Lexus makes itself smaller with the LBX

Lexus arrived in Europe 34 years ago. At the time, the LS 400 caused a stir in Germany as the first model from the new Toyota brand. The large sedan looked like a close relative of the E- or S-Class from Mercedes-Benz, but it can and offers more than the usual representatives of German premium cars – and at a very low price. Worrying for the Japanese: However, the idea was not as well received in European markets as in the US, where Toyota’s luxury division had already celebrated its launch a year earlier. This situation has not changed more than three decades later: In the Old World, Lexus is recognized as a manufacturer for customers with high demands, but it has always remained an outsider. But now a new hope is emerging – the LBX is responsible for this and therefore is a car that seems to defy the original idea of ​​Lexus. Not in terms of noblesse, but certainly in terms of size.

Along with it, the first brand brings a refreshing change to an industry that has been showing a reluctance towards bigger cars for several years. With the LBX, Lexus dares to enter the world of small cars – even if the company’s marketing strategists oppose this classification. They prefer to talk about the Lexus crossover. Well then.

One thing’s for sure: Considering it’s only 4.19 meters tall, you can’t expect any miracles when it comes to space. Passengers get enough space in the front and back, but especially in the back it becomes difficult for the knees and heads if it is 1.80 meters long. The trunk volume of 332 liters is the same in the front-wheel drive model; But if you choose the all-wheel drive version, you have to make do with the standard 255 liters.

However, when it comes to comfort and luxury, the interior of the LBX stands out from its Toyota cousins, the Yaris and Yaris Cross. Even if the controls are lower than usual for the brand: the little Lexus also feels like a real Lexus. Quality perception meets high expectations, and interior designers have found a good balance between modern touch operation and traditional function control using buttons and keys. Air conditioning and audio will continue to operate in parallel – as they should. The entire center console was hollowed out below the selector lever to create space for a large storage compartment accessible from both sides. Odd: The door openers want to be pushed instead of pulled because Lexus believes this allows for continuous movement when exiting the vehicle.

This is available to potential customers in four equipment levels – apart from the basic version. “Luxury” is based on a vegan interior with a monochrome body color, “Relax” has a more classic style with real leather, “Emotion” is intended to have a sporty, urban look and utility, among other things, two tones . color (as in the picture). Finally, the LBX “Cool” aims to create a combination of sport and luxury with an Alcantara interior. Good: Even an entry-level model can have a high-end display and traffic assistant. There’s also an optional mobile-controlled parking feature with a smartphone digital key. Also worth mentioning is the so-called Safety Exit Assist, which prevents LBX drivers from opening the door in front of a cyclist approaching from behind.

From the outside, the new addition is not surprising. Lexus has said goodbye to the upper half of the hourglass-shaped radiator grille – and instead relies on a contour on the hood. The type of what is used can be controlled. The LBX is supplied with two drives; there is always a hybrid drive on the front axle, in which the three-cylinder combustion engine produces 67 kW (91 hp), while the electric motor contributes 69 kW (94 hp). Together, this results in a maximum of 100 kW (136 hp). The performance of this system is not increased by the all-wheel drive, which places an additional electric motor of only five kW on the rear axle.

The advantages of the driving concept from the Toyota Group have been known for many years – the absence of things like starter motors, clutches or turbochargers also means that what is missing does not cause any problems. Purpose: A combustion engine should run at optimum efficiency as often as possible. The Japanese connect it through a CVT transmission, which at first takes some getting used to because speed and acceleration don’t always seem to match. But if you don’t enjoy high speed all the time, you will experience very low usage. Four liters of Super is easily enough for every 100 kilometers – without the LBX being a hindrance to traffic.

However: Despite all the economy compared to conventional combustion engines, the hybrid concept seems outdated in the face of increasing electronic competition. The everyday driving experience in the LBX is unmatched against the spontaneous, whisper-quiet and powerful acceleration of an electric car model. Its engine is better insulated than in the Yaris Cross – but compared to the Opel Mokka Electric, it is always louder. Especially when it comes to running up to 100 km / h (9.2 seconds) or when the top speed (170 km / h) is reached.

The LBX is intended to appeal to two target groups: existing Lexus customers who still need a small car for the city, and new customers who are not typically in the price range of the company’s larger models. Both can of course be had at a base price of 32,990 euros – because its elegant charm makes this little Lexus absolutely attractive.

To the home page