The Lexus LBX crams automotive luxurious right into a pocket-sized modern bundle

Lexus has compressed its long-held repute for construct high quality and supreme reliability into this, the brand new LBX. Because the smallest Lexus mannequin constructed up to now, the LBX is a distillation of all of the issues that make the Japanese luxurious model nice, moderately than a focus, and because of this some facets of important Lexus-ness have been misplaced within the course of.

That’s to not say it’s not a likeable and competent automotive. Barely bigger than a Mini Cooper, the LBX (which stands for ‘Lexus Breakthrough Crossover’) takes the near-ubiquitous compact SUV format and runs with it, making an attempt to cram as a lot into the cabin as potential.

The corporate did have an earlier foray into smaller autos with the long-running CT200h, an early hybrid that used Toyota underpinnings beneath a comparatively ungainly hatchback physique. The CT (‘Inventive Touring’) lasted from 2011 all the way in which to 2022, and was the primary Lexus to function the a lot maligned (in some quarters) Lexus ‘spindle grille’.

Despite the fact that the LBX is a small SUV, it’s shorter nonetheless than the CT (4.19m to 4.35m), though it sits 10cm increased and 5cm wider than the sooner automotive. It additionally highlights altering facets of automotive design style. For instance, the outdated CT was often discovered on 16” wheels, which at all times seemed a bit small for the bodywork. The LBX is often depicted on 18” wheels and as any automotive designer will let you know, greater wheels look higher. Not solely do enhance a automotive’s stance, however by filling up the wheelarches, they seem to shrink the bodywork round it.

As any engineer will counter, greater wheels often imply worse trip high quality and poorer economic system, in addition to being far more liable to nicks and dings in on a regular basis encounters with curbs and potholes. The high-riding stance implies a little bit of off-road agility, however the automotive is entrance wheel drive solely and the hybridised 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder engine doesn’t have a lot pulling energy. The upside is that economic system is fairly good, with a promised common of 62.7mpg, even when the entry value for the higher-specification mannequin is critical cash.

The highest-end LBX is the Takumi Design mannequin which provides some unique trim, together with a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, heated and powered entrance seats and the most important 18” wheels. At £41,475, you don’t need to be reminded that this automotive shares a platform – and plenty of different traits – with the standard Toyota Yaris Cross. In a face to face, the Toyota won’t cosset, however it’s actually extra spirited, with an angular physique that feels much less conservative than the LBX.

The LBX is barely greater all spherical than the Toyota, and the mix of lengthy wheelbase and brief overhang give it a purposeful look, strong and solid-looking. Admittedly from some angles it seems a little bit stout, which is little question the mix of the blacked-out pillars and glasshouse contrasting with the excessive shoulder line and enormous expanse of bodywork beneath.

There are just a few tech foibles, like a moderately sluggish responding 9.8” touchscreen show. Whereas Apple CarPlay may be wired or wi-fi, Android Auto is wired solely. The quirky e-latch doorways additionally take some getting used to, with buttons moderately than bodily handles, and a corresponding lack of engagement with opening and shutting the doorways. On prime of all this, the LBX feels a little bit underpowered, with progress not as easy as a real luxurious automotive must be.

So can true luxurious be introduced in such a small bundle? For downsizers who don’t need to ditch the artistic comforts they’ve change into accustomed to, the LBX doesn’t actually have any competitors. Or do we’d like a brand new definition of luxurious for a world that desperately wants LBX-scale automobiles to be the norm, and never the exception?