2024 Lexus LBX Sports Luxury Review: The expensive youth market hybrid that’s missed its calling
If your mind equates luxury cars with size and exclusivity then the Lexus LBX hybrid is gonna do your head in.
I mean this thing is tiny, like 4.19 metres tiny.
Not only that, but many of its mechanicals are also shared with parent Toyota’s decidedly non-luxury Yaris Cross hybrid small SUV.
But Lexus is convinced it’s on to a good thing. It reckons it’s a great car for youthful buyers and empty-nesters.
All that remains to be proven given pallid and/or unsuccessful efforts by its luxury rivals in the small car arena and most kids today are battling to make rent let alone the deposit for a $50,000 car. As retirees own all the real estate they’ve probably got a better chance.
2024 Lexus LBX Sports Luxury price and equipment
The 2024 Lexus LBX comes in three model line: the $47,550 Luxury, the $52,990 Sports Luxury and the $56,990 Sports Luxury all-wheel drive flagship. All these prices are before on-road costs.
It’s also available via a full service lease similar to the one offered by the Toyota bZ4X.
Here we’re driving the mid-spec Sports Luxury because we reckon it’s the sweet spot in the range. It’s got more gear and a better interior ambience than the Luxury without copping the extra mechanical weight and cost of the Sports Luxury AWD combined with little bare evidence of a performance advantage.
Speaking of which, performance that is, all LBX models comes with a 1.5-litre triple-cylinder petrol engine mated with an electronic CVT aided by an e-motor and Nickel-Metal Hydride battery (intriguingly, the Yaris Cross uses li-ion) for a total combined output of 100kW (torque unstated).
The fuel consumption claim is a frugal 3.8L/100km.
The LBX is the cheapest Lexus and cheaper and smaller than many of its key rivals (Audi Q2, Alfa Romeo Tonale, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA). But it’s also about $20,000 more than a Yaris Cross.
Lexus has tried very hard to differentiate LBX from Yaris Cross with a different body, an overhauled hybrid drivetrain , upgraded underpinnings, more sound deadening and classier interior.
Of course it’s equipment that’s a key differentiator and the Sports Luxury gets the best of it.
Real leather trim combined with ultra-suede, 64 colour ambient lighting, steering wheel heating and a cracking 13-speaker Mark Levinson stereo are key Sports Luxury improvements.
But there’s no power adjustment for the passenger seat, a spare tyre or a sunroof in any LBX.
At least they all get a high level of active safety gear as well as eight airbags. But there’s no ANCAP rating and no sign one will be furnished.
The LBX comes with a five year/unlimited km warranty, three years roadside assistance (as part of the Lexus Encore owners program), 12 month/15,000km service intervals and capped price servicing.
2024 GWM Lexus LBX Sports Luxury: What we think
No, Lexus has not performed the equivalent of a loaves and fishes act and turned the LBX into a shrunken LS500.
Instead its smoothed over the rough edges of the Yaris Cross without being able to completely blot out their common heritage.
The LBX is quiet by the standards of compact SUV, rides smoothly by the same measure and has a pleasingly high-quality interior.
But for close to $60K on the road some more performance would be appreciated.
There’s some typically growling triple-cylinder audio ambience, but it’s not really backed up when it comes to acceleration.
Electrification certainly provides assistance. There are brief period when the e-motor is doing all the work, but its most helpful adding to the triple’s efforts from standstill. You’re keeping up with the traffic not sprinting ahead.
Lexus claims 9.2 seconds 0-100km/h time for the 2WD and 9.6 seconds for the heavier AWD. It feels about right.
More disconcerting than constrained pace is constricted rear seat space.
There are rear seats in the LBX but they don’t seemed to be designed to accommodate humans. There’s just no legroom!
Partly that’s because this is such a small car and partly it’s because the front seat backrests are generous in their padding. As befits a luxury car.
A bit surprisingly, the boot is actually quite decent for a car of this size at 402 litres.
Up-front Lexus has done a better job in the LBX. Compared to the Yaris Cross there are distinctly different screens, steering wheel, trims and soft touch fittings include suede for the Sports Luxury which make it feel and look a whole lot more upmarket.
Other stuff like fiddly E-Latch doorhandles that open without any movement and overly complex digitally-based controls take some gloss off the experience.
2024 Lexus LBX Sports Luxury: Verdict
As it is, the LBX is no more or less than an a competent effort.
But you know what the Lexus LBX should be? An EV.
Think about it. It’s tiny and it costs a lot of money. Lexus could strip out the mundane hybrid drivetrain and go the whole hog with an e-motor and lithium-ion battery and be seen as an innovator.
At these prices it would probably still make a profit.
Score: 3/5
2024 Lexus LBX specifications
Price: $52,990 (plus on-road costs)
Basics: Petrol-electric hybrid, 5 seats, 5 doors, small crossover wagon, front-wheel drive
Range: Minimal on electricity
Battery capacity: Tiny/NiMH
Powertrain: 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 67kW/120Nm (electric motor: 69kW/185Nm)
Combined output: 100kW
Transmission: e-CVT
Fuel: 3.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 87g/km (ADR Combined)
