Lexus LBX review

The Lexus LBX could be described as the Wagamama of small SUVs. You see, like the noodle-bar chain's dishes, it's a Japanese product aimed at the European market.

Can the LBX replicate the ramen restaurants' success? Well, the signs are good, because with Lexus being the premium arm of Toyota, the LBX adopts a similar hybrid system to the super-efficient Toyota Yaris Cross.

You probably wouldn't guess that from looking at the two cars side by side though: the LBX is a completely different shape to the Yaris Cross, plus it has a bespoke interior and a longer wheelbase (the gap between the front and rear wheels) to maximise interior space.

Lexus LBX video review

So does the Lexus LBX have what it takes to challenge the best small SUVs from rival premium brands – the Audi Q2 and Range Rover Evoque, for example – or more mainstream rivals, including the Ford Puma and Toyota C-HR? There’s also the extremely well-rounded VW T-Roc to consider.

What’s new?

- September 2025: range expanded with the addition of sporty new Vibrant Edition, which features matte-finished 18in alloy wheels, black exterior accents, leather trim and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat
- January 2025: LBX retains its title as What Car? Small SUV of the Year
- January 2024: Lexus LBX named What Car? Car of the Year
- August 2023: all-new Lexus LBX SUV launched in the UK

How fast is it and which engine is best?

The Lexus LBX uses the same basic 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combo as the Toyota Yaris Cross but it's so much more than a rebadge of a cheaper car.

For starters, the LBX is more powerful, with noticeably stronger acceleration when you need it. Indeed, we managed a 0-60mph time of 9.2sec with the front-wheel-drive version, so it's only slightly slower than a VW T-Roc eTSI 150.

The instant response of its electric motor helps it leap off the line and feel nippy around town. Start pressing on and the petrol engine wakes up to do the heavy lifting, although the rate of acceleration tails off once above 50mph.

Unlike many small SUVs – including the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq – the LBX is available with four-wheel drive if you go for one of the top trim levels. The extra motor on the rear axle should, in theory, improve traction in low-grip conditions (we haven't tried it yet), so it's worth considering if you live somewhere with less clement weather.

The trade-off for opting for four-wheel drive (aside from the higher price) is slightly worse efficiency and a fractionally slower official 0-62mph time. 

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Well, in contrast with some of the more expensive Lexus models, the ride is on the firmer side, so the LBX sometimes gets fidgety, especially at town speeds. At least things never become annoyingly jarring and the ride improves noticeably the faster you go.

The LBX’s relatively compact dimensions and relatively stiff suspension help make it a confidence-inspiring companion on twistier roads, though. While it won't put a smile on your face quite like an Audi Q2 or Ford Puma, naturally weighted steering and grippy front end make it more entertaining than plenty of other small SUVs, including the DS 3 and Toyota C-HR.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

A big benefit of hybrid cars is that they're usually hushed when you're pootling around town because the electric motor can manage on its own in stop-start traffic. The LBX is no exception, making virtually silent progress until the engine kicks in. Not that the engine is particularly rowdy when it does fire up, mind. 

Indeed, Lexus has put real time (and no doubt money) into refining the LBX. The engine has been given a balancer shaft to reduce vibration, for example, and despite the CVT automatic gearbox causing the engine revs to flare when you put your foot down hard, the accompanying noise is subdued (far more so than in a Toyota C-HR or Toyota Yaris Cross).

That said, you do hear a little more tyre and wind noise at motorway speeds than in some rivals. Lexus has fitted damping sheets to the doors to help reduce it, but the Audi Q2, the Range Rover Evoque and the VW T-Roc are all slightly quieter cruising companions.

“The front-wheel-drive Lexus LBX accelerates from 0 to 30mph in a nippy 3.5sec so I found slotting it into gaps in traffic easy.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Lexus is renowned for creating some of the best interiors in the business and the LBX doesn't disappoint. It has a look and feel inside that's reminiscent of the company's larger SUVs, including the Lexus NX, with plush-feeling materials in all the important places, combined with well damped controls and robust build quality. You still get the same electric door release button inside like you do in more expensive models.

