Lexus LBX Review & Prices

If you like Lexus’s cool, quirky styling, but don’t need a big, expensive SUV, the LBX could be the perfect option. It might be the most affordable way into a Lexus, but it’s just as stylish as its bigger siblings, has a suitably upmarket interior, and gets a hybrid engine.

Space is at a bit of a premium, but for the price it’s difficult to find alternatives with the same posh pretences. The Audi Q2 and Mini Countryman are in the same ballpark, while the bigger Mercedes GLA isn’t a massive leap in price – but the LBX is a rather rare compact and classy SUV proposition.

In short, the Lexus LBX is small and posh, a bit like a designer card wallet – there’s plenty of appeal, but without the unnecessary extra space of a fancy, more expensive handbag.

And design appeal is something the LBX has in spades, despite its compact dimensions. There are narrow headlights up front around a large grille, while the rear end sports a cool light signature that spans the full width of the car.

Inside is even more impressive. It’s the most affordable Lexus but it feels just as quality as models that cost considerably more. There are soft materials everywhere you look and touch, and the Alcantara upholstery on the top two trims is particularly fancy.

Standard-fit tech is pretty good too, with the latest Lexus infotainment an improvement on clunky systems of old. You will have to work your way up the range to get some of the choice kit though, such as the digital instruments, head-up display and upgraded stereo.

All models use the same 9.8-inch main display, and it’s big enough for what is quite a small car. Space beneath the steering wheel isn’t quite big enough for tall people, though, and the boot is quite a bit smaller than other SUVs you might consider. Although rear seat space is tight, it’s not as cramped as you would expect.

You might be willing to sacrifice a little boot space for the low-running costs of its self-charging hybrid engine. It’s based on the same system as the Toyota Yaris Cross, with some minor tweaks, and that car is easily capable of getting more than 60mpg on a run.

We’ll find out if the LBX can match, or even exceed that figure once we get behind the wheel. In the meantime, see how much you can save by checking out the latest Lexus LBX deals on carwow. You can also browse used Lexus models from our network of trusted dealers, and when it’s time to sell your current car, carwow can get you a great price.

Prices for the Lexus LBX start at just under £30,000 for the Urban trim, and ramp up to nearly £40,000 for the top-spec Takumi Design and Original Edition trims. Aside from the latter, which is a launch model, there are six trims to choose from.

Standard kit is pretty good, with 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, and that 9.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Step up two grades to Premium Plus and you get the digital instruments and larger 18-inch alloy wheels, while jumping another two grades to Takumi gets you a head-up display and Mark Levinson sound system. Top-spec models also get soft Alcantara seat upholstery.

All of this means that the LBX is a pretty compelling option compared with its alternatives. The Audi Q2 starts at about £28,000 and the Mini Countryman from £30,000, but neither has the LBX’s frugal hybrid engine option. The Mercedes GLA is also worthy of consideration if your budget allows – its starting price is close to the top-spec LBX, but it is a bigger car.

Determined to find a hybrid alternative? There’s the excellent and again significantly bigger Volvo XC40, but hybrid versions of this start at around £45,000, so it’s quite a bit more expensive than the Lexus.

The Lexus LBX is more spacious inside than you might expect of a car this size, but the boot is really small

The Lexus LBX is a small car, so it was never going to be cavernous inside. That being said, it’s not as tight as you might expect, with loads of adjustment in the seat to get the height you need. The steering wheel has a lot of movement for reach, but it’s limited in how much height you can change. All that being said, leg space is fairly cramped, particularly for taller drivers.

The secondary issue this causes is that it’s tricky for the driver to access the cubby hole beneath the dashboard. It’s a usefully spacious area, but you might need to get your passenger to reach in from their side as your leg blocks access and there’s not much room to manoeuvre it out of the way.

There’s a single cupholder ahead of the gear selector, with a slot to place your phone on the wireless charge pad ahead of it, with USB-C charge slots not far away. A second cupholder is hidden beneath the armrest, where you’ll also find some more storage.

