Lexus RX vs Lexus UX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Lexus RX in South Africa

Lexus RX

RX 350 F SPORT Petrol Automatic 8-speed
ZAR 1,642,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
VS
Lexus UX in South Africa

Lexus UX

UX 300h EX Hybrid ECVT
ZAR 957,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 146 kW 🔧 188 Nm ⛽ 23.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance RX
Fuel Economy UX
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality RX
🔑 Ownership Tie
UX starts ZAR 1516500 cheaper RX from ZAR 1,516,500 · UX from ZAR 957,100

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec RX UX
Engine Power 205 kW 146 kW
Torque 430 Nm 188 Nm
Engine Size 2400 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.5 km/l 23.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 185 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 612 l 268 l
Airbags Side,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee,Passenger Seat Cushion Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger
Kerb Weight 1895-2005 kg 1585 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 years / 105,000km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both RX and UX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance RX +30 pts
Efficiency UX +46 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality RX +18 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

RX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

UX

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

RX

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

UX

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec RX UX
Model Introduced Year 2023 2019
Generation Fifth-generation Lexus RX luxury SUV Current Lexus UX compact luxury crossover with the 300h hybrid powertrain
Facelift History Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Launched Since Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Luxury SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec RX UX
Ground Clearance 185 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2640 mm
Length 4890 mm 4495 mm
Width 1920 mm 1840 mm
Height 1695 mm 1520 mm
Kerb Weight 1895-2005 kg 1585 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2590 kg 2110 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 612 l 268 l
Towing Capacity 2000 kg -
Front Track Width 1655 mm 1550 mm
Rear Track Width 1695 mm 1550 mm
Turning Radius 5.9 m 5.2 m
Load Bed Length 612 l 268 l
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 585-695 kg 525 kg
Boot Volume 612 l 268 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 67.5 l 43 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2590 kg 2110 kg
Ground Clearance Max 185 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 185 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 185 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1695 mm 1520 mm
Length Mm 4890 mm 4495 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 612 l 268 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 585-695 kg 525 kg
Cargo Volume 612 l 268 l
Tare Mass Kg 1895-2005 kg 1585 kg
Turning Circle 5.9 m 5.2 m
Turning Circle M 5.9 m 5.2 m
Width Mm 1920 mm 1840 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

RX leads by 3 points

Both RX and UX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 79 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 79% confidence
79
#1 Winner

RX

79% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 85
Efficiency 46
Safety 94
Practicality 73
Ownership 93
Leads by 3 points
76
#2

UX

75% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 55
Performance 55
Efficiency 92
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 93
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance RX +30 Efficiency UX +46 Safety Level Practicality RX +18 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

RX

Performance 85/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 93/100

UX

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 92/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 93/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus RX wins with 79 pts vs 76 pts for UX

In structured scoring, RX emerges as the stronger overall package. However, UX may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the RX edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: RX 46 vs UX 92. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: RX 94, UX 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: RX 93, UX 93. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: RX 73, UX 55. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: RX 85, UX 55. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The RX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The RX scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between RX and UX in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: RX scores 85 vs 55.

Efficiency: RX scores 46 vs 92.

Safety: RX scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: RX scores 73 vs 55.

Ownership: RX scores 93 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives RX the advantage in this comparison.