The Lexus LBX Gets a Subtle Refresh
Meet the Lexus LBX, the tiniest SUV in the luxury brand’s stable – though you won’t find it on US roads. Launched in December 2023, this pint-sized hybrid crossover aims to pack all the Lexus plushness into a much smaller package.
Three years later, Lexus is giving the LBX a partial redesign, taking inspiration from the brand’s broader focus on driving refinement. Rather than introduce a major redesign, Lexus is focusing on chassis tuning, equipment, and additional exterior color choices.
Lexus
Exterior and Interior Changes Keep Things Familiar
The biggest change in the exterior is a  new paint shade called Sou, with blue highlights that add a bit of depth and intrigue. Lexus is also mixing up the color palette: Relax and Elegant trims stick to single-tone looks, while Cool and Active grades get to play with two-tone combos and Black Mica.
Other than that, the LBX keeps its usual look and compact size, with only a few small changes. Inside, the updates are about convenience. All versions now come with a color head-up display, steering-wheel controls, and a drive recorder as standard. These features make daily use easier without forcing buyers to pick a pricier model.
Lexus
Chassis Improvements Inspired by the RX
The more significant changes are underneath. Lexus has revised the thickness of the center crossmember to increase body rigidity and adjusted the shock absorbers’ valve characteristics to improve body control over rough roads.
The electric power steering gets a retune too, now offering lighter, more predictable feedback. Lexus even took the LBX to the Nürburgring for some serious testing, chasing that sweet spot between sharp road feel and cushy comfort.
The approach is similar to the refinement-focused work Lexus has applied to larger SUVs such as the RX, although the LBX’s mechanical revisions are specific to its own chassis.
Its hybrid powertrain remains unchanged, pairing a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with electric motors and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with E-Four all-wheel drive available on selected grades.
No word yet on whether the LBX will make it stateside, and with Americans still loving their big SUVs, it might stay overseas for now. For now, the UX holds the small-SUV fort in the US, though its future is anyone’s guess at this point.
Lexus
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