Louth Motoring: The Lexus LBX: Head, Heart of Image?

Whatever it is that finally persuades us to buy one car over another your head, your heart and your ego all have their own private little internal battle. I’d incur the wrath of the woke brigade if I identified who values one of the three most but I’d be on terra firma to say that image always plays a big part.

Lexus as a premium brand relies on people who associate the car they drive with the image of them that it projects as does all the other luxury brands and needs to create that want over other marques. In the case of the Lexus LBX they need to persuade you to buy it over a closely related cousin the Yaris Cross. I say cousin as I am unsure how you describe it since Toyota owns Lexus but you get my drift.

It would be very simplistic to call the LBX the posh version of the Yaris Cross and leave it at that but it would do an injustice to the work Lexus put into the LBX. And with a modicum of homework you’ll realise that the LBX is a sleeper bargain. I’ll explain.

The Yaris Cross starts at €31,590 for the 1.5l 115hp hybrid engine Luna version. The LBX starts at €36,665 for the Urban model that has a 1.5l 136hp hybrid engine.

So to compare apples with apples you’d have to buy the Yaris Cross Sol model that starts at €38,680 making the Lexus cheaper from an engine perspective. That I can assure you was not something I was expecting to discover whilst performing my research. That casts the Lexus in a whole different light and I am sure it’s something that the 317 LBX buyers in Ireland to date have spotted.

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For sure the specification will be moderately lower in the LBX but when the image factor is factored in would you prefer to drive a Lexus or a Toyota? For me the image would win out. But what about the head?

The Yaris Cross is flying out the dealerships and we can’t get enough of them here. Its broad demographic appeal has made it Toyota’s second best selling model here in Ireland and its fifth best selling car overall.

The smaller power offers more fuel efficiency and lower running costs which shows we still watch the pennies when assessing the running costs and that “perceived” €5k saving over the Lexus is enough for the head.

The heart is another matter altogether. Stand the two of them side by side without any identification emblems and ask anyone which of the two they’d prefer. I’d bet they would choose the LBX.

The curvy beauty of the LC and RC models (I’d love an RC in white) has influenced the designers of the LBX and made its way onto the LBX. The geometric look of the Yaris Cross, that I like a lot also, is totally absent from the LBX despite – and I’m getting a bit techy now – being built on the same platform with near identical mechanicals.

The makeup that Lexus applied to the outer skin is better than Toyota applied. It also looks luxurious and it’s amazing how car companies through the external looks convey luxuriousness.

The Yaris Cross comparison is an obvious one but in the luxury category it finds itself there are very few competitors with the Audi Q2 the immediate, direct competitor. That starts €41k for the same size engine but it is not a hybrid so by that token, and the logic used for the Yaris over the LBX, the Lexus has a major price advantage. The LBX is wider, taller and just 18mm shorter by comparison too. The heart and image factors play a major role here too and both would have the same weight but the head would sway you towards the LBX.

For all the above analysis, here’s some details I found. The quietness is the standout feature and a must in a luxury car. In an age where they are trying to introduce noise into electric cars the serene experience in the LBX is infectious.

I love the way they have arranged for the doors to open. In most cars you pull a lever towards you that enables you to push the door away from you to get out. In the LBX you push the lever and the door away from you at the same time.

At first it feels so different but after a while you realise it makes perfect sense and all cars should be that way.

The materials as expected from a luxury car are top class with touch and smell rewarded.

The ride focuses on smoothness, efficiency, and comfort—and in these areas, the LBX excels.

The hybrid powertrain – a Lexus/Toyota pièce de résistance - works in harmony to provide a driving experience that’s both quiet and effortless and the car always feels balanced and comfortable.

You get a much bigger car feeling in a compact body.

My main criticism before I did my research was the price but as we discovered, that’s misleading and it is in fact a stealth bargain. Rear passenger space is tight and the LBX loses marks here, as would the Yaris Cross.

The infotainment system is a bit fiddly and not as easy to use as others I’ve experienced but I would not deduct a lot of marks. The fuel economy in an urban setting is incredible and I managed 5.2l/100km during my test.

The Lexus LBX is a luxury compact SUV that offers a combination of refinement, comfort, and efficiency.

It has some flaws but provides an overall driving experience that is hard to match in its class. For drivers who want a premium, fuel-efficient vehicle with a touch of luxury, the LBX delivers in spades.

Do your own homework and crunch the numbers and you’ll see that the LBX is also price favourable and satisfies the head, heart and image argument completely.