Lexus LBX Morizo RR 2025 review: Australian first drive

The Lexus LBX Morizo RR is the happy news you need to distract from wars, tariffs, cost of living and environmental catastrophes. It’s a city SUV-sized ray of sunshine in an oft depressing world, as the luxe brand goes rogue by fitting the fizzing three-cylinder turbo from Toyota’s epic GR Yaris and GR Corolla hot hatches into the otherwise highly sensible LBX body.

We were among the first to pilot this pint-sized plaything along some of Australia’s finest bitumen ribbons in the Victorian Alps. We’d normally be here in something like a Porsche 911 GT3 or Hyundai i30N for twisties funtime, not something with a Lexus badge.

But the Morizo RR shows the Japanese premium brand can embrace the unconventional, as it’s already proved with its V6 twin-turbo GX550 Overtrail giant off-roader. It’s hard not to love these unorthodox Lexus standouts.

We can thank Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, for this banzai Lexus. He’s a chap who understands fun-to-drive – witness Toyota’s cool factor with its bonkers GR products – and Toyoda’s fingerprints are all over this LBX.

“Morizo” is Toyoda’s racing pseudonym, and “RR” stands for Rookie Racer. Toyoda’s had a Nürburgring 24 Hours class victory, sharing a Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA, so he’s less rookie than he’d have you believe.

The LBX Morizo RR feels very much like a passion project, and has the price to match. At over $80K to drive away ($76,490 list), it’s a chunky $30k over an entry-level LBX hybrid. But we’re told the waiting list is already out to over a year, so the fee’s clearly not proved a barrier.

And it’s a naughty little thing. It drinks a combined 9.2L/100km of pricey 98, and in town it’ll gulp 13.4L/100km. Our enthusiastic test returned over 13L/100km on average, so enjoyed properly, you’re facing V8-like fuel bills.

But you’re not buying this Morizo RR to be sensible. Hardware includes the lightweight G16E-GTS 1.6-litre three-pot turbo, offering 206kW and 390Nm. Ample, but the eagle-eyed will spot this is a smidge down on Toyota’s GR offerings – our Lexus is hampered by a petrol particulate filter to meet Euro 6C emissions standards.

Australia doesn’t need to comply with this yet, but there’s sound argument that it future-proofs the model should things get stricter here.

The motor’s mated to an eight-speed torque converter auto, with manual shift modes through pleasing little paddle shifters. Alas, there’s no manual gearbox option, despite it being offered to Japanese buyers.

Why not? A Lexus spokesman simply said the three-pedal take-up would be too few to make it worthwhile. A line we’ve heard all too often from numerous car companies. As much as we enthusiasts would favour a manual, the sad truth is we’re not the ones buying these cars.

This RR hits 100km/h in 5.2 seconds, putting power down through an electronically variable all-wheel-drive system and aided by a rear Torsen limited-slip differential. The normal LBX’s torsion beam rear suspension’s been ditched in favour of an independent setup, while the techs have increased rigidity throughout the chassis and body.

It looks fat and well-stanced too. Bespoke sports suspension sits the RR 15mm lower than other LBXs, while track’s widened 10mm up front and 15mm at rear. Wheels are 19-inch forged aluminium efforts in metallic black, shod in performance 235/45 rubber and with 356mm ventilated front rotors with four-piston red callipers behind.

Body-coloured wheel arches and bumpers with increased airflow are unique to the RR, while twin-exit exhausts add more drama to this little SUV’s rump.

It’s a striking offering, and a compelling alternative to performance small SUVs. Volkswagen’s T-Roc R Wolfsburg ($69,290) is an obvious rival albeit without the badge cachet. Prestige offerings? There are Mini Countryman JCW Favoured ($73,990), Audi SQ2 quattro ($70,800), BMW X1 M35i ($92,300) and Mercedes-AMG GLA35 ($96,900), but our Lexus is smaller, more toy-like.

Clamber inside and there’s much to enjoy. The cabin may not be as dripping in luxe as larger prestige Lexuses, but the sporty, sculpted seats feel superb and are coated in semi-aniline leather and suede, with more of the soft stuff with red stitching on the dash and doors. It feels class and looks racy.

