Lexus and the temptation of urban luxury with the LBX
This page is translated from the original post "Lexus et la tentation du luxe urbain avec le LBX" in French.
- 14/09/2023 10:48
The Lexus LBX allows Toyota’s Premium division to venture into a still relatively unexplored niche for automakers: high-end compact SUVs.
The all-new Lexus LBX breaks with Lexus design conventions. A necessity rather than a choice, as the LBX is nothing more than the premium cousin of the Toyota Yaris Cross dressed in a three-piece suit. The grille desperately attempts to mimic the typical Lexus design, along with a thin light strip extending beyond the tailgate to the rear wings. This is enough to hint at its lineage, but for the rest, we made do with what Toyota’s technical bank had to offer.
Compact size, small engine
The Lexus LBX measures 4,190 mm in length, 1,825 mm in width, and 1,545 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,580 mm. To date, it only offers a self-charging hybrid engine powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder. The combined power of the hybrid system is 136 hp/100 kW, with a maximum torque of 185 Nm. This is more than enough to move the 1280 kg vehicle, but it will never be a sports car as it takes 9.2 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h. A very urban mechanical that is likely to appeal to European customers. A respectable boot volume of 332 liters completes an intelligent technical sheet.
Lexus DNA
The eye is naturally drawn to 18-inch large wheels and bi-tone body elements. The LBX aims to be a rugged vehicle, but with its low ride height and bumpers close to the ground, it’s clear at a first glance that it is a city vehicle, perhaps best suited for well-maintained country roads that allow happy owners to reach their secondary residence.
The Lexus LBX lineup starts around 34,500 euros. Naturally, that’s a bit of a shock considering that its Toyota cousin, the Yaris Cross, is available in a base version at 24,900 euros. Luxury and refinement certainly come at a price, but 10,000 euros—who dared? Even in the GR Sport trim, you will need to shell out only 30,400 euros for the Toyota. In short, it’s up to you to decide if you absolutely must drive a Lexus.
The Lexus LBX will begin production at the end of 2023. Sales will start in European markets and some global markets from early 2024.
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