Lexus LBX vs Toyota RAV4

What's the difference?

If you’re after a small performance-focused hatch or small SUV, there’s no shortage of solid offerings from semi-premium and premium brands like Audi, BMW, Cupra, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and more.

Another high-end brand dipping its toes in the segment is Lexus. Yes, Lexus. The Japanese luxury brand that’s famous for reliable and comfortable cars like the ES and RX.

It might be surprising that Lexus could build something like the LBX Morizo RR, but let’s not forget the many go-fast models in its back catalogue - the LFA supercar, the LC coupe and drop-top, IS F and GS F sedans and the RC F coupe.

At the urging of famed Toyota Motor Corporation (Lexus’ parent company) Chairman Akio Toyoda, Lexus has birthed a firecracker based on its humble, yet fun, LBX small SUV.

Akio has had a hand in developing the Morizo RR as well. Hence the name. Akio is head road tester for the carmaking giant, and a seasoned racer in his spare time. He uses the ‘Morizo’ alias when racing. The ‘RR’ stands for ‘rookie racer’. 

Using the same powertrain found in Toyota’s GR Yaris and Corolla hot hatch cousins, the LBX has a lot of promise. But has Lexus done enough to bother those largely European rivals?

This is probably the most important new car launch of the year.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 needs to be bang-on exactly what customers want, because it’s not only Toyota’s most popular model globally, it was the most popular new car in the world last year.

It’s also Toyota Australia’s second-most popular model behind the Toyota HiLux the highest-selling non-ute in the nation.

Crucially, The HiLux has just been launched in a new generation albeit not a revolutionary change, and it somewhat overlaps with the generation changeover of the RAV4.

Toyota is also facing a significant sales dip, the first quarter of sales for the brand in 2026 is down 23 per cent compared to the same time last year. It’s a bigger dip than the industry as a whole, as its market share is down from 19.9 per cent to 15.7 per cent in the same periods.

The new RAV4’s launch must bring strong sales as the vast majority of the brand’s dip is thanks to the mid-size SUV’s changeover.

But as well as an influx of new competitors, the RAV4 must also contend with a lack of ANCAP safety rating for its first few months on sale.

Has Toyota done enough to convince Australia its family SUV is still worthy of its position as the best-selling passenger car getting around? We headed to its Australian launch in Tasmania’s north to find out.