Japanese SUV aiming to refine compact crossover

WHAT struck me about this week’s drive, the new Lexus LBX, was the uncanny excellence of its design.

Uncanny because so many cars these days look alike. But the LBX somehow stands out because of its complete look.

It is an SUV, but not demonstrably so. It is medium size, but you never feel cramped or cooped up while travelling in it.

So, I was quite taken aback by the LBX’s exterior design, yet this was no accident but a deliberate attempt by this premium brand to be aesthetically pleasing.

This car, says the carmaker, is an “all-new compact crossover, targeting new market territory” in the UK and Europe.

The smallest Lexus yet, the LBX is a self-charging hybrid designed to be “accessible and easy to live with, in tune with contemporary style”.

Now in my time doing this job I have seen all kinds of marketing hype surrounding the launch of new cars.

However, with the LBX, the overall impact of the car on the driver lives up to the hype and delivers a vehicle that is confident and assured.

This Lexus then is not the average compact crossover — the LBX starts at £33,195, on the road — but as the Japanese carmaker says the car “offers much more than might be expected from a car in its class”.

Taking this a bit further Lexus describes its aim with the design of the LBX to embrace “advanced technologies and qualities of luxury craftsmanship and omotenashi hospitality for everyone on board”.

In Japan, omotenashi is part of the country’s deep-rooted culture, which derives from sado (tea ceremony), and meaning to “wholeheartedly look after guests”.

Well, to my mind, as a “guest” driver, this philosophy translates successfully into the whole experience of being behind the wheel of the LBX.

It may be that other drivers do not get this vibe, but I believe — as I have said before — that you cannot second-guess people’s reaction to cars. We all have our own taste in cars, however mysterious that might appear to others.

The endless deliberation about naming car models (that is, whether a name works better than a number) is a perennial debate.

But Lexus describes the LBX moniker as significant. The use of a three-letter name is a distinction previously only enjoyed by the LFA supercar.

The choice of the name LBX demonstrates Lexus’s commitment to and trust in its new model: just as the LFA showed a different side to the brand in terms of attitude and performance.

Lexus built just 500 units of the LFA over its production span of two years. It was the first car of this type from Lexus and has evolved into a recently announced super EV sports concept car.

So, what do you get with the new LBX Hybrid? The new powertrain, a self-charging 1.5-litre hybrid system, is “tuned for rewarding performance, with powerful, linear acceleration from start-up”.

This helps deliver “low-speed agility that’s well-suited to the demands of urban driving”. I found the car’s ease of passage in town very relaxing.

Acceleration was there if you needed it, but I found the emphasis in this car was on a civilised form of driving, that again belies a belief that in a smaller car you have to compromise on the motoring experience of larger cars.

Lexus Link multimedia allows cloud navigation, smartphone integration and advanced voice recognition capability.

The centre console is a prominent, rigid structure with a large display that’s tilted back so that it integrates smoothly with the structure. It also features upholstered side knee pads, a tactile, padded centre arm rest and a lower storage box for small items that also contains a 12V accessory socket and C-type USB port.

The seat designs focus on preserving a stable posture and minimising head movement when cornering, with a deep-hung cushion construction with an enlarged contact area and flatter seatback that holds the body snugly while keeping the chest upright.

For the driver, this adds to their sense of connection with the car. Eight-way power adjustment is available for the front seats. The rear seats divide and fold 60:40. The LBX is the latest model to adopt a reminder system that gives an alert if children, luggage or other items are left behind.