Driving the small Lexus LBX SUV today, an attractive small hybrid luxury five door SUV – three variants, the LBX Luxury front wheel drive at $47,550 and the LBX Sports Luxury, both front and all-wheel-drive, priced at $52,990 and $56,990 respectively. The Lexus LBX a compact luxury cross-over SUV, a personalized compact SUV that’s rather tight in the rear, but with emphasis on luxury and finishes that Toyota’s luxury brand always does well and it stands out on the road especially in the sonic copper colour as per the TV commercial. I drove the Sports Luxury AWD with 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine paired with dual electric motors, a fuel sipping assembly with a combined output of 100kW driving through a CVT transmission. The interior with pseudo leather and suede accentuated trim looks classy, the dash with a well-designed and functional touch screen. Nice front seat comfort with roomy, comfortable eight-way power seats not so in the rear which is best for kids. The Lexus LBX best perhaps as a classy compact luxury SUV for the lady in the house. No spare wheel just a tyre repair kit but it’s got all the active and passive safety gear and a 360-degree camera. Drive details next. I’m David Berthon

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