Road tested by Hugh Maguire.
This is the smallest Lexus yet and is their way of offering buyers all the quality and luxury of a premium brand but in a compact crossover body shell for those that do not need the space offered by larger SUV’s.
From a marketing point of view the idea really makes sense. Two definite demographics are the target here. Young couples who do not yet have a family and the so called “empty nesters” whose family have flown the coup.
Lexus have no doubt seen the global success of the Toyota Yaris Cross and decided to capitalise on the compact cross formula with a very luxurious compact crossover. Indeed the Lexus LBX hybrid uses the mechanicals of the Toyota Yaris Cross so there is commonality here.
Here in Ireland two trim levels are available, ELEGANT and EMOTION both powered by the same petrol self charging hybrid.
So has it any street cred?
It sits well on its two tone 18”alloy wheels with black plastic wheel arch trims. Its best profile is from the front where it boasts the familiar Lexus front end with big grille and slim LED light clusters. Overall I think it looks very well but is not overtly distinctive.
What is it like inside?
The electric release door handles are a nice touch.The interior is most impressive in both its design and execution. Quality is evident everywhere. The seats are perfectly shaped, look great and are very supportive. The digital instrument display with the central rev counter is excellent and configurable to your own style, while the central touchscreen is good but the graphics are not as good as in some other brands and annoyingly there is no “home” button. Thankfully Lexus have kept a row of real buttons under the touchscreen for the climate functions.
The fit and feel of every material really is top class right down to the red stitching in the dash and door panels.
Equipment levels are excellent but I was surprised to find no electric seats and no electric raise for the tailgate in car at this price point.
Overall this truly lovely cabin is compact, up front there is plenty of head and legroom and the driving position is very good. The rear is pretty tight for two adults with knee room being at a premium. Its fine for two over short journeys but maybe less so for a long journey. The boot is reasonable size for a car in this class.
What’s under the bonnet?
All Lexus LBX models are powered by the same 1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor powered by a battery which is re charged via regen braking and the petrol engine for emission free driving. Its the best system to go for right now avoiding the range anxiety and plug in issues of EV’s and PHEV’s.
The little 3-cylinder sounds good and it will cruise around town on battery power. I averaged an excellent 5.1 litres per 100km over my test so its very frugal too. Road tax is €180.00 for a year.
What is it like to drive?
The Lexus LBX drives and handles very well. The slightly elevated body means a better view of the road ahead and easier entrance and exit. It drives well too and proves compact and nimble about town. It cruises happily at motorway speeds with only a little more tyre noise than I expected to intrude on an otherwise quiet cabin. The ride though is a little firm over poorer surfaces but the compromise is taut and responsive handling.
Verdict
I really like the new Lexus LBX. Priced from €39,440 it is a very attractive proposition for this who want the luxury but not the size. In short this new Lexus deserves to do really well. Its a top notch product with huge appeal.