Touch points also please, from a stubby little gear selector to a chunky heated steering wheel and smart push-button door handles. The driver’s seat’s electric, but not the passenger’s, which also lacks any height adjust. No glass roof also makes it feels a bit dark, especially in the really tiny rear seats. Seriously, this LBX is best suited to two.

A 12.3-inch digital driver display is neatly customisable, and central 9.8-inch infotainment screen is well angled for easy use. The native software’s not the best, but wireless CarPlay/Android Auto rescues it, and is backed by five USB-C ports and wireless phone charger.

Other goodies for your dollars are dual-zone climate, heated front seats (memory for driver), power tailgate, navigation, voice control, aluminium pedals, colour head-up display and 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio.

There’s the Lexus Safety System+ with all the importants – panoramic view cameras, advanced AEB, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitor – which proved blissfully non-nannying on test. In short, this Morizo RR is certainly no stripped-out special.

But it drives like one. On the right bit of road, this mini Lexus made me grin in a way I’ve not done so since driving, well, a Toyota GR Yaris.

This mad LBX isn’t as raw nor go-kart like as that bonkers GR Yaris, but as the Lexus isn’t quite as stiff, pointy and mad, it brings enjoyment in a more mature and approachable way. The ride’s firm, absolutely, but not as jarring as the Yaris, so you want to drive it for longer.

Our Alpine road is one of sweeping corners, tight hairpins and smooth surfaces. It’s ideal for this RR. There’s the tiniest amount of body roll but it does darting direction changes in the spirit of a GR Yaris.

Grip is mega, and the steering – where so much driving joy comes from – is superbly direct and makes high speed cornering confidence-inspiring and silky smooth. I rarely needed two bites to pitch this car right into an apex.

The engine’s a little screamer, and you’ll crack a window to enjoy the exhaust notes. It doesn’t pop or bang (way too vulgar for a Lexus), but it is loaded with muscle. The three-cylinder turbo responds rapidly to throttle input, torque pull’s relentless, and in manual mode it’ll let you rev hard up to the 7500rpm redline. This is unholy fun.

The gearbox cog-swaps rapidly enough, if not as machine gun fast as a dual clutch would. There’s fun to be had pumping down gears with the paddles, but I’m putting my foot down on this one.

This Morizo RR deserves that manual gearbox. It’d be a financial loss bringer for Lexus Australia, no doubt, but think of the kudos it’d bring from the purist fraternity. A true brand builder.

I struggled to get this RR’s bum waggling on its sticky Continentals. The smart all-wheel-drive sends torque to where it deems grip’s most needed, although you can lock in a 50:50 torque distribution through an AWD button. Even then you must work really hard to hear chirping from the tyres.

You know you’re in a short-wheelbase plaything; it feels light and tight and easy to drive fast. Brakes, too, do a sterling job of dropping anchor in a hurry.

Such talents help you forgive the RR a few sins. There’s a bit more tyre noise than ideal, and while the ride’s not uncomfortable, those using one on crummy roads must prepare for some firm hits. In better news, the drivetrain does docile very well around town, even if it does drink like an eager publican.

The boot’s also titchy and with no spare tyre. It’s compromised next to other LBXs due to its more sophisticated rear end.

But what performance car doesn’t mean a few sacrifices? Cash in the bank may be the biggest here, as not only will your fuel (and tyres) bill get ugly if you enjoy this car regularly, servicing very much comes with a premium tag. It’s $695 a pop, with intervals every six months/10,000km. So in five years, you’re up for $6950. Ouch.

Ignore the price and running costs, this mad Lexus is a standout performance tiddler.

Blending the GR Yaris’ effervescent three-cylinder turbo with Lexus’ luxury and maturity has created a top-drawer plaything of peak desirability. Find a decent bit of twisty road and few things could keep up with this rapid LBX Morizo RR from point to point.

It’s compromised and expensive, but that almost makes you love it more. No manual gearbox aside (but never say never), this little Lexus is guaranteed hero status.