The LBX is the newest and smallest member of the Lexus family, setting new standards within the Japanese company and setting the bar high in terms of ambition.
With new plans and big ambitions from LBXwhich is the smallest SUV in her story Lexus, the Japanese company aims high. It is not the first time that it operates unconventionally, nor the last we assume, as in its history it shows boldness, having as a common denominator in all its movements, quality at all levels.
Premium not just in theory, but in practice, with products that are beyond criticism and set the bar high, across the board. Lexus has managed to stand out from the competition, with unique proposals, scattered in the upper part of the size categories, without of course ignoring the sporty constructions with a view.
Today, with the market being SUV-ized, the Japanese company cannot be indifferent to its trends and in general to its direction. It turns out well-read, with suggestions in all categories. Almost, that is, as until now it had a gap, at the base, where there is also the greatest commercial interest, which the new LBX, however, comes to cover.
A model that is the first attempt of the Japanese brand in the B-SUV category. The smallest of all its models in its rich history, which emphatically shows the company’s shift to the small. A step down in category and many up in sales. This is the big goal of the Japanese company, as with this model it intends to attract the interest of new buyers.
Designed and developed for the world’s most demanding market, the European one, the LBX is the new ace up Lexus’ sleeve. Utilizing the genes of the brand and having as a compass the brother Toyota Yaris Cross, it adopts the essentials, developing the rest according to the strict standards of Lexus.
Quality is the big question in its models and there are no discounts here, despite the fact that we are talking about the entry model of the brand. The LBX is as similar to the Yaris Cross as Dani Devito is to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Twins. They may have the same genes, but they are clearly different. Not only in appearance, but also in substance.
The frame has been upgraded according to the wishes of Lexus and the customers, tapping on the advanced form of the TNGA-B platform and is now presented more resistant to “bending”, but also with slightly larger dimensions. The LBX is 4,190 mm long, 1,825 mm wide. (+60 mm) and the height of 1,560 mm, with the wheelbase reaching 2,580 mm. which is 20 mm. larger than that of the Yaris Cross.
Changes have also been made to the suspension, with significantly better damping compared to the Yaris Cross, despite the fact that the architecture remains the same with McPherson struts at the front and a semi-rigid rear axle. The latter reacts progressively even with the extra 18-inch wheels (17-inch in the basic version), giving that premium character that someone who chooses is looking for from the model. The steering wheel with a rich feel, without being heavy and tiring, proves to be precise and an ally of the driver on roads beyond the city.
Similarly, the hybrid set, which is based on that of the Yaris Cross, but with significant improvements, contributes the maximum. The 3-cylinder naturally aspirated 1,500 is familiar to us, but here the battery is a new, low-resistance, high-performance nickel metal hydride bipolar. The whole works with the revised e-CVT gearbox.
Power has jumped from 116 to 136 horsepower, if we have to make a comparison, with performance being more mellow. It contributes more to quietness as it doesn’t force the transmission to rev up with every gas press, as the car moves with more nerve without pressure. If you choose a gentle pace, you will find that the system stands out for its low consumption, which in normal conditions can even drop below 5 lt./100 km.
On the other hand, when throttle demands are greater, then the transmission will rev up and hold it there, with any noise consequences, until the driver takes his foot off the right pedal. Although here, compared to the Yaris Cross, the external sound passing through the interior is well filtered, with better insulation and thicker crystals.
Inside, the quality is beyond criticism, with the materials used directly referring to higher-end models. Impeccable is the assembly of the mostly soft materials, which give the premium aura you expect from a Lexus model, even if it is an entry-level one.
The driver sits relatively low, hip-wise, compared to models in its ‘spec’, taking on a sportier feel than you’d expect from a small crossover. The image is technologically modern, with the displays supporting this feel. In the slightly higher equipped versions you will find in addition to the 9.8-inch touch screen and a 12.3-inch digital screen for the instrument panel, which is easy to read, with good graphics.
The automatic transmission gear selector on the center console is borrowed from the larger Lexus models, with a solid feel, but also an S program as well as B for energy recovery. Behind it are the keys for selecting the programs of the drive system, which in addition to ECO and Normal also has EV for purely electric operation, at the limit of what is possible.
The new Lexus LBX is available with a starting price of 31,300 euros, but also in several versions, which offer many possibilities for personalization. Both in terms of upholstery, in leather or alcantara depending on your wishes, but even ambient lighting with 63 different colors. For those demanding in-car entertainment, Lexus also offers a top-of-the-line Mark Levinson system, with up to 13 speakers.
In addition, the digital key is also available as an extra, which allows the owner to access the car from his smartphone, while remotely controlling functions such as activating the air conditioning. In continuation of the technological benefits, the LBX also offers a Head-Up-Display system, which also has adjustment options for the information it projects in front of the driver’s field of vision.
The suite of safety systems is full, with the LBX supporting its premium character in this way. The price of the introductory version of the model with two-wheel drive starts from 31,300 euros, while the four-wheel drive from 40,000 euros. The Lexus LBX seems to have all the guarantees that will allow it to write a good course in the Greek market and not only, with the model immediately available for order. Its first deliveries in our country are scheduled to take place between February and March 2024.
LEXUS LBX
PROPULSION SYSTEM: d/c + d/c >DISPLACEMENT (d/c): 1,490 cc >POWER (b/c): 91 hp/5,550 rpm >TORQUE (b/c): 120 Nm/3,600-4,800 rpm >POWER (n/c): 94 hp >TORQUE (n/c): 185 Nm >COMBINED POWER: 136 hp >DRIVE: Front wheels >TRANSMISSION: e-CVT >FRONT SUSPENSION: McPherson knees >REAR SUSPENSION: Semi-rigid axle >L x W x H: 4,190 x 1,825 x 1,560 mm >WHEEL BASE: 2,580 mm. >LUGGAGE SPACE: 402 liters >WEIGHT: 1,280 kg >0-100 KM/H: 9.2 seconds >TOP SPEED: 170 km/h >AVERAGE CONSUMPTION: 4.7-4.4 l/100 km >CO2 EMISSION: 107-100 g/km >PRICE: from 31,300 euros