Sales might have risen by an impressive 26 per cent across Europe (EU-EFTA-UK) during the first three quarters but Lexus still only takes 0.8 per cent of this giant market. Even so, a year ago it was just 0.6 per cent or 44,437 vehicles. However, between 1 January to 30 September 2024, that shot up to 55,839.
With Russia long gone from the official Lexus Europe region, the UK is the brand’s best market. In fact, Brits have long loved Lexus models and the new IBX, a small hybrid-as-standard SUV, is capturing ever more imaginations. But is it stealing hearts too? This was the question I kept asking myself during a week of temporary ownership.
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Small, so mainly for Europe and Japan
This is the new entry point of the line-up, positioned below the UX, NX and RX SUVs in the British market. Other models for us including the RZ electric crossover as well as the ES and LS sedans plus the LM luxury MPV.
Officially called a Compact Crossover, the LBX looks like no other Lexus, the signature huge grille of most other models being more or less absent here. That does though depend on how you look at the front end. Headlights are small and narrow, the front wings are high, there is generous glazing, black plastic cladding around the wheels and below the doors, while L E X U S features on the rear. Up front, the stylised L is instead present on the edge of the bonnet.
Toyota builds the IBX at its Iwate plant. That makes sense for several reasons: this factory was already producing other GA-B architecture models, and Japan has proved to be as strong a market as had been forecast. Launched during the first quarter, this is now the brand’s best seller at home (beating the NX 350h), 18,252 examples having already found buyers there. By year end, that total should exceed 20,000.
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By GlobalDataLexus Europe would like to see registrations hitting around 25,000 units a year, with the UK making up roughly one quarter of that total. For now at least, there are no exports to North America, the model being considered a touch too teeny for buyer preferences in the USA.
Powertrain
There is a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, top speeds being an identical 106 mph for both though zero to sixty two miles per hour times differ. These are respectively 9.2 and 9.6 seconds. The importer offers a variety of trim levels and option packs with the well-equipped base car priced below thirty thousand pounds.
The only available powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre engine – which is not turbocharged – and two motors. Their combined numbers are 100 kW (136 PS) and 185 Nm. Average WLTP CO2 is as low as 102 g/km with Combined consumption of 62.8 mpg. The latter is realistic too, and explains why the petrol tank holds a mere 36 litres. This will be a cheap car to run.
Toyota says the engine puts out 67 kW and 120 Nm, with the front-mounted motor-generator adding 69 kW while there is a further 4.7 kW and 52 Nm from the rear motor. Every LBX comes with a standard eCVT and so smooth is it that you never realistic this isn’t a torque converter transmission.
ADAS tweaks needed please
Maybe performance might be a touch stately for some but there is really only one other thing which may be less than ideal, that being one element of the ADAS system. In short, if you like a car to be constantly communicating with you, you’ll adore the LBX. The Prius PHEV is similarly chatty in this way, incidentally.
I struggled a bit with what seemed a bit of a too-keen Driver Monitor. Being sensitive to light, sunglasses tend to be my default. The little Lexus was not keen on this, telling me often that its camera positioned above the steering wheel believed I was not paying attention to the road ahead. In fact, even without my sunnies in place, the nagging would happen at seemingly random times. Hopefully a software tweak at some stage can fix this.
Smooth ride, good handling
The only other thing I would wish for is a spare tyre but that’s not something unique to the Lexus. And the boot is a good size for a sub-4.2 long SUV, holding 317 litres in AWD form and 402 for two-wheel drive variants.
Toyota’s engineers have specified MacPherson Struts up front and either torsion beam (FWD) or double wishbones (AWD) for the rear suspension system. These do an excellent job of providing a smooth ride, considering the wheelbase is merely 2,580 mm long. There is also a nice amount of space for anyone sitting in the back.
AWD non-hybrid Morizo
Back in January, Toyota revealed the LBX Morizo RR Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Along with a body kit and four-wheel drive, this was said to be powered by a 305 hp and 400 Nm version of TMC’s G16E-GTS engine. That code refers to the company’s 1.6-litre I3 turbo, famously fitted to the GR Yaris.
A production version of the Morizo RR was then announced in July. For now it’s restricted to Japan and powered by the 224 kW engine from January’s prototype.
Conclusion
The LBX is perhaps not a car you fall in love with, but there again, aside from the marque’s gone-from-the-UK gorgeous sounding and fantastic to drive V8-powered cars, a heart emoji has never been what I associate with Lexus. Instead, you tend to respect the brand’s models. Which is how I feel about the IBX.
This little SUV looks inoffensive, maybe even a tad magnolia – albeit Farrow and Ball if we’re comparing vehicles to paint brands – and will likely last for decades, probably never go wrong and almost certain to hold its value. So what’s not to respect? Maybe that’s exactly what Lexus buyers desire.
Pricing for the new Lexus LBX starts at GBP29,999 OTR (Urban trim level) and rises to GBP40,555 (all-wheel drive Takumi Design).
