LBX is first Lexus to offer full-service lease
Customers who choose the FSL model never own the car, but simply hand it back at the end of the lease period. Lexus parent company Toyota also recently introduced an FSL for the all-electric bZ4X as a way of overcoming certain barriers to electric vehicle adoption.
Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas admitted that the FSL “is not for everyone”, but he believed it would appeal to some younger buyers who do not wish to commit to owning a car.
“Our research shows LBX customers want flexible ownership options beyond traditional up-front payment, consumer loan or novated lease products,” Mr Pappas said.
Pricing estimations and further details have not yet been made public, but given the instalments will vary according to LBX variant, lease duration, the customer’s location and insurance history, contracted kilometres and other extras such as bundled fuel costs, it is unlikely that fees will be identical for any two instances.
Lexus Australia says it will track the scheme’s uptake among LBX customers before considering rolling it out to other models.
The LBX shares its GA-B underpinnings with the Toyota Yaris Cross and measures 4190mm long, 1825mm wide and 1560mm high, making it the smallest model in the Lexus range and the brand’s first B-segment SUV.
Following established Lexus model naming convention, the LBX is available in Luxury or Sports Luxury, the former front-wheel-drive only while the latter is available with either front-wheel drive or in more expensive all-wheel-drive format.
All LBX grades employ the same petrol-electric powertrain teaming a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor generator fed by a nickel-metal hydride battery beneath the rear seats.
The petrol engine develops at 67kW at 5500rpm and 120Nm between 3800-4800rpm, with an electric motor contributing 69kW/185Nm and drive sent through an automatic continuously variable transmission.
Optional all-wheel drive on the Sports Luxury adds an electric motor at the rear axle, which switches to an independent trailing arm design in place of the torsion beam on 2WD variants.
Peak combined output for the hybrid powertrain (in all models) is rated at 100kW, with combined fuel consumption of 3.8 litres per 100km on the combined cycle and average CO2 emissions of 85 grams per kilometre.
Safety features are extensive, including with eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian (day/night), cyclist (day/night) and motorcyclist (day) detection, intersection collision avoidance, emergency steering assist, front cross-traffic alert, acceleration suppression at low speeds, radar cruise control with curve speed reduction and preceding vehicle cut-in/departure display, lane trace assist with lane-departure alert, adaptive high-beam system, speed sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, driver monitor, front and rear parking sensors with auto brake, 360-degree cameras with guidelines and rear camera washer, e-latch doors with safe exit assist, vehicle stability control and tyre pressure monitor.
Luxury trim includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with adaptive high beam, rear spoiler and privacy glass, and a two-tone body finish including a black roof.
Inside, the LBX Luxury has black NuLux upholstery for the seats, steering wheel, door and instrument panel trim, front and rear carpet floor mats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control with remote function, wireless phone charging pad, auto-dimming rearview mirror, ambient interior lighting, keyless entry and start, and a powered tailgate.
Multimedia connectivity is via a 9.8-inch colour touchscreen display with satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker Panasonic audio system.
There are three front and two rear USB-C ports as well as front and rear 12V accessory sockets that provide extra connectivity and charging options.
Sports Luxury grade, which costs $52,990 for 2WD or $56,990 with AWD (both excluding on-road costs), is identified by its black 18-inch alloy wheel design and ornamentation film on the rear pillars.
The Sports Luxury interior adds a combination of NuLux and Ultrasuede seat trim, suedecloth trim for the door, instrument panel, and console box, and premium leather trim for the gear selector knob and heated steering wheel.
Other upgrades over the Luxury include autonomous park assist, a colour head-up display with touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, multi-colour ambient interior lighting and a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system with metal speaker grilles and noise-cancelling technology.
The LBX comes standard with a black roof combined with the option of one of eight different body exterior colours: Sonic Quartz, Sonic Chrome, Sonic Copper, Frozen Mercury, Moonstone Shadow, Rich Ruby, Citrine Flare and Midnight Sapphire.
2024 Lexus LBX pricing*:
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Luxury 2WD (a)
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$47,550
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Sports Luxury 2WD (a)
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$52,990
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Sports Luxury AWD (a)
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$56,990
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*Pricing excludes on-road costs.