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When looking for a reliable vehicle that gives you a taste of the high life, there are fewer options better than a Lexus. The Toyota premium brand topped the 2024 J.D Power Vehicle Dependability Study, a full 12 problems per vehicle on average less than second-placed Toyota, and it has been in the luxury business since it was first established back in 1989.

While used examples from the brand can be picked up for a bargain, their brand-new models aren’t exactly bargain-basement, given that Lexus is a fully-fledged premium brand. For those looking to add a brand-new tasty Lexus to their driveway for as little money as possible, CarBuzz decided to track down the cheapest model currently on sale in the US.

The UX Is Lexus’ Entry-Level SUV Offering

Base Price: $36,540

The cheapest of the brand’s cars currently on sale in the US is the Lexus UX, which is the smallest SUV the brand currently offers on the US side of the Atlantic. Classed as a subcompact SUV, it sits below the compact NX in the Japanese automaker’s product line. The UX goes up against some pretty stout competition in the luxury subcompact crossover sector, with models like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and the Volvo XC40 lining up to take a swing at it.

Like its rivals, the UX is designed to excel on city streets, where larger SUVs can be tricky to maneuver and park in tighter spaces. The UX is therefore ideal for drivers looking to use it on the school run, or when trying to thread their way through a busy grocery-store parking lot. The clue is in its name, which stands for Urban Explorer. Its smaller size and powerplant are the main reasons it’s priced at the lowest end of Lexus’ product line, though this doesn’t mean it compromises on the attributes that make the brand attractive in the first place. The base UX300h is the cheapest of Lexus’ range, and can be had for a base MSRP of $36,540. The $1,175 destination fee increases that to $37,715.

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The Base UX300h Comes With A Handy Hybrid Powertrain

Even the very cheapest UX model comes with an efficient hybrid powertrain, though due to having a self-charging parallel hybrid and not a plug-in, it can’t travel anywhere on pure electric power. A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four engine acts as the base for the powerplant, while a single electric motor helps it along. While it can’t function without the assistance of the engine, the electric motor means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to accelerate, meaning it doesn’t consume as much fuel.

Grunt is also pretty solid, with the two elements combining to afford the UXs driver 196 hp. This power is transmitted to the road via the front wheels, though an all-wheel-drive version is available for $1,570 more. You won’t even have to worry about shifting gears, as the UX300h comes with an eCVT automatic transmission. No manual is available.

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All this tech comes in handy at the pumps too, with the enhanced UX300h able to achieve a combined EPA gas mileage of 43 mpg with FWD and 42 mpg with AWD. Aside from the efficient and punchy engine, Lexus also worked to keep it as light as possible. It even went as far as to utilize special adhesives and laser welds during construction, which saves weight compared to using traditional screws and fasteners, while also improving the structural rigidity of the body and chassis. This not only makes the car safer, but also enhances its handling.

The UX 300h Comes With A Good Selection Of Standard Equipment

Being a Lexus, you also get treated to a swarm of standard equipment and a plusher interior than you would get in an equivalent Toyota. The base UX 300h comes with the following standard luxury features:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Eight-way power front seats
• A leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob
• Washi interior trim
• A cloud-connected eight-inch touchscreen with online navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM and in-car Wi-Fi

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Upgrading to the UX 300h Premium adds the following, while still keeping the MSRP a smidge below $40k:

• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• A power tilt-and-slide moonroof
• A power rear liftgate

The UX Is A Typical Lexus From A Dependability Standpoint

Arguably the biggest reason you opt for a Lexus over anything else is just how reliable they tend to be. The UX is no exception, and has proven to be a near-bulletproof option thus far, with an excellent score of 85 out of 100 for J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability metric. While its 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain has been revised for 2025, meaning there isn’t much meaningful feedback just yet, the previous powerplant has suffered little in the way of issues. This could be said for the whole car, with a mere two recalls being issued since its 2019 debut.

According to the NHTSA, the first was for the 2019 model, and is related to an issue where the vehicle’s stability control system would disengage for no reason. The brake booster pump was found to be the culprit for the problem, with any affected vehicles receiving new ones directly from the dealer. The 2025 model has been recalled once for a damaged wiring harness that could cause a loss of drive power. Aside from this, just 16 owner complaints have been filed since 2019.

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Any Issues With The UX Have Tended To Be One-Offs

One of these detailed that a driver had crashed their UX after suffering complete power loss, which meant the steering and power brakes were inoperable. This, along with another issue that saw a sunroof shatter while driving along, were both standalone issues, though. There were another few complaints over the years related to the electrical system, the brakes, the wipers, the tires, the engine, and the airbags, but these were all isolated cases and none of them established a pattern of unreliability. The total number of complaints over six model years is commendably low. Furthermore, as per Kelley Blue Book, the UX has been rated a 4.6/5-star dependability rating by owners who left a review. Like the company as a whole, the UX has a commanding reliability record and should act as a loyal companion for many years.

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The IS Is An Affordable Sedan Offered By The Marque

Should the UX not float your boat, and you don’t need a crossover, then perhaps the IS compact sedan will suffice. Lexus’ compact executive sedan is the second-cheapest model it offers, with the IS 300 being the lowest-priced trim available. Unlike the UX, the IS 300 doesn’t come with any kind of hybrid system, as it instead gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 powerplant. It’s pretty sporty too, as it fires 241 hp at the rear wheels. This is enough to send it to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds.

The IS 300 is very similarly equipped to the UX, with a similarly sized touchscreen and mostly the same luxury features at the base level. The IS uses more fuel, but is also appreciably quicker. It’s smaller inside, though, with less rear legroom and a far smaller trunk. This makes the thrifty UX the more sensible choice, especially considering it’s more than $3k cheaper.

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But the IS will be the better choice for drivers looking to tear down a back road, as it comes with shifter paddles and a Sport driving mode that sharpens up the steering and throttle to give it a more engaging feel. And being a sedan, there is less body roll, and if feels far more plugged-in as a sporty drive. Whichever you choose, you can rest assured that either will get you to your destination in comfort, and likely without having to worry about completing the rest of the journey in the back of a tow truck due to their excellent reliability.

Sources: Lexus, Kelley Blue Book, NHTSA, J.D. Power.