2026 Lexus LBX Morizo RR Review

Think Lexus performance and cars like the LFA, LC, IS F, RC F and GS F come to mind. Those are decent size vehicles, certainly not small. The Lexus performance line-up has never been applied to compact models, until now.

Meet the Lexus LBX Morizo RR. A bit of a mouthful but there’s plenty to digest behind its name. First, the LBX is currently Lexus’ smallest model, a small SUV that plays against the likes of Audi Q2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Mini Countryman. Then comes the interesting bit. Morizo is the name Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda races under with his Rookie Racing (RR) team.

A car with such a special name isn’t simply a go-faster version of the car on which it is based, but one that carries significant meaning for the Lexus brand and its Master Driver who is Akio himself. Could Lexus be finally interested in making fun to drive small cars? Time will tell.

The LBX Morizo RR might be small in size, but its price tag isn’t. At $76,490 a pop before on-road costs in Australia, it’s more expensive than its next two larger SUV siblings the UX and NX in base form, but undercutting direct rivals Mercedes-Benz GLA35 AMG ($99,000) and Mini Countryman SE JCW ($79,990). Only the Audi SQ2 is cheaper at $70,800.

For the price, you get a hotted up exterior compete with bespoke, beefier front and rear bumpers, body coloured wheel arches, twin outlet exhaust, four-piston front brake calipers and 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. It looks good, it looks special and it’s not going to get unnoticed.

The interior is more restraint with splashes of dark suede coverings and red contrast stitching the only obvious differentiation between the Morizo RR and the regular LBX cabin. A little more sporting character would be nice such as red seatbelts and a specially badged steering wheel. But Lexus is more about the finer details. Look closer into the instrument binnacle and you’ll find a different LCD driver display splatted with performance gauges. It’s a subtle but effective hint that you’re in no ordinary Lexus.

The LBX is a city-sized vehicle and so there isn’t a lot of expectation in cabin space. It feels more like a small hatchback than anything despite Lexus categorising the LBX as an SUV. The rear seats, especially, are quite cramped. It also feels a little basic back there for its price, with no rear air vents or drop-down armrest. That said, the front seats are proper, full-size sport seats that you’ll find in larger Lexus models. This means they’re superbly comfortable and supportive. Upholstered in perforated leather, they look supremely good as well.

Not that most owners of such vehicles would care but the boot is small at just 266 litres in capacity. Lifting the boot floor doesn’t reveal much storage space, either, as it’s all taken up by the subwoofer, tyre repair kit and all-wheel drive underpinnings. To carry more items you’ll have to fold the rear seats which expands the space to 880 litres.

Tech and comfort wise though, the Morizo RR is pretty well decked out. The 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen has built-in satellite navigation and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a head-up display (HUD) and the aforementioned 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A wireless phone charger is fitted, along with five USB-C ports and two 12V sockets. A 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system surprisingly managed to fit into the small cabin. Not only it can pump out your favourite tunes with remarkable clarity and depth, it also synthetically enhances the engine sound (which may not be to the liking of some).

Other notable features include automatic high beam, powered tail gate and ‘E-Latch’ door handles with safe exit guarding. The front seats are heated, so is the steering wheel. Powered seat adjustment is available for the driver but not the front passenger, questionably.

All essential safety aids are also featured including adaptive cruise control, blind sport monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane guidance, road sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors and 360-degree surround view camera.

Now onto the oily bits, which are what the Morizo RR is all about. Lurking underneath that curvaceous bonnet is arguably one of the most powerful small engines ever made. A total power and torque output of 206kW and 390Nm is squeezed out of a pint-size turbocharged 1.6-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine. That’s more powerful than many 4-cylinder engines with larger capacity. Impressive stuff. If this engine seems familiar that’s because it’s the same unit found in the Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla, cars we absolutely couldn’t get enough of.

The Morizo RR even shares the same AWD system as the GR cousins, which gives the Lexus a sporty 75:25 front-to-rear torque split, augmented by a Torsen limited-slip rear differential (LSD) for optimum grip.

On the road, these goodies translate to a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.2 seconds and more importantly, plenty of grin-inducing driving fun. Thread the ultra direct steering into a corner, even at higher speeds, the Morizo RR responds with athleticism and poise, staying faithful to its line as the bend is despatched in no time. Such high level is the grip from the AWD and those super sticky Continental Sportcontact 7 tyres that the Lexus refuses to bow to mid corner bumps, staying balanced and composed, inspiring you to push even harder. It’s no hot hatch performance but it’s certainly a very tied-down sports crossover.

A GR-derived manual gearbox, which is offered in certain markets but not in Australia, would take the driving engagement to new heights, but the fitted 8-speed torque converter automatic is snappy, smooth and allows for a more focused driving. If you’re keen, there’s still the option of manual shifting via the steering wheel paddles.

Balancing refinement and connectedness is always challenging for Lexus because the marque prioritises a luxurious driving feel above all else, even in its sports line-up. In the case of the Morizo RR, it’s even trickier as the highly strung three-pot GR engine isn’t a refined unit by nature. Somehow, Lexus has managed to iron out most of the coarseness without dampening the sporting attitude. You still get the theatrics of an enthusiastic engine vocal, raspy exhaust note and the ‘whoosh’ from turbo blow-off valve.

Indeed, the Morizo RR feels like a more mature and polished version of the GR Yaris, and it’s most evident in the ride quality. Despite the fixed sports tuned dampers and lower ride height, it’s perfectly fine as a day-to-day car. The ride is compliant enough for a relaxing drive around town or on the freeway. It’s got good road manners, just like how you’d expect from a Lexus.

Despite the small engine, the Morizo RR is not exactly fuel efficient, even in performance cars standard. On paper it’s rated at 9.2L/100km on the combined average. In the real-world you’ll crest over double digits, as indicated by our 450km real-world test which returned an average of 10.2L/100km. Granted, there’s some occasional heavy footed driving but who doesn’t in a sporty car like the Morizo RR? It also requires RON98 premium unleaded fuel.

A five-year, unlimited kilometre factory warranty is standard. Servicing interval is rather frequent at 6 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.

Verdict

2026 Lexus LBX Morizo RR pricing and specification

Price (excluding on-road costs):	From: $76,490 As tested: $79,990 Options added: Two-tone paint $1,750 Rich Ruby Metallic premium paint $1,750
Warranty:	5 years/unlimited kilometre
Warranty Customer Assistance:	3-year roadside
Service Intervals:	6 months/10,000km
Country of Origin:	Japan
Engine:	Turbocharged 1.6-litre 3-cylinder petrol: 206kW @ 6,500rpm, 390Nm @ 3,250-4,600rpm
Transmission:	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain:	All-wheel drive
Combined Fuel Consumption (L/100km):	9.2L/100km, tested: 10.2L/100km
Fuel Capacity (L):	50
Body:	5-door SUV, 5 seats
Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B):	4,190/1,840/1,535/2,580
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,485