Space in the back seats

Much like the front seats, those in the rear won’t be as cramped as they might expect. Knee room isn’t too bad, and you get good under-thigh support to help relax on longer journeys. Headroom is a bit tighter, so tall passengers might rub their hair on the roof lining, while fitting three across the back would be a challenge.

There’s not much storage in the back, with small door bins about the extent of it. There’s a couple of USB-C slots for charging devices between the front passengers, so it’s not completely creature comfort-free.

Fitting a child seat will be pretty tough, though. The rear doors aren’t particularly wide and bulky seats might push up against those in the front. At least the ISOFIX mounting points are really easy to get to.

Boot space

While the LBX is quite spacious inside, the boot isn't quite as impressive. If you go for the front-wheel drive model it's a respectable 402 litres, but in the all-wheel drive version this drops to 317 litres, which is some way off the other alternatives you might consider.

The Audi Q2 is close at 405 litres, but the bigger Mercedes GLA and Mini Countryman have 435 and 480 litres respectively.

Even with the space you do get, accessing it isn’t the easiest. There’s a deep lip, so if you’re loading something heavy you need to reach in, and there’s minimal under-floor storage. The small boot does at least mean you can fold the rear seats down easily by pressing a button by the headrests.

 Interior quality is top-notch in the front, but those in the back will notice cheaper plastics

Interior design and quality is where the Lexus LBX really stands out from its alternatives. The soft Alcantara upholstery found on high-spec models feels really luxurious, and everything you see and touch looks and feels expensive. The material atop the dashboard is almost sponge-like in the way you can squash it between your fingers.

Those in the back get the same lovely seats, but there are a few cheaper plastics to be found, particularly on the top of the door, which you notice when you go to rest your arm. Overall, though, this is the most luxurious small car you can buy.

Fortunately, the infotainment system lives up to the rest of the interior – something that’s not been true of Lexus models in recent memory. Gone is the awkward laptop-like trackpad, and in is a high-resolution touchscreen. It’s a 9.8-inch display and the graphics are sharp, though it’s a shame Apple CarPlay gets wireless support while Android Auto is wired-only.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument display looks great, but it’s only included on Premium Plus cars and above, with Urban and Premium cars getting a 7.0-inch screen.

One of the choice upgrades is the 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Lexus has been using this brand for years and they sound brilliant, but you will have to go for the top-spec Takumi grade to enjoy it.

Under the bonnet sits a 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine that comes with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, though the latter is only available with the Takumi trim.

It’s essentially the same unit found in the Toyota Yaris Cross, but it’s been updated to be lighter and more efficient. It makes a reasonable 136hp and can go from 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds. Far from thrilling, but it’s the efficiency that’s the real selling point of this engine – it will do up to 65.7mpg according to official tests, and if the Toyota version is anything to go by, that will be pretty achievable.

Its low CO2 emissions mean that road tax will be fairly low, and only Takumi models are at risk of facing the extra charge in years two to six because of their proximity to the £40,000 limit. As for company car tax, it won’t be extortionate, but all-electric and plug-in hybrid models will have more favourable rates.

The Lexus LBX has not been safety tested by Euro NCAP yet, but the similar Toyota Yaris Cross received the full five stars. Lexus has a fantastic reputation for safety, so expect the LBX to score similarly.

Safety kit levels ramp up as you work up the trim levels. As standard you get front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, but stepping up one grade to Premium adds a pre-collision warning, driver monitor, blind spot monitor and more.

Takumi models add an automatic parking system, 360-degree camera, lane change assistance and an automatic braking system if it senses traffic passing in front of the car.

Much like its impeccable safety record, Lexus is also known for building some of the most reliable cars around. The LBX is yet to go out on the road and prove its reliability, but the Toyota Yaris Cross has been racking up miles without raising any alarms.

To back this up, Lexus offers the longest warranty of any manufacturer in the UK (alongside its sister company Toyota, of course). All new cars come with a three-year warranty, and this can then be extended by 12 months annually up to 10 years or 100,000 miles by servicing the car at an official Lexus Centre. This is fully transferable between owners, so you can continue to benefit from this up to the time/mileage limit even when buying a used LBX.