The Lexus LBX is a small dose of luxury, for those who know they are arriving
Singapore – When Lexus introduced their smallest offering, the LBX, it raised eyebrows. The B Segment SUV would become the most expensive thing amongst a small pool of similar-size offerings, although the latter are built for the mass market.
But while the “Baby Lexus” might come across as quite the oddball, it is clear that Lexus have found themselves that little white space. And I would say that this shouldn’t be seen as a question of ‘why’ but ‘why not?’. I mean, the small SUV is built upon the same underpinnings as the bread-and-butter Toyota Yaris Cross, so Lexus already had the toolkit to do so.
For starters, the LBX is incredibly well put-together. It has that same good fit and finish you’d already expect from its larger siblings. Despite its small footprint, designers have ensured that the small SUV has all the right design elements which defines it as a Lexus. The most notable would be its larger-than-life spindle grille, which takes up much of the car’s frontal real estate.
I like that visually, it communicates luxury, rather than scream it. Yes, there are chromed accents, but none over the top. Its rims at 18-inch, are visually the largest that should fit into those wheel arches.
A little Lexus on the inside
The carry-over of Lexus quality is quite evident here. There are some parts-sharing with its larger siblings – one of the more notable being the short-shifting spring-loaded drive selector, which is also found on the larger NX. Everything here has a great tactile feel, while physical buttons have a pleasant firmness to them.
Where real estate is scarce, things fit snugly, including the almost square 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard, and so is a wireless mobile phone charger; the latter which has some limitations, due to how the phone sits longitudinally, and gets in the way of any drinks you may have in the cupholder. Most of the air-conditioning controls are located at the base of the infotainment screen, which while I would still have a want for full physical controls, they are not all that bad to use.
However, I do wish that designers could have sorted out the LBX for warmer equatorial climates, as alcantara under noon sunshine are not best friends to perspiration-soaked clothing. For colder days, the front seats are equipped with seat heaters…
In my eyes, the Lexus LBX is more of a personal luxury car, than one for the family. Leg space at the rear is quite limited, and therefore be best suited for shorter journeys.
At 402 litres, the boot is seemingly decent by volume, but due to the LBX’s rather short rear overhangs, Lexus achieved these numbers by allowing for more depth. The disadvantage here would be when loading or unloading heavier items. Folding the 60:40 rear seatbacks also leaves you with a raised curb, which mean that you’d need to take more care when dealing long-fragile items.
While not the most even of comparisons, the outgoing Audi Q3, which costs around $5,000 more, boasts a flat boot floor, boasting 530 litres.
Energy-Saving Light Bob
Lexus utilises the same proven parallel hybrid 1.5 litre three-cylinder engine, with the eCVT forming the hybrid drive system. The eCVT directly drives the car on electric power, before the engine takes over during higher speeds or under heavier loads.
The drive is largely smooth, with power transitions between its electric drive and engine in majority of cases, being hardly intrusive. If you’re easy with the throttle, the small Lexus will give you its best. It is not the sort of car that likes being flogged, but rather coaxed to speed; where you’d be able to savour the smoothness of the electric drive. What is impressive is that Lexus’s officially stated efficiency numbers of 19.6km/l are easily attainable. But without even trying, my entire time with the car yielded anything above 20km/l.
But I realised that due to its mild performance, I had to lead-foot the car during some overtaking manoeuvres. This was where the powertrain began to unravel its bread-and-butter Yaris Cross roots. The three-cylinder does become vocal, and the unbalanced nature of the engine becomes pronounced.
Due to its rather short 2,580mm wheelbase, and torsion rear suspension, the LBX is not the happiest camper over some of our west-end industrial roads, but as surfaces smoothen out, the suspension’s ride quality is uncanningly deft.
Fuel-sipping prowess, but rather pricey
The LBX is a good attempt by Lexus to fill a gap that was vacated by the Audi Q2, but at $244,800, it is a very pricey way to buy a badge on a small footprint… Which brings about the slippery slope of the bang-for-buck debate.
The one segment above (outgoing) Audi Q3 retails for about $5,000 more. If you are open to not looking solely for an SUV/Crossover; after all, the LBX has a similar ride height to a hatchback, you could afford yourself a Premium C Segment hatch, with change to spare. Both the BMW 116 and Audi A3 Sportback (here’s the review of the sedan) retail for around $20k to $25k less. Also, if you’re keen on something with a similar footprint, you could even sink your teeth into something B-Segment and Sub-Premium, like a VW T-Cross.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fuel-sipping powertrain | Expensive |
| Lexus quality, which means its well-built | Vocal powertrain when worked |
Lexus LBX Hybrid 1.5 Cool
| Drivetrain | Petrol-electric hybrid |
| Layout | 1,490cc, in-line 3 |
| Power / torque | 129hp / 185Nm |
| Transmission | eCVT |
| Efficiency | 19.6km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 36 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 9.2 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 170km/h |
| VES Band | A2 |
| Dealer | Borneo Motors |
| Price | S$244,800 with COE, with VES |
| Verdict | Luxo-expensivo. |
