Kelly Bertrand takes the Lexus LBX for a spin as she sees if the brand’s entry-level model is for her – read on her very millennial take and review of the Lexus LBX
(For transparency – While we have an ongoing partnership with Toyota (and Lexus) this review is completely editorial and our opinions stated here are very much our own!)
There’s a very specific (happy millennial) playlist of songs that runs through my head when I’m driving a fancy car.
This is the Life – Hannah Montana
Unwritten – Natasha Beddingfield
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
You get the idea – although thanks to Beyonce’s little Lexus mention in Texas Hold ‘Em, that little ditty is circling around the brain too.
It’s a glorious Auckland day and I’m behind the wheel of a Lexus LBX, the luxury brand’s newest launch that’s aimed at those who want to break into the luxury car market, but also afford to, you know, eat.
The LBX is Lexus’ most attainable model and I mean, you have eyes, she’s a sexy little thing. But is she worth $58,900+? Let’s find out.
Lexus LBX – The Basics:
Right, so the basics of the Lexus LBX. Well, the easiest place to start is with a car I’ve already previously reviewed and absolutely loved – Toyota Yaris Cross. Both are compact SUVs, and both are petrol hybrids (my personal favourite powertrain), but the Lexus has taken its parent brand’s model and given it a massive glow-up in every single way conceivable. (Lexus is owned by Toyota.)
Due to similar engineering principles with Toyota, LBX already feels familiar to drive in that lovely Toyota-esque way but even better – which is what experiencing a Lexus is all about. Everything is intuitively right where you expect it to be and it’s a great place to start.It’s a compact SUV with a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder hybrid engine, and just a touch over four metres long.
The drive is super-smooth and is constantly using a combination of both hybrid electric technology and petrol effortlessly (a new fun game for me is to see how much of my journey is powered by the hybrid battery compared with petrol) and it’s very clear that LBX has been designed with the urban driver in mind. Having said that, I drove the LBX to Mangawhai and back on a Lexus road trip event (see below for our reel!) and it’s a fantastic car for longer trips too. Sure, you’re using more petrol but it’s still a hell of a lot cheaper than your gas powertrain would.
They’ve really thought stuff through – the devil is in the details, like a re-engineered door handle that you don’t have to pull first before you push the door open (you need to experience LBX for yourself to understand what I’m talking about!)
I will say though, as befitting a compact SUV, the backseat isn’t the roomiest. It’s totally perfect for perhaps one kid and their accompanying accoutrements, but if you’re looking for a family car, this probably isn’t a big enough model for you, and you may need to direct your attention towards the Lexus RX or NX.
Lexus LBX – The Jazzy Stuff:
Right, now to the things that get us excited. There’s no other word for it, LBX is bloody chic. Thoughtfully styled, LBX just looks like a car you want to drive. It’s got a chunky booty (stability, ofc) but is long and lean at the front. Lexus is positioning this model to customers who might not have considered a Lexus before, and there’s been a lot of effort and emphasis on the premium features. Plus, instead of grades, like you normally see with cars, they’ve gone with “moods” which, honestly, is a vibe and reflects the different lifestyles of customers (more of a buy what you need, not what you don’t need approach).
The moods are Active, Relax and Cool:
Active stands out with 18 inch dark grey metallic and machined alloy wheels, a two-tone exterior, black synthetic leather seats, and comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ package included as standard.
The Relax and Cool mood offers a huge panoramic view monitor and head-up display which still, even though I’ve driven a few cars with it now, makes me think that we’re LIVING. IN. THE. FUTURE. (If you’ve never seen it, it’s where your current speed and satellite navigation directions are beamed onto your windscreen, so you can see important information without taking your eyes off the road).
Relax rides on 18” dark premium metallic alloy wheels and has an adaptive high beam system. Inside is the chicest black or saddle tan semi-aniline leather accented seats that I have ever seen, while listening to a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system (which was fantastic for said happy millennial tunes).
Relax is my absolute favourite (pictured in the main image) and if I was walking into a Lexus dealership today, the Sonic Quartz (white) with the incredible saddle tan interior would be coming home with me.
Cool has 18” black alloy wheels and features the latest Lexus Safety System+ package.
Both Relax and Cool feature Lexus teammate (auto parking which again blows my tiny mind) with six front and rear parking sensors, and have a multi-colour interior illumination for passengers to dial up or down the mood (vibes).
Active is available in front-wheel drive, while the Relax and Cool are available in front-wheel drive or E-Four all-wheel drive.
There are multiple USB-C ports, a wireless phone charging pad, wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto and all the usual fancy bells and whistles that mean you wouldn’t mind being stuck in Auckland traffic in one of these (in my mind, this the best marketing tool you can use for cars). Also, this car is officially Capsule-approved for both size and location of cup-holders. That’s right team, investigative journalism at its finest.
Lexus LBX: The Safety Stuff
I’m about to buy a new car myself and, with the intention of having a kid in the next few years, safety is probably the most important thing in my brain when it comes to choosing which car (although those tan leather seats are a clooooose second).
Bottom line, this car is swimming in the latest safety features – including autonomous emergency braking (including cyclist, pedestrian, motorcycle detection and steering assistance, which freaked me out when my steering wheel started moving on its own); adaptive cruise control; blind spot alert; lane assistance; driver attention warning (it literally tells you off when you’re not looking at the road) and more.
There’s a lot going on, but it doesn’t feel overly complicated when you’re used to it, and it all adds up to a more reassuring drive, especially if you have little ones on board or you’re not the most confident driver.
Lexus LBX: The Final Say
I fell in love with this car. It’s cheap to run, it’s impossibly good looking and it’s a dream to drive. It’s perfect for my stage in life right now – perhaps I’d look at upgrading when my (non-existent) kid is a little older for more space, but I can see it being fab for the first few years of motherhood (I have this dream of new motherhood of me looking cute in activewear sipping coffee driving my kid around to sensory classes and everything running impossibly smoothly and I know it’s an unrealistic fantasy, but maybe this car would help it!?)
Basically, this is the car for you if you’ve worked your ass off in your 20s and 30s and want to reward yourself with a luxury car that you’ll look forward to driving every day. Oh, that’s me! *runs to the Lexus dealership blasting Unwritten in headphones…
