This car is anything but predictable.

Unpredictability

The golden rule for any sport is that it must never, ever become predictable. Last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix was, unfortunately, that and the top 10 cars all ended up finishing in the positions in which they started the race. 

Which brings me to my recent drive in the Lexus LBX.

Why LBX?

It stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover.

Lexus had a bit of a problem. Their record of building premium quality, hugely reliable, very desirable but quite sizeable and pricey SUVs and saloons was becoming predictable. They needed to move with the times and come up with something new and relevant.

A New Direction

And here it is - a small SUV. In fact, the LBX is the smallest car that Lexus has ever built. At the other end of the scale, Lexus has also launched a 7-seater, the LM (Luxury Mover). More about that one later in the year.  

This brand new small Lexus is aimed fair and square at younger buyers who want style, a bit of quality and are prepared to pay for it. The LBX will also appeal to buyers of other Lexus or prestige badge models who fancy downsizing.

Performance and Specifications

Its power comes from a mild hybrid set-up which means you get a 1.5 litre 3-cylinder engine plus a bit of help from a self-charging battery driven electric motor which in total develops 138bhp. 0-60mph takes just over 9.0 seconds and its top speed is 106mph. The lower trim levels get front-wheel drive while if you move up the range you can go AWD courtesy of an additional motor added to the rear axle. It won’t turn the LBX into a mud-plugger but it could be handy for any of you who live out in the sticks. For those interested in that sort of thing, it costs around £1250 to get an all-wheel drive transmission. The economy looks good at approaching 62mpg, but if you do opt for all-wheel drive, you’ll take a slight hit at the pump with it falling to 58.8mpg, according to Lexus.

The other advantage of this sort of hybrid arrangement is that the electric motor generally does the work on its own at town speeds which means you trundle along in silence. You also set off from a standstill without the engine running.

Driving Experience

Power goes to the wheels via a CVT gearbox. This means the engine can race while the car builds up speed, but this little Lexus keeps things nicely hushed. I have no idea why, but a 3-cylinder engine busting a gut with high revs sounds better than a 4-cylinder unit.

The ride is quite firm, not harsh, which means the car is a bit fidgety around town, but once you build some speed, it levels out and actually makes the LBX good fun to drive.

Design and Style

I think it looks good. The front has narrow LED headlights which follow the shape of the bonnet and the rear has a light bar which stretches across the entire rump. You can also get a two-tone paint job by opting for a black roof.  

Interior and Features

As with every Lexus, when you step inside you can expect to be greeted by a premium interior and plenty of kit as standard. The LBX doesn’t disappoint and to call it smart is an understatement.

Everything kicks off with Urban trim at £29,995 but I’d recommend that you dig deep and find an extra £4.5k and move up to Premium Plus trim because that gives you the up-market Tazuna cockpit which increases the size of the 7-inch instrument cluster to 12.3 inches. You also add a head-up display which works really well. The alloy wheels increase in size to 18 inches which fill the wheel arches nicely and give the car a more purposeful look. The fabric seat material is replaced by perforated leather and you get touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel.    

There’s also a powered tailgate, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, powered lumbar support for the driver, heated front sport seats, front and rear parking sensors, and a 9.8-inch central infotainment screen which houses stuff like sat nav, DAB radio and smartphone mirroring. It’s to see that the climate controls are buttons and rocker switches.

Safety and Practicality

As with every Lexus, the LBX is littered with safety devices. I turned off the one which kept telling me that I was driving with my eyes closed. It either struggles with sunglasses or if you have the seat too high.

The compact exterior dimensions mean that, although the front seat folk have loads of space, it’s a bit tight for legroom in the rear, although kids will be fine.

Conclusion

I think Lexus has hit the nail on the head with the LBX. They’ve downsized and targeted a whole new bunch of people who are willing to pay for quality and style. I wouldn’t bother with the AWD option unless you really need extra traction. The entry-level Urban trim is perfectly fine and the interior and exterior still look up-market, but I’d definitely go for something like Premium Plus because the additional goodies make the LBX feel and look even more special.  

Yes it’s a tad expensive, but factor in the amount of kit you get as standard and also take note of how well Lexus cars hold onto their value. The build quality is terrific and reliability and customer satisfaction are up with the best.

You get what you pay for and its really worth the additional outlay.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Lexus