as necessary. You will only have problems if you creep up a merge ramp doing 35 and expect to merge with traffic doing 75-80. You won't if you use every bit of that ramp to build up speed enough so that you're not doing 30 mph less than the traffic you're trying to merge with when you try to.

At The Curb

The UX is about the same overall length (177 inches) as a BMW X1 (177.2 inches) or an Audi Q3 (176.6 inches), but it is lower and more aggressive than utilitarian looking. It has planes and sharp angles; its roofline seems low relative to the body, which gives it a snarky squat. Lexus did a lot in terms of styling to make this small crossover not look like every other crossover.

But there is a cost, which comes mainly in the form of a smaller-than-most cargo area. It doesn't hold as much as the cargo areas of other small crossovers such as the Benz GLB, which has 25.7 cubic feet behind its third row versus just 17.1 cubic feet for the UX. Part of the reason for the smallness has to do with the lowness of the UX's tapering roofline. Also, the floor of the UX's cargo area is higher in order to make room underneath for some of the hybrid drivetrain's components.

The Rest

Though the UX does have a big touchscreen, you don't have to touch it — to adjust the volume of the stereo, at least. You do, however, if you want to change the channel. It's either that or use the trackpad input on the center console, or your voice. Just say, "Hey, Lexus," and the personal assistant will help.

The Bottom Line

It costs less to drive, and it costs less than many others that cost more to drive. That sounds like a pretty good deal, if you're looking to save money by not spending it.

View the Lexus UX 250h this week.

Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.