Lexus, a specialist in refined and clean hybrid cars, is also known for its confusing commercial strategy. Rather than putting its eggs in the different niches of the highly codified premium world, the Japanese manufacturer created by Toyota has concentrated most of its offering on large or medium-sized models, hardly differentiated, or even interchangeable.
Said models are also blessed with hermetic names (UX, NX, ES, RZ, RX, LS, etc.), the manufacturer finds itself with a range lacking notoriety and devoid of proposition in the very popular segment of small chic models. A specialty which has, among others, greatly benefited Mini, BMW with the X1, Audi with the A1, or Mercedes with the Series 1.
By finally launching a small SUV, called “LBX” – another name that will not arouse empathy – Lexus wants to gain a foothold in this area and, beyond that, broaden its commercial reach, which it rightly considers insufficient in Europe. This model, which is the most compact (4.19 meters) ever produced by the brand, should allow Lexus to reach the threshold of 10,000 registrations in 2025 on the French market, where its sales have not exceeded 5 700 units in 2023. Along the way, the aim is to rejuvenate the customer base (average age 63), make them more feminine and reduce dependence on corporate fleets. In short, the LBX intends to do tabula rasa.
Designed on the basis of Toyota’s Yaris Cross, the new Lexus distances itself from the radical design, sharp angles and gaping grilles of the manufacturer’s other creations. Confirmation of a chronic difficulty in finding the right distance between showing originality and being reassuring, the pendulum has swung a little far. The style is less tortured, but it has become too smooth and struggles to catch the eye.
High level of service
On the other hand, the reconfiguration of the interior, always dressed to the nines and intelligently modernized, appears more successful. The materials are soft to the touch, the steering wheel is pleasant to hold, and the general ergonomics have improved. Comfortably suspended and lively on its supports, the LBX is a worry-free travel companion. Adults sitting in the back will still find the available space a little cramped.
Offered with a single 136-horsepower hybrid engine (a 1.5-liter three-cylinder coupled to an electric motor with performance enhanced by the presence of a 1 kilowatt-hour battery), this car is not made to be whipped around. When the mechanics are heavily used, the continuously variable transmission always requires a reaction time which makes acceleration more phlegmatic than breathtaking. The friendly customers of Lexus, like those of Toyota, are not the type to be moved by this. It is more interested in the level of consumption and, in this area, the LBX shines with its sobriety.
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