Our opinion on the Lexus LBX
There is nothing else quite like the Lexus LBX currently on sale in the UK. It’s as small as a Toyota Yaris Cross, yet offers the kind of premium appeal that is synonymous with larger Lexus models. However, while it feels well-appointed from behind the wheel and is reasonably comfortable to drive, there are compromises elsewhere. Rear passenger space is almost as cramped as it is in a Yaris Cross, while the LBX’s list prices place it on a par with electric SUVs that offer lower running costs, or larger petrol models that match it for quality but deliver greater practicality.
About the Lexus LBX
After many years of offering a safe range of luxury SUVs and saloons, Lexus is going all-out to diversify its range. The Lexus LC grand touring coupe started the expansion, while the Lexus LM people carrier offers something unique in the large luxury car sector. At the smaller end of the market, Lexus is also downsizing with the LBX premium small SUV.
LBX stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover, and this is only the second car from the company to feature a three-letter name (the first being the Lexus LFA supercar). It’s the ‘Breakthrough’ part that’s important, because the LBX is the smallest car Lexus has ever built, but it comes with the premium quality and technology that has made the company’s larger cars popular.
In order to determine whether Lexus’s foray into the compact SUV world is a successful one, our senior news reporter, Alastair Crooks, lived with an LBX in Takumi trim on a long-term test. While he couldn’t fault the level of quality and kit within this range-topping model, Alastair still couldn’t help but wonder whether the car was truly worthy of its £41,000-plus price tag when compared with the competition.
Lexus LBX prices and latest deals
Prices range from around £30,000 to £42,500, which puts the LBX in the ballpark of small electric SUVs such as the Volvo EX30 and DS 3 E-Tense. However, if you’d like to save on the list price, you can build your ideal Lexus LBX with the Auto Express Buy A Car service and choose the best offer from UK dealers. We also have new Lexus LBX models in stock and ready to hit the road, along with a number of appealing Lexus LBX leasing deals. We can also help you to sell your car.
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
The unsurprising result of it having more power is that the Lexus is slightly quicker than its Toyota twin. Officially, the 0-62mph time is 9.2 seconds if you choose a front-wheel drive model, increasing to 9.6 seconds if you opt for the four-wheel drive version. The Yaris Cross, meanwhile, only covers the sprint in 10.7 seconds in its quickest form.
Both variants of the LBX have a 106mph top speed. You probably won’t be flooring the throttle all that often, though, because the continuously variable transmission (CVT) encourages a smooth driving style. Being overly eager with the accelerator results in more noise than forward momentum, and this does briefly spoil the overall refinement.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The LBX’s hybrid powertrain can run solely on electric power under 30mph, so things remain very quiet and refined at city speeds. Stop-start traffic doesn’t require much effort, either, as the power is pretty much instantaneous when you need it.
The lofty driving position and clear all-round visibility makes the Lexus LBX an easy car to navigate through narrow streets and into parking spaces. Front and rear sensors are fitted to all variants, too, along with a reversing camera. These make the experience into an even more stress-free affair.
While the Lexus LBX is an easy and quiet car to drive, there’s very little in the way of excitement to be found from behind the wheel. It does handle in a slightly more composed fashion than the Toyota, but this certainly isn’t anywhere near enough to inspire a driver’s inner hooligan to come out in the corners.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
While it could be easy to dismiss it as a Yaris Cross in fancy clothes, Lexus has put serious effort into delivering a more refined driving experience for the LBX. The hybrid system is far quieter here than it is in the Yaris or Yaris Cross, with enough sound deadening to make the three-cylinder petrol engine almost undetectable when it fires up. There’s just a distant thrum when accelerating, while no obvious engine noise is present at a cruise.
The suspension has been overhauled, too, and the LBX offers a comfortable ride for such a small car, and it’s a marked improvement over the Yaris Cross. The dampers do a good job of soaking up bumps, and only the biggest thumps are felt in the cabin. It’s much like Lexus’s larger SUVs in this regard. The LBX isn’t the most involving car to drive, but the steering is direct, and while body roll is noticeable, the car doesn’t feel wallowy in the bends.
“When you set off, the LBX drives in EV-only mode. The illusion of electric running quickly dissipates though, because the throttle only needs the slightest nudge to awaken the three-cylinder petrol engine, even at very low speeds.” – Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter.