Lexus LBX drive by Steve Rogers
Times are changing at Lexus with sights set on a younger audience.
And here is the car they think will win them over. The LBX is a compact crossover and the smallest car yet from the premium brand.
It has even got a new face, losing the huge grille that has been the Lexus design signature for the past decade. If the bigger models look set for battle, LBX is ready to party. This is the new casual approach.
Hopes are high for the halo model which, if all goes to plan, will scoop around 6,000 sales, that’s more than a third of last year’s UK sales, and the optimism is no doubt based on the popularity of the Yaris Cross, its cousin at Toyota.
They are almost identical in size although the LBX has a new more powerful version of the three-cylinder 1.5 litre self charging hybrid engine and is a full two seconds quicker to sixty than Yaris Cross. The engine is a tad noisy with foot to the floor but is not unpleasant and throttle response is generally on the money. I was even satisfied with the CVT gearbox, which is a first, and even more satisfied with the handling. I regularly drive a twisting country road which separates the good from the not so good and the LBX is a peach. Grippy with nicely weighted steering, and suspension that is more than up to the job of absorbing pothole thuds.
Economy fell some way short of the official 60mpg hovering around 51-54mpg. Its less powerful Yaris cousin easily topped 60mpg when tested last year.
Lexus clearly does not want to miss out on the rising demand for economical compact crossovers hence the change in direction and although small LBX is no poor relation of the plush, bigger models in the range.
You still get all the high tech special effects, including electronic door opening which is pretty cool, a barrel full of safety aids, and high end trim covering the dashboard and doors.
The layout could be said to be a bit old school with the touchscreen sitting flush in a horizontal display unlike the more fashionable tablet style screen perched atop the dashboard. It is tilted back with an anti glare covering and blends in well creating a clean line with no intrusions.
It makes for a busy centre console but is straightforward after a couple of minutes taking it in. Heating control switches are small and delicate but separate from the touchscreen which is also logically laid out with a vertical strip of menus.
It was day two before I found the most useful switch that took me into a bank of frequently used features like the dreaded lane departure which is often buried in a sub menu.
Not so popular with me, or my wife, were the touch tracers on the steering wheel for selecting a variety of functions. A bit like stopping fast forward at the right time on the TV. Patience is needed or just say, Hey Lexus, and the kind lady will change the heating temperature, find a radio station or navigation destination, as long as it is not an awkward Welsh name. That floors her.
Equipment level is good across the four model range, although avoid the entry model to get those special touches. My Premium Plus is a middle of the road choice, powered seats are all that was missing. It even had a washer for the rear camera which is a rarity. Safety features are more or less standard with the safe exit an excellent addition, locking the door if a vehicle is approaching.
If there is a downside to LBX it is rear seat legroom which is very poor but at least there is room for feet under the front seat. In contrast boot space is excellent for a compact SUV although a two level floor would avoid the drop into the well.
There is a lot riding on this little fella with its lofty sales target. It is an appealing choice for someone wanting to sample premium quality without paying 50 or 60 grand. We will find out at the end of the year if LBX has risen to the challenge.
Fast facts
LBX Premium Plus
£34,265 (starts £29,995)
1.5 litre petrol hybrid. 134bhp
0-62mph 9.2secs
61.4mpg combined
108g/km
Insurance group 25
Boot: 402-994 litres
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