The Cheapest Lexus Brakes for You on Risky Left Turns

Since the 2026 model year, the Lexus UX 300h, the cheapest Lexus in the U.S., has been able to brake on its own if the driver turns left in front of oncoming traffic.

That feature, Left Turn Oncoming Vehicle Detection/Braking, is one of four new driver aids in the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite that is now standard on every UX. The others are Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, which adds steering force when the driver swerves to avoid a collision, Curve Speed Management for the adaptive cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist, which applies gentle braking into curves and gentle braking or steering to keep distance from vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists ahead.

The Lexus release for the 2026 UX 300h lays out how the new systems work. The emergency steer assist operates when the Pre-Collision System is on, the turn signal is off, and the UX is traveling between 25 and 50 mph, and the left-turn braking works in certain daytime conditions. The Pre-Collision System itself uses a camera and millimeter-wave radar to detect vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, with automatic braking from roughly 7 to 110 mph. All-speed adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Road Sign Assist are standard on every grade, and a Safe Exit Alert warns occupants of approaching cars or bicycles before they open a door.

Lexus’s 2026 price sheet starts the UX at $38,850, the lowest price in the lineup, because the smaller LBX isn’t sold in the U.S. Prices from the Lexus release, including $1,395 for delivery, processing and handling, are below.

UX 300h grade	FWD	AWD
Base	$38,850	$40,420
Premium	$42,120	$43,690
F SPORT Design	$42,685	$44,255
F SPORT Handling	$47,270	$48,850

Every UX is a hybrid. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two motor-generators make 196 total horsepower in both front-drive and all-wheel-drive form, and a lithium-ion battery has replaced the old nickel-metal hydride pack. Lexus estimates 43 mpg combined for the front-drive model and 41 mpg for the AWD version, with 0-60 mph times of 8.0 and 7.9 seconds.

The rest of the 2026 update is light, with minor color and trim changes. Ultra White is new for the Base and Premium grades, and F SPORT models add a monotone Caviar option.

The Toyota Report Take

Putting the left-turn braking and emergency steering help on a $38,850 car is the right move, because the people most likely to buy the cheapest Lexus, including new drivers and first-time luxury buyers, benefit from it as much as anyone. The UX is an aging design, but this update keeps it competitive where it matters most. Shoppers should still test the lane-centering and Proactive Driving Assist on a drive, since some drivers find gentle automatic braking into curves takes getting used to.