The solid "thunk" you hear when you close a door is further evidence that the smallest Lexus SUV isn't simply a rebadged Toyota Yaris Cross. In fact, the only small SUV that can get close to the LBX for interior quality is the Audi Q2.

It's only the cheapest LBX trim – called Urban – that makes do with fabric seats. All other trims have synthetic leather upholstery, real leather or a combination of leather and suede. Likewise, it's only Urban trim that misses out on any form of ambient interior lighting. Takumi models go further, with sophisticated 64-colour LED interior lighting for a more upmarket ambience.

The design of the LBX's dashboard is clean and uncluttered, and there are physical controls for the air-conditioning (dual-zone climate control is standard on all trims) plus a knob for the stereo volume. Overall, it’s a far less distracting arrangement than you'll find in many rivals that integrate these controls into the touchscreen infotainment system, which are both more fiddly and distracting to use while driving.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

As for the driving position, it’s very easy to get comfortable. The steering wheel and seats offer plenty of adjustment, while the seats themselves are supportive – far more so than those in most small SUVs. A couple of small points to note is that drivers well over 6ft tall might wish the seat could slide a bit further back, while entry-level Urban trim misses out on adjustable lumbar support.

The LBX doesn’t have the highest of driving positions but you feel significantly higher up from the road than you would in a regular hatchback (or a Skoda Kamiq for that matter). 

Forward visibility is excellent thanks to narrow windscreen pillars. The view over your shoulder is restricted by chunky rear pillars, but that’s common with many SUVs in the class. To help with tight manoeuvres, all versions come with front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. Range-topping Takumi models add a 360-degree bird's eye view camera.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The cheapest trim levels come with a 7.0in digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel, with Premium Plus models and above getting a 12.3in alternative plus a head-up display. We’ve tested the 12.3in system and found it easy to read on the move, with the head-up display beaming your speed and other information onto the windscreen directly in front of your eyes. It’s just a shame the touch sensitive pads on the steering wheel used to navigate through this display (fitted to Premium Plus trim and above) are fiddly to use.

All LBXs come with a 9.8in infotainment touchscreen as standard. It’s easy to reach, has crisp graphics and many icons are large and easy to aim a finger at. That said, it falls behind the best systems by being laggy when scrolling through lists and the menu layout could be more logical. Still, wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay come as standard,  so you can use your preferred apps on your mobile device. 

You'll find two USB-C sockets in the front of the LBX, while Premium Plus trim and above get an extra one in the centre storage cubby plus two in the back. All versions bar entry-level Urban include a wireless phone-charging pad too.

“I found the Lexus LBX interior well finished, and features like selectable ambient lighting colours help to make it feel more special than the Toyota C-HR.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

How much space does it have for people?

The LBX is relatively compact against most rivals and while a VW T-Roc feels airier inside, there’s still plenty of head and leg room for a pair of six footers to get comfy in the front. There’s also lots of storage space dotted around the interior, including two cupholders, a cubby under the centre armrest and a sizable area below the centre console. The door bins are on the small side, though, as is the glovebox.

While you and your front passenger won't have any complaints about space, anyone sitting in the back will feel more cramped. Don't get us wrong, a six-footer can sit with their knees clear of the front seatbacks and have a good amount of room for feet underneath the front seats. However they just might find that their head brushes against the roof. The small door openings means it’s also trickier to get in and out of.

The Audi Q2 and non-premium rivals such as the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Roc have a noticeable amount more head and leg room, so are better bets if you plan to put adults in the back on a regular basis. Their extra width means they’re also more accommodating for a third rear adult.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Front-wheel-drive versions of the LBX have a respectable 402 litres of boot space. For comparison, equivalent versions of the Q2 have 405 litres of luggage capacity while the T-Roc has 475 litres. We managed to load six carry-on suitcases below the LBX's parcel shelf – the same number we squeezed in the Q2 and one fewer than fitted in the T-Roc.

The load area is usefully square, although the lack of a height-adjustable boot floor means there's a big drop down from the boot entrance to the floor of the load bay. It's also worth bearing in mind that four-wheel-drive versions have a significantly smaller boot, with capacity dropping by around 20% (to 317 litres).

