Axed! 2025 Lexus UX 300e bows out in Australia leaving upgraded RZ as luxury brand’s only EV
Lexus Australia has confirmed it has axed the 2025 Lexus UX 300e from its line-up.
The decision comes less than two years after the small SUV underwent a significant update designed to close the gap between it and other EVs like the Mercedes EQA.
Blaming “production restrictions on selected parts”, Lexus Australia says there are “no plans” to reintroduce its entry-level EV into the line-up.
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That leaves the mid-size RZ SUV as the brand’s only current all-electric offering.
Helping make the decision easier for Lexus Australia is the lukewarm sales performance of the battery-powered small SUV.
Latest sales data reveals just 28 UX 300e SUVs found homes in the first four months of 2025 and only 92 were delivered in 2024.
Launched in Japan back in 2019, Lexus then waited until 2021 to bring the brand’s first-ever EV to Australia.
Initially trailing its rivals for performance and range, a heavily updated version of the UX 300e was then introduced in 2023.
It received a larger 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery (up from a modest 54.4kWh) that boosted its WLTP range by a significant 135km to a respectable 450km.
Only ever offered with front-wheel drive, all versions of the UX 300e were powered by a single e-motor that drove the front wheels and produced 150kW and 300Nm of torque.
Inside, the final batch of UX 300e models came with a large 12.3-inch infotainment system, that was combined with a revised centre console and more sophisticated safety tech.
Offered in just two variants – the Luxury and Sports Luxury, the UX 300e wasn’t exactly cheap with the base model priced at a considerable $80,720 plus on-road costs and $88,190 plus ORCs respectively.
An upgraded version of the mid-size RZ SUV is set to arrive later this year.
Based on the larger dedicated e-TNGA architecture, the RZ was co-developed alongside the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra.
The new 2026 model-year RZ will arrive with more power, extra range and a yoke-style steering wheel.
As part of the overhaul the RZ 450e is no more, with Australians offered the choice of a punchier RZ 500e or a new flagship RZ 550e – the latter comes with the firm’s F Sport trim.
Choose the fastest RZ 550e F Sport and power is raised to 300kW, slashing the 0-100km/h dash to 4.4 seconds.
New tech limited to the Lexus RZ 550e F Sport include a simulated eight-speed transmission that’s said to replicate the feeling of a traditional combustion-powered car’s transmission.
Powering the RZ range is a new 77kWh battery with improved chemistry.
Combined with more efficient motors, this sees a 14 per cent increase in driving range – the RZ 500e is claimed to cover up to 500km (up by 30km on the WLTP test protocol), while the RZ 550e F Sport can drive up to 450km between charges.
Helping distinguish the overhauled RZ, Lexus’ remaining EV in Australia gets new bumpers, a redesigned rear spoiler and fresh 20-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the top versions get the option of a steer-by-wire yoke that offers variable ratio steering for sharper responses.
Full pricing and specification of the 2026 Lexus RZ will be released close to its introduction next year.
