LEXUS LE

Onboard tech elevates the LBX, although some features falter

- Alastair Crooks

I WAS hoping that my time with the Lexus LBX would help to answer a significant question: can small cars feel premium? It sounds like a contradiction, but nonetheless the Japanese manufacturer is hoping to make a big impression with its luxury-focused compact SUV. The LBX is based on the Toyota Yaris supermini and certainly has no direct rivals from the likes of BMW, Mercedes or Volvo, and while Audi offers the A1, the baby Lexus is a little different, being classed more as a crossover.

Before I could reach a conclusion on the LBX's premium status, the car's odometer neared 10,000 miles - with us covering 7,398 of those - so I had to visit a dealer for the car's first service. I booked it in with Lexus Ipswich, and an hour or so after I'd arrived, my car had a clean bill of health and I had a stomach full of coffee and biscuits.