Whichever version of the LBX you go for, the rear seatback splits and folds in a 60/40 configuration, which is par for the course in the small SUV class. That said, the rear seats in the Range Rover Evoque and most versions of the closely related Toyota Yaris Cross split in a more versatile 40/20/40 configuration. The VW T-Roc isn’t far behind, either, thanks to a ski hatch behind the middle rear seat. A powered tailgate also comes as standard on mid-level Premium Plus trim and above.

“The Lexus LBX offers less rear leg room than you get in a Toyota C-HR but it’s not too bad and there was still plenty of room for my feet." – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The Lexus LBX is currently the only regular hybrid small SUV offered by a premium brand. It’s impressive, then, that the starting price is roughly on a par with the petrol-powered Audi Q2 while even the most expensive LBX undercuts the cheapest Range Rover Evoque.

Entry-level Urban trim is quite well equipped, with 17in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, keyless start and adaptive cruise control.

Even so, we'd recommend going for at least Premium trim, which adds heated front seats, faux-leather upholstery, tinted rear windows, ambient interior lighting, automatic wipers and an automatic-dimming rear-view mirror.

Our favourite trim is mid-rung Premium Plus, which is still respectably priced but adds 18in wheels, keyless entry, a powered tailgate and an interior air purification system called Nanoe-X Technology. Premium Plus Design adds a contrasting black roof paint finish and matt black wheels.

To maximise creature comforts, the Takumi and Takumi Design trims include a 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, powered driver’s seat adjustment (with memory function) and multi-coloured ambient interior lighting. They also add LED headlights that can be left on main beam and will automatically shape their beams to avoid dazzling other drivers. 

The price of the two range-topping versions is a little too close to bigger and better alternatives, such as the Range Rover Evoque for us to heartily recommend them.

While the LBX isn’t available with any options at all, there is at least a wide range of alternative trim levels to choose from that come with a bit more kit without costing much more.

If you're prepared to consider a small SUV without a premium badge, it's worth checking out the Ford Puma and VW T-Roc. The LBX's lower CO2 emissions (from 102g/km) makes it very competitive for company car drivers paying BIK tax, although a pure electric small SUV (such as a Ford Puma Gen-E, Kia EV3 or Renault 4) will be even cheaper to run.

No matter how you're buying, you'll appreciate the LBX's impressive fuel economy. Officially, the front-wheel-drive version can average more than 60mpg, compared with around 45-50mpg for the Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc. Of course, none of those figures will be easy to achieve in real-world driving, but the LBX should comfortably return 50 to 55mpg unless you have a particularly heavy right foot.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The LBX achieved a poor rating in the What Car? Reliability Survey. In a class of 38 cars, the LBX finished second from the bottom in the small SUV class, with plenty of owners suffering from a 12-volt battery going flat. 

However, Lexus has responded by fitting a different battery to new LBXs while offering current owners an inspection and full replacement free of charge if an affected battery is identified. As a brand, Lexus dropped to ninth position out of 30 brands in the latest rankings and was top for several years in a row before that.

A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty comes as standard, which is typical for the class. However you can extend the cover for another year following this period with every correctly scheduled service at a dealer, up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The LBX scored the full five stars when it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP. All versions have automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and road-sign recognition.

Premium trim adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert – a system that warns you of dangers when reversing out on the road. Takumi adds an Advanced Safety Pack, bringing more aids, including a system that can perform lane changes for you on motorways.

All LBXs come with an alarm and engine immobiliser as standard.

“We managed a real-world economy figure of 51.4mpg in the Lexus LBX, which I think is very impressive.” – Lawrence Cheung, new Cars Editor

Buy it if...

- You’d like a small SUV that has a smart, user-friendly interior

- You’re after a car that’s easy to drive

- You’re looking for a hybrid SUV that’s efficient on fuel 

Don’t buy it if…

- You frequently carry a car full of adults 

- You want the lowest running costs as a company car driver

- You need a small SUV with one of the biggest boots around

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