Car of the Year Awards 2025: Small SUV of the Year
A small SUV's compact size mustn’t come at the expense of practicality and should be reflected by low running costs. It should ride comfortably, too, while maintaining a sense of fun...
Lexus LBX 1.5 Premium Plus
Cycling is a highly efficient means of getting from one place to another. An average human can travel at 15mph on a bike while putting in only the same effort as it takes to walk at 5mph. You can even cover ground more swiftly than a top marathon runner, without breaking a sweat.
Bikes, though, are severely limited when it comes to carrying passengers and luggage, and few people would choose one for a long journey. A far less compromised means of getting about efficiently and comfortably, without leaving everyone and everything behind, is to use a Lexus LBX.
As a hybrid, Lexus’s smallest model not only promises outstanding fuel economy but also delivers it. You can expect to average more than 50mpg in normal use, and that figure will only go up if most of your driving is around town, where the LBX can travel for short distances on electric power alone. This helps to keep running costs down.
True, a few other small SUVs are in the same ballpark for efficiency, including the Renault Captur hybrid and the LBX’s Toyota C-HR and Yaris Cross relatives. But what distinguishes the LBX from these models – and everything else in the class – is its upmarket interior. It looks and feels very much like the interiors of Lexus’s larger SUVs, with plush-feeling materials in all the important places, combined with superb build quality. What’s more, the dashboard controls are mostly very user-friendly.
Although there’s less rear seat space than in a Volkswagen T-Roc, a couple of six-footers can still fit in. Meanwhile, the boot is a competitive size, albeit not quite a match for the T-Roc’s.
As well as being frugal, the LBX’s hybrid engine provides gutsy performance and is more refined than the similar set-up in the Toyota Yaris Cross. And while some rivals are more fun to drive or even comfier, the LBX strikes a fine balance between the two. You’re not bounced around over undulations, while well-weighted steering and tight body control give the driver confidence along winding roads.
Given that the LBX is unique in being a hybrid small SUV from a premium brand, it’s almost surprising to find that it costs no more to buy than less efficient petrol equivalents, and less than comparable electric SUVs, such as the Volvo EX30. In fact, when you factor in the generous roster of equipment that comes with our preferred Premium Plus trim, the LBX looks great value for money.
All of this is backed up by Lexus’s stellar reliability record and a class-leading warranty of up to 10 years (with regular servicing at a franchised dealer).
If cars could speak, the LBX would (politely) be saying “On yer bike” to all of its rivals.
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