With the prominence of SUVs in the new car market seemingly ever-increasing, Lexus this year made its debut in the small SUV segment with the LBX. According to the Japanese brand, it’s the first car it’s ever developed specifically with European tastes in mind – and it’s also a car with which it’s aiming to target younger drivers. Having previously tried the LBX on the international launch, we’ve now been able to sample it on UK roads.
Equipment
The LBX range is not the most straightforward. It consists of Urban, Premium, Premium Plus, and Takumi equipment grades, but with the last two also available with an added Design package. Tested here is the Premium Plus Design (the Takumi grade is pictured), which comes with bi-tone paint, machined alloy wheels, and perforated Tahara upholstery with red stitching. These augment the regular Premium Plus spec, which includes a useful head-up display, and a bigger 12.3in driver display, which also works well, although if anything it makes the car’s 9.8in infotainment touchscreen look smaller by comparison. Perhaps this screen, which is fine by most B-segment standards, also suffers in relation to the impressively premium, high-quality materials that comprise most of the cabin and make it worthy of the Lexus badge.
Access to this interior is via door handles which don’t move in the usual way, but instead incorporate an electric latch release system – which works perfectly well, but seems a bit gimmicky.
Rear seat space is OK, but there are no air vents back there, which passengers may object to. The 402-litre boot is a good size, but has a fairly high lip (a power tailgate is also included with Premium Plus spec).
Drive and performance
The only engine option with the LBX range is a 136hp conventional hybrid (although all-wheel drive is available as an option with some grades). Performance is pretty nippy for the segment, up to and including motorway speeds, and it actually feels faster than the official power output would suggest – maybe due to the overall sense of solidity making it easy to think you’re in a bigger car from behind the wheel. A little engine note is audible under hard acceleration, but nothing too intrusive, and a degree of wind noise is noticeable on the motorway.
We were expecting the LBX to offer safe and secure handling, but in fact it goes beyond this with a feeling of lightness and agility, although the occasionally delayed throttle response associated with the workings of the hybrid powertrain would prevent it being a real driver’s choice in this segment. Ride quality is fairly good, with ruts in the road well absorbed, although the brakes are quite sensitive, which takes a while to get used to.
As a hybrid small SUV, the LBX doesn’t have any direct rivals from Lexus’s usual premium market competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. As you’d expect, it does cost more to buy than more mainstream alternatives such as the Renault Captur and (the LBX’s cousin) the Toyota Yaris Cross, but the high-quality feel helps to justify the premium – and the Lexus also boasts robust expected residual values.
Positive: High quality interior, better to drive than expected, should hold value well
Negative: Not cheap to buy, brakes take some getting used to
Standard equipment with Premium Plus Design: Bi-tone paint, machined 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights with automatic high beam, power tailgate, heated front seats, perforated Tahara upholstery with red stitching, rear privacy glass, dual-zone climate control, 9.8in infotainment touchscreen, 12.3in driver display, head-up display, wireless Apple Carplay and wired Android Auto connectivity, wireless smartphone charger, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, pre-collision system with driver monitor, rear side monitor, blind spot monitor, safe exit assist.
Engines: Hybrid: 136hp 1.5
Equipment grades: Urban, Premium, Premium Plus, Premium Plus Design, Takumi, Takumi Design
Transmissions: e-CVT automatic
| Model | Lexus LBX Premium Plus Design |
| P11D | £35,365 |
| Residual value | 48% |
| Depreciation | £17,964 |
| Fuel | £6,437 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £2,680 |
| Cost per mile | 45.13p |
| Fuel consumption | 61.4mpg |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 103g/km (25%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £147/£295 |
| Luggage capacity | 402 litres |
| Engine size/power | 1,490cc/136hp |
| Score | 8/10 |
