Lexus is diving headfirst into the city car scene with the LBX, a nifty little number designed exclusively for the European crowd. Now, this ain’t your usual compliance car – it’s got a purpose, a personality, not just a fancy badge swap. Taking cues from the Toyota Yaris Cross but dialing up the refinement, Lexus is on a mission to make city driving a luxurious affair.
Pop the hood, and you’ll find a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder VVT-iE engine cozying up with a bi-polar Nickel Metal Hydride battery, promising a hybrid system with a kick, claiming to rival the acceleration of a battery electric vehicle. It may not out-EV an EV, but in the city hustle, the LBX struts its stuff, zipping through tight spots and corners like a pro. Yet, hit the open road, and you might catch the engine throwing a little tantrum.
Inside, the LBX welcomes you with a spacious front and a comfy driving spot. But fair warning – if you’re tall, the back might not be your ideal long-haul spot. Surprisingly, this city slicker comes loaded with tech galore – a digital instrument binnacle, a central console, a heads-up display, flappy paddles for braking theatrics, and not one, but multiple USB-C ports. It’s like they’re gearing up for a tech marathon in a car built for short sprints.
Now, Lexus has its eyes set on “younger, city-smart Europeans.” Picture the ads – cool kids in red vinyl coats and bling. Yet, reality check: can the younger crowd drop the cash for this luxury ride, especially with the trend of fewer young drivers hitting the road? And let’s not forget the price tags, starting at £29,995 and dancing up to £40,545 for the fully-loaded version.
