Passion projects have a lot of heart, and the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is exactly that.
Company boss Akio Toyoda has given his personal endorsement and on-track approval for the Lexus LBX Morizo RR (yes, it’s a mouthful!), the car he calls “my buddy, my friend”, also stating that it’s his favourite Lexus, suggesting smaller cars are more fun to drive! LF-A, look away now!
Oversimplified, the Lexus LBX RR (we’ll shorten it to) is a Toyota GR Corolla with added salt, pepper and premium. “Taking GR and making it Lexus,” says Toyoda.
Sights and sounds of the 2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR
So that means the same 1.6-litre turbo three-cylinder, the same all-wheel drive running gear, plus a new eight-speed direct shift automatic gearbox with paddle shift, all good for 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds, using launch control.
But it’s a luxury city SUV, and therefore has a host of premium features that make it both a more upper class affair than the humble Corolla, and a more sporting athlete then the regular Lexus LBX.
On that donor LBX: it’s proving quite a popular model. Since its launch in 2024, LBX has “launched us to a new level,” says Lexus NZ Operations Manager, Craig Burton. “[LBX is] a premium that might have been out of range before, in an attainable package.”
In the Luxury SUV Small segment, LBX is the second-best seller behind BMW X1, and it’s helping contribute towards Lexus’ rise to second place in the premium market… now up to 16% following a big spike over the past three years, thanks to an increase from 5 to 12 models, and just 2% behind the leader. Toyota/Lexus doesn’t often sit in number 2 position…
LBX is also second-best seller in the Lexus range, behind NX, according to Lexus VP Andrew Davis. And in a brand that is owned by 73% females, and 50:50 private/business, that’s a good mix.
We know Lexus is the premium arm of Toyota, and while the brand celebrates 35 years, it’s only been sold in its home Japanese market since 2005, and Toyota/Lexus now has a 40% market share in its homeland.
There’s also an air of exclusivity with the LBX RR, as just three countries in the world are lucky enough to get it: Japan, New Zealand when stock and sales start in February 2024, and Australia in April 2025. Yes, beating the Aussies again, by a few months.
At $89,990, the LBX is a hike over the regular version of the LBX, which ranges between $59k-$69k.
Like the GR Corolla, it’s designed for the car lover with both performance but with an added layer of premium.
The inspiration comes from a shoe: Toyota’s love of the Lacoste Baseshot 224, which which Akido wears when he’s attempting to get away from the office: casual luxury.
Like the shoes, the LBX RR is also quite restrained and low-key. The body is 15mm wider, it sits 10mm lower, and the weight is just 5kg heavier than the GR Corolla at 1485kg, but with things like launch control and ‘Expert’ mode, it’s a multi-faceted compact SUV with passion and power. Like the 10mm lower driver’s seat that brings the driver more in tune with the car’s dynamics – and just feels better.
Apart from the Morizo RR badge on the rear, it’s all rather discrete: the 19in alloys and meaty 235/45R19 tyres are the clue, along with a bigger, scoopier and air-flowier front bumper. And the five colour choices are solid, with two-tones and bold red and blue.
Just 45 LBX RRs are initially bound for NZ, which is a score for us, as even Oz is only allocated 100; but Toyota NZ says it is not a limited edition and looks to secure more.
And that name? It’s a somewhat oxymoron combination of advanced and beginner: Morizo represents master driver, while Rookie Racer is the Lexus team’s skunkworks name that competed in the likes of the 2007 Nurburgring 24 Hour production car race.
Inside there’s some very nice Alcantara on the dash and centre console, and some red stitching, but little more in fanfare or branding, and we’d love to see a little more: maybe a RR or Morizo mode button, that fully enables maximum attack mode.
As it stands, the car defaults to normal mode, where more aggressive Sport mode is accessed via a button, and changes the digital tacho from round to bar graph. AWD mode locks it to 50:50 front to rear drive, while disabling the ESP introduces Expert mode, which also opens up the exhaust note with some attitude and some overrun snap, crackle and pop, giving that three-cylinder some real thrumming character, while giving the steering a bit more heft. This is Morizo mode!
It’s a boost beast, too, spiking as much as 2.7-2.8 bar boost, or 40psi!
That’s what gives the RR its 206kW and 390Nm and winds up the fun factor.
The seats are grippy and comfortable, the steering and controls are all fairly conventional, from active cruise to a Head-Up Display, to cup holders and wireless phone charging.
Tricky diffs front and rear, including a Torsen rear diff, help its speed and driver-friendliness, as does a very sorted suspension setup that feels like it’s designed for 50:50 road and track, offering a noticeable solid firmness to its road ride, but clearly made by people who know what they’re doing on a track: we got to sample the LBX RR around Queenstown for its local launch, plus the added advantage of a few controlled exercises at Highlands Racing circuit.
Even when induced, the LBX RR is rock solid planted, resisting any triggers to be upset, offering an overload of oustanding grip and power and simple get-up and go without nervousness or anything that'd upset a road and track-loving LBX driver. This is a hugely fun car, while being supremely confidence inspiring.
There’s so much mechanical grip and while the diffs just get in and do their thing, making it all rather simple. Even with ESP on, we rarely triggered any intervention, and while the paddle shifts do allow a bit of manual control, it’s perfectly fine in Sport mode - if a little resistant to downshift to 1st gear above 30km/h, preferring to ignore manual commands and rely on its torque, revs and gears, and its shifts as quick as a dual clutch.
It’s wonderfully intoxicating, and the Lexus LBX Morizo RR adds the third element to the revival of models that are reviving the fun and enthusiast nature of the Japanese brands of years past, joining the GR Yaris and GR Corolla as a modern-day sporting triumvirate: a true trio (of triples!) holding power.
A premium pocket rocket, the Lexus LBX RR is a massive injection of fun to both the Lexus brand and the small SUV segment.
BREAK IT DOWN
2025 Lexus LBX Morizo RR
ENGINE: 1.6-litre turbo three-cylinder
POWER: 206kW/390Nm
GEARBOX: Direct-shift 8-speed auto
WEIGHT: 1485kg
0-100KM/H: 5.2 secs
ECONOMY: 10.3l/100km
PRICE: $89,900
ON SALE: Feb 2025