Lexus LBX 2024 long-term test

Why we’re running it: Lexus has pinned its hopes of UK sales growth on this new compact crossover Month 1 - Specs Life with a Lexus LBX: Month 1 Welcoming the LBX to the fleet - 12 June 2024 Has anyone else got a mental block on all these Lexuses with an X in their name? There's the RX, a Jaguar F-Pace rival, the Audi Q5-sized NX, the very slightly smaller UX and then this, the LBX, Lexus's newest car and its smallest yet. LBX stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover, which seemed a bit silly until I read that all of those other names are also abbreviations: Radiant Crossover, Nimble Crossover and Urban Crossover (still silly but consistent at least). And the fact that this one isn't called BX to follow the pattern is significant, according to Lexus. The only other time Lexus have previously used a three-letter name was for its VI0-engined supercar. "As the LFA showed a different side to the brand in terms of attitude and performance, the LBX will challenge the status quo and redefine what a small car can offer", apparently. And Lexus is very much hoping that this will be a breakthrough model, anticipated to comfortably become its biggest seller and intended to attract new, younger customers to the brand. The sceptics among you might describe the LBX as a badge-engineered Toyota Yaris Cross for at least £5000 more. Indeed, the two cars share the same TNGA-B architecture and hybrid powertrain. But there's plenty to separate them, too: the LBX is longer, lower and wider and we're told that the two cars were developed separately and the Lexus was optimised for ride and handling. Plus, I don't think the LBX's styling gives any clues that its associated with the Yaris Cross.