Meet The Lexus LBX, A Swankier Version Of The Toyota Yaris Cross

Lexus has taken the wraps off the LBX SUV, its newest premium crossover. Basically, this is Lexus’ equivalent to a Toyota Yaris cross and goes up against models such as the Audi Q2. And considering that these models are great entry points into luxury brands, we feel Lexus should consider bringing this model to our market. 

It starts off with a great first impression in terms of styling. The rounded design of the vehicle shouts more crossover rather than SUV. But up front, the spindle grille is of Lexus’s new refined type and similar to the more premium RX while the badging now sits on top of the hood. Then there’s the funkily styled LED headlamps placed in muscular haunches that makes it look nice and beefy. 

In profile, the crossover vibe is heavily felt here thanks to the sloping roofline and rounded wheel arches that are nicely filled by large alloys. The soft shoulder lines round off the overall design in the profile. Connected LED tail lamps and a sporty rear bumper round top up the cake. 

Lexus is known for its quirky interior designs that stand out when compared to its German luxury rivals. But up here, design wise, it’s rather straightforward and minimalistic as compared to its other offerings. Your eyes will be drawn first to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class-like 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. But thankfully here, physical controls have been retained for the air-conditioning, which is easier to use on the move. 

Other notable features onboard include a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, 64-colour ambient lighting, smartphone connectivity, dual-zone climate control and wireless phone charger. On the safety front, it gets multiple airbags, electronic stability control, a 360-degree camera and a full suite of ADAS features. 

Powering the Lexus LBX is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder strong hybrid engine putting out a combined output of 184PS and 185Nm. A party trick here is that it gets a smart Driveforce control where it detects uphill or downhill and adjusts the mapping accordingly for smoother throttle and deceleration inputs. 

The Lexus LBX will go on sale in European, Japanese and select other markets in the fourth quarter of 2023. Its compact dimensions, hybrid powertrain and the badge value associated with Lexus should make this the perfect entry-level model from the Japanese marque for our market.