Lexus LBX: Revolutionizing local driving

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: UDI ETZION
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

For years, Lexus LS was an odd creature, competitive in Toyota's Tel Aviv showroom, but resembled upscaled Avensis/Corolla, with vague branding

After expanding beyond Japan and the US with new models, especially crossovers, and establishing showrooms and a dealer network, Lexus quickly gained market share in Europe. In 2023, Lexus sold 825K cars worldwide, a 32% surge in a year, leaving Mercedes, BMW, and Audi envious.

Germans still outsell Toyota's luxury division twofold, but they're closing the gap. In the next two years, Lexus estimates passing the million mark annually, largely thanks to this car. The LBX is the hybrid crossover, based mechanically on Toyota's Yaris Cross. If Germans can sell you an Audi based on Skoda and Volkswagen, why not let the Japanese? It returns Lexus to a market it abandoned in the early 2010s when it stopped making the CT200h hybrid, itself based on the Auris.

For the first time in years, Lexus Israel has a model priced under 200K shekels, even if it's just 100 shekels less, and only for the base finish among the five options. A substantial sum, but comparable to Kia Niro electric's list price, and cheaper than Audi A3 petrol (from 207K shekels) or BMW Series 1 (from 220K shekels), certainly Mercedes A-Class (from 300K shekels). LBX may be slightly smaller than a compact car, but taller, aiming for a more luxurious customer.

Are they right?

Design: The LBX looks great with its two-tone paint, appropriately placed nickel accents, and large Lexus branding at the rear. It's modern without being overdone like many Chinese cars, not as aggressive as Germans. With dimensions of 4.19m length, 1.825m width, 1.56m height, and a wheelbase of 2.58m, it's longer and has a longer wheelbase by 2cm compared to the Yaris Cross, and it's six cm wider, giving it more balanced proportions.

Interior: If you still measure car quality by door weight, here's a real wake-up call. LBX emphasizes it's not a Toyota, not that there's anything wrong with being one, with hefty doors, high-quality finishes, and an elegant interior, with electronic opening instead of a simple handle.

Inside, you get all the usual components, a 9.8-inch multimedia screen, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, but it's all almost intuitive and easy to use, without having to hunt for treasures among the screens like in most cars at this price. Except maybe for the climate control, operated by a combination of buttons and a screen.

There's no fussiness or gimmicks here, even if you...