mReview: Lexus LBX – Bonsai Dragon Ball


The littlest Lexus is a downsized SUV with a surprisingly big personality and cute touches of luxury.

The LBX is even smaller than the UX, the previous entry-level model of Toyota’s upmarket division, which has accrued even more goodwill in America than Honda’s Acura and achieved infinitely greater success in Singapore than Nissan’s Infiniti.  

I’m not sure whether the B in LBX stands for “bonsai”, but its three-letter name aims much higher than the subcompact-crossover segment where the LBX resides, because the last time Lexus used three letters for a production vehicle was on the LFA supercar. 

That iconic 4.8-litre V10 machine took Lexus to its absolute extreme in terms of engineering, performance and character. Admittedly, the 1.5-litre hybrid four-pot LBX is a light-year away from the LFA, but it sports its own charm as the greatest little Lexus since the CT200h hatchback. 

Not the quickest or quietest Lexus, but LBX is the cutest and also the most nimble in the city.

The LBX is the first and only Lexus to ride on Toyota’s GA-B global small car platform, which also underpins the Yaris Cross. However, the Lexus engineers managed to separate the LBX significantly from its simpler, cheaper Toyota sibling with fundamental revisions such as an extended wheelbase (+40 mm), widened tracks, an upsized 18-inch wheelset and increased body rigidity.

Inevitably, there will be visual comparisons of the LBX and Yaris Cross since they are crossover cousins. But the designers did enough to differentiate the two cars - so much so that the casual observer might not suspect they are related under the skin. 

The major Lexus design differentiators include the brand’s signature spindle grille, lovely bodywork curves, shiny bits, and the “LEXUS” emblem writ large across the tailgate. The LBX paintwork looks punchier too, with the test-car’s Lexus blue aka Deep Azure being noticeably more lustrous and less Tomica toy-like than Toyota’s Grayish Blue for the Yaris Cross. 

To my eyes at least, the face of the Yaris Cross makes me think “hello, kitty”, whereas the face of the LBX makes me go “hello, angry puppy” - a Shiba Inu, of course. 

Well-equipped and well-built, but LBX cabin is comfier for the front occupants.

Furkids and human children alike will be happy on the backseat of the LBX, although adults taller than me (1.73 metres) might find the space to be somewhere between cosy and comfy. This is a compact cabin, after all. Even so, the boot is pretty practical, thanks to its adequate 400-litre capacity and flexible 60:40 split-fold seatback.

The upholstery is upper-class in its look and feel. The Cool grade (as tested here) specifies genuine leather and plenty of plush Ultrasuede, complete with dramatic orange embroidery to appeal to the younger crowd who want colour in their drive lives. 

They will also appreciate the (spoilt for) choice of 64 colours to customise the interior ambient lighting, of which 14 have been thoughtfully curated under five themes - Healing, Relaxing, Arousing, Focusing, Exhilarated. This would help the indecisive driver who tends to see random rainbows when presented with Pantone charts and UNO cards.

Backseat space is at a premium, but the materials and door armrests are really nice.

Playing with the LBX starts promisingly in the driver’s seat, which is supportive enough to hold me in place when the cornering gets interesting, although I would prefer a longer and lower seat-squab. 

The steering wheel in my hands feels as small as the car it steers on the road and luxuriously leathery at the same time. The excellent visibility, including lateral views between the A-pillars and door-mounted side mirrors, makes it easier to position the LBX during its vehicular 5BX and perform the basic physical exercises accurately. 

The ride quality is on the firm side, but seldom noisy and never uncomfortable. In speedy sweepers (e.g. the CTE-PIE connection towards Kallang Way) where I suspect the Yaris Cross might bounce its way through, the LBX trounces the tarmac instead, gripping confidently as it lunges from entry to exit. 

It’s agile in corners, but it is not fast, with combined petrol-electric power of 129bhp and barely enough torque to put a twist in a road trip plot. The LBX is efficient though, and could squeeze up to 700 kilometres from the tiny 36-litre fuel tank if driven gently. 

The 1.5-litre hybrid three-cylinder doesn’t sound offbeat or anything. It just springs into action when prompted by the throttle pedal and lets the driver know about it, especially when working hard around the tachometer’s 12 o’clock mark (4,000 rpm). Noticeable, too, is the auto restart that awakens the snoozing engine. 

Incidentally, the EV function/button is a token affair with precious few opportunities for activation, but it’s better than nothing in a world charging towards BEVs galore.  

There is a pair of solid metallic paddles for the driver to override the LBX CVT in S (sport) mode, but this is fun only for a while, because the transmission is continuously variable and not continuously vivacious. 

It’s probably easier to entertain oneself with the infotainment. The touchscreen is sensible in size (9.8-inch) and mostly logical in operation, while the physical switches for the air-con and audio remote are simply idiot-proof. 

The excellent equipment includes a 13-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, a head-up display, one-touch power windows all around and even automated parking, but excludes electric adjustment for both front seats in favour of electric door latches. The interior's overall fit-and-finish is impressive, except for the sunvisors, glovebox and upper grab handles. 

If the Toyota Yaris Cross is "hello, kitty", then the Lexus LBX is "hello, angry puppy". 

In conclusion, after playing with the bonsai dragon ball that is the Lexus LBX, I could just about justify its 50-55 percent higher cost (OMV - open market value) compared to the Toyota Yaris Cross. Therefore, the little Lexus deserves more than a little respect in COE Category A. 

Read More: mReview: Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid 1.5 Active

Download the Motorist App now. Designed by drivers for drivers, this all-in-one app lets you receive the latest traffic updates, gives you access to live traffic cameras, and helps you manage LTA and vehicle matters.

Did you know we have a Motorist Telegram Channel? Created exclusively for drivers and car owners in Singapore, you can get instant info about our latest promotions, articles, tips & hacks, or simply chat with the Motorist Team and fellow drivers.