Small & stylish: All-new Lexus LBX crossover revealed

Lexus has just revealed its newest and perhaps smallest luxury crossover yet.

After giving us a glimpse of it several weeks ago, the all-new LBX has officially made its world debut in Milan, Italy. It slots below the slightly larger UX and serves as the brand's stepping stone to owning a Lexus. It will be available in select markets like Europe, Japan, and other global markets from Q4 2023.

Measuring 4160mm long, 1825mm wide, and 1560mm tall, the LBX is tiny. However, it still comes with a 2580mm wheelbase which still gives it generous legroom and luggage space. It comes with the “Premium Casual” design philosophy, the crossover comes with a chic and stylish design while still featuring the signature look of Lexus vehicles.

Despite its small size, the unique design gives the LBX dynamic proportions and a distinct stance that show off the vehicle's crossover SUV looks. It's also available with massive 18-inch alloy wheels that further highlight the LBX's stylish looks although lesser variants come with smaller 17-inch wheels. And like other Lexus vehicles, the LBX features the brand's infamous spindle grille.

Over to the interior, the automaker decided to combine a simplistic design with high-tech gizmos. With only several buttons populating the console and center dashboard, it delivers a clutter-free look. Sitting at the center of the dash is a 9.8-inch tablet-inspired touchscreen that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a host of other onboard features.

In true Lexus fashion, it has a Mark Levinson sound system. But don't let the LBX's small size fool you into thinking it only has around 6 speakers. Instead, Lexus was able to install a total of 13 speakers to ensure high-quality audio is piped into the cabin. It even has a subwoofer to deliver that extra bass.

Under the hood of the Lexus LBX is a 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid powertrain that's assisted by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. It has a combined system output of 134 PS and a respectable 185 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a CVT that drives the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on the variant.

With the LBX now serving as the brand's smallest offering, expect the tiny Lexus to be popular with those that want their first luxury vehicle to be small but stylish. The only question now is, can we expect the LBX to make its way to the Philippines?