√Lexus LBX hybrid city SUV confirmed for Australian debut in 2024

The Lexus LBX is due to arrive in Australia during the first half of 2024, becoming the Japanese car-maker’s smallest – and possibly least-expensive – model on sale locally.

The Lexus LBX – a hybrid-powered luxury twin to the Toyota Yaris Cross – has been locked in for Australia, with local deliveries due to start in the first half of 2024 (January to June inclusive).

Revealed in June 2023, the LBX is designed for the European market and is exclusively sold with hybrid power – unlike its Yaris Cross twin, which is also available as a petrol-only model.

The LBX will not only be the smallest Lexus in the Japanese car-maker’s Australian line-up, but it is also expected to be the most affordable – potentially undercutting the UX200 Luxury, which starts from $46,085 plus on-road costs in petrol-powered guise, and $53,820 plus on-road costs as a hybrid.

As previously reported, the Lexus LBX measures 4190mm long, 1825mm wide and 1545mm tall, riding on a 2580mm wheelbase – 10mm longer overall, 20mm longer in wheelbase, 60mm wider and 45mm lower than the Yaris Cross.

It is also 305mm shorter in length, 15mm narrower and 60mm shorter in wheelbase compared to the Lexus UX, though the LBX’s roof sits 25mm further from the road.

The Lexus LBX is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and electric motors, producing 100kW – up 15kW from the most-powerful Australian-delivered Yaris Cross – which is sent to the front via a continuously-variable automatic transmission with a rear e-axle on all-wheel drive variants.

The small SUV adopts Lexus’ design language with a body-coloured honeycomb front grille, adaptive LED headlights and a W-shaped LED tail-light strip above ‘LEXUS’ badging.

Despite being the smallest model in the Lexus line-up, the LBX is fitted with the brand’s largest-ever digital instrument cluster, measuring 12.3 inches.

A full suite of advanced safety technology is available, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.

More pricing and specification details on the 2024 Lexus LBX will be available closer to the small SUV’s Australian launch.

The post Lexus LBX hybrid city SUV confirmed for Australian debut in 2024 appeared first on Drive.