A single drive begins with a detour

A trip to Baguio? Team what?

Thus began a first detour in my life — another shift begins. A first of many? Only God knows.

Our start was complicated…and it began from Las Piñas.

At 5:30 a.m., the Hybrid Lexus LBX Subcompact Crossover started its grind on a slow and tentative start.

But that is getting ahead of my story. When the Lexus arrived, I gave it a once-over. And, yes, it was love at first sight for this lover of subcompact drives.

I knew that the LBX was going to be something I would enjoy driving and something that I could describe as fun. I mean, really, from my first look, I knew I would be thrilled with the drive, and to Baguio, at that.

The Lexus Subcompact SUV is probably one of the most savvy-styled Lexus models I have driven in a long time.

The LBX SUV looks squat and much wider than it actually is, one of the most attractive qualities I love in a car — close to the ground and sturdy.

The rear end is designed quite neatly (classy, if I am to repeat myself) with only the brand, model, and a brake light that make it a handsome car overall. The LBX looks purposeful and generally more sporty than a three-cylinder hybrid has any right to be, and I loved it.

There was a little problem at first with the ultra-modern “door knobs,” as my companions in the car had to figure out how to open them. But after five minutes, all of us alighted from the Lexus, a little more enlightened.

A seven-inch TFT screen for instrumentation welcomes the driver. It is clear, readable, and complements the 9.8-inch touchscreen in the center of the console.

Although I did take some time getting used to working the A/C because some controls, such as the fan speed, have been placed in the latter.

As a consolation, the LBX physical temperature controls did not require a genius to get used to working, or I would have been dead.

The front seats of the LBX are quite supportive, and give off more of its sporty feel — although I wish they did move further back (when stretching time was allowed, as my knees still felt a bit cramped. So, full stretching in comfort was lacking.

Moving to the rear seats, it becomes crystal clear why Lexus doesn’t let me adjust the seats more, as the rear seats are tight, maybe too tight.

Maybe it’s because of the thickness of the front seats, but I feel it really is down to the compact dimensions of the LBX itself, and the rear seats are a super-tight fit for folks taller than 4 feet.

At least that is how it felt as we loaded the LBX with two rear and relatively tall (above 5’ 4” passengers. Still, at least the rear seats could fold down, allowing the LBX to turn into a spacious two-seater SUV with massive trunk space — if that was needed. Not the case, though.

Now, here is where most compromises are made. The LBX is powered by a 1,490cc three-cylinder engine with a series-parallel hybrid system, matched with Lexus’ eCVT. This means that the LBX is not what you would call super fast.

Lexus quotes a 0-100kph sprint of about 9.2sec, which isn’t really the slowest, either. In fact, it does feel quite nippy in provincial overtaking situations (around 60-90kph), as the electric motor provides plenty of boost to help the engine along at those speeds.

The ride, the ride.

Here is where the LBX shines. I consider this subcompact SUV more of a momentum car: With the speed up, a sharp turn into a deep corner, the LBX will take the turn with gusto.

It hugs the road in a sporty way without being too harsh. Turn-in feels great and body roll is very well-controlled at faster speeds.

The suspension does let some bumps and vibration from bad roads on the drive up to Baguio into the cabin, but this is never too much.

Driving on NLEX, the LBX is composed, well-mannered, and just about right.

Overall, handling is great. It feels sporty, despite not being claimed to be. It drives very well, and I am sure drivers who like tackling bends and lots of bumps on the drive wouldn’t be disappointed.

But, at the end of a drive that involved lots of stops, passengers who talked a little too much and sang along (with their cell phones), it seems the Lexus LBX targets buyers seeking a premium, economical, and stylish compact crossover for city driving, particularly those wanting entry into the Lexus brand without a large vehicle.

On to the next detour.