Lexus LM (2023 - )

If you ever needed proof that looks can be deceiving then the Lexus LM is exactly that. From the outside it looks like a traditional van with one of the brashest front ends imaginable. 

It appears practical enough and if you open the front doors it seems to have all the mod cons drivers want these days. But the real secret is discovered when you open one of the rear sliding doors that offer an insight to what the LM (it stands for Luxury Mover) is all about.

That’s because the Lexus LM is all about the passengers. Yes, the driver enjoys a good driving experience, but this vehicle focuses on getting passengers from A to B in the most luxurious manner possible.

There are three models to choose from – the LM 350h front wheel drive or 350h all-wheel drive versions both of which feature seven-seat capability, or the range-topping LM 350h Takumi all-wheel drive version that really takes the opulence levels up a notch or two and that was the vehicle we tested.

With prices starting from £89,995 and increasing to £112,995, Lexus were unsure how the car would be met by UK buyers in a fairly untested sector. They expected to sell in the region of 30 models, but were overwhelmed with hundreds of expressions of interest. To date, 171 orders have been placed but there are only 50 vehicles available this year so it is definitely over-subscribed.

The LM has been sold in other markets previously and is now in its second generation, but this is the first time it has been available across parts of Europe.

The look of the Lexus LM will certainly divide opinion with a front end that features a massive spindle grille – it looks a bit like a snow plough! It has high sides, two fixed sunroofs, LED headlights with adaptive high-beam assist, a powered tailgate with kick sensor, plus a full width L-shaped rear light bar that extends beyond the back doors to wrap around the D pillars to emphasise the vehicle’s width. The look is finished with striking 19-inch alloy wheels.

Up front is the driver’s area with powered seats that can be heated and ventilated, a powered steering wheel and a wealth of technology to explore, including a 14-inch touchscreen with navigation, voice assistant, full smartphone connectivity, a pitch perfect 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and lots more besides.

But it’s the rear passengers that are the main focal point here and they are treated to luxury that is based on the world of first-class air travel. The two individual seats are like armchairs and, as well as power-adjustment, heating and ventilation they also have an air pocket lumbar support system with four settings The heating extends to the ottomans and armrests too and there are seven different massage functions. These seats can be fully reclined if required.

A hatch separates occupants from the driver’s area and this can be closed and frosted for added privacy at the touch of a button. In addition, there is a 48-inch ultra-widescreen monitor with three viewing modes, full screen, cinema and separate left and right screens to view different content. 

Two detachable smartphone-like tablets offer each passenger full control over the seats, audio, window blinds, heating and much more besides. And, of course, there is a fridge to store your favourite tipple of choice.

In addition, the LM is also the world’s first model to provide a voice recognition system that responds specifically to commands from rear seat passengers

It has to be said; we have experienced some true luxury in cars over the years, but the Lexus LM takes passenger comfort to a whole new level.

Powering the Lexus LM is a four-cylinder, 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors delivering a combined 247bhp and 239Nm of torque. This results in a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.7 seconds (9.1 for the front-wheel drive model) and a top speed of 118mph.

Lexus will openly admit this self-charging hybrid model has been tuned for comfort rather than speed, but it’s still no slouch and is also deceptively agile for its size. It eats up motorway miles for fun, is beautifully balanced and confident when travelling down winding country lanes and offers impressive agility in busier town centres too where the vehicle switches into EV mode whenever possible.

There are drive modes called Normal, Eco, Sport and Custom that alter the throttle reactions along with engine and transmission timings, steering and suspension settings depending on the mode selected, but be warned, drive with too much throttle pressure and the CVT transmission does put in a protest.

We would normally be concentrating fully on the driving experience up front, but as this vehicle is so focused on the passengers, we will take a look at that too. Despite its van-like styling the LM is actually built on the same GA-K platform as the Lexus NX and RX SUVs which means it maintains a low centre of gravity and that translates into less roll for any passengers onboard.

Complete peace and quiet was a priority when designing the latest LM and in order to achieve this, engineers studied all the noise-producing elements and subsequently measures were taken to minimize those sounds at source. With Active Noise Control reverse-phase sound waves that are transmitted through the speakers, along with five-layer headlining, the result is a beautifully refined cabin with seemingly silent running and next-to-no sound infiltration.

Few vehicles have the road presence of the Lexus LM which could probably be spotted from outer space if an astronaut has 20/20 vision! It’s big, bold and very brave with van-like dimensions and an asking price that exceeds £110k at the top of the range.

But those huge dimensions – it stretches 5,125mm in length, is 1,890mm wide and 1,940mm tall – all serve a very practical purpose. That’s because the LM offers levels of comfort that are akin to a luxury limousine but with the space of a multi-purpose vehicle.

Anyone opting for the seven-seat model, which is likely to be seen at private airfields or outside five-star hotels, gets three rows of seats, but we tested the high-end LM Takuma model with two large, multi-functional back seats that offer the same comfort levels as a favourite armchair and more.

Sit in one of these seats and only someone of Harlem Globetrotter  proportions will be able to stretch out and touch the front seats. And, as mentioned earlier, they feature all manner of power adjustment with heating, cooling and massage functions thrown in for good measure.

Storage options both front and back are impressive with a giant central cubby bin, glovebox, sunglasses holders, deep door binds, plenty of cup holders throughout and here are trays in the outer rear armrests making it easy to work away on a laptop on the move. 

The boot area is accessed via a powered tailgate with buttons near the rear lights used to open it. This tailgate is huge so needs plenty of space behind to open properly and there is room to store 752 litres of luggage behind the seats, which is less than the seven-seater which can accommodate between 110 and 1,191 litres depending how many seats are upright.

The Lexus LM is priced from £89,995 for the front-wheel drive model, increasing to £92,995 for the all-wheel drive version and finally £112,995 for LM 350h Takuma AWD, as tested.

When it comes to the day-to-day running costs, under official WLTP-testing, the vehicle can deliver a combined 39.2mpg with carbon emissions of 163g/km. 

The relatively high CO2 figure has a knock-on effect for owners with a first-year road tax bill of £645 dropping to the standard fee for hybrids of £170 after 12 months. In addition, it will hit business buyers hard with a Benefit in Kind rating of 37 per cent due to the high carbon emissions figure. 

And there are more costs to factor in. Because the car has a list price exceeding £40,000 it falls victim to the government’s premium car tax which results in an added charge of £390 for five years starting from year two.

While Lexus has an excellent reputation for developing reliable vehicles, the car comes with a standard three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that be extended free of charge to 10 years or 100,000 miles provided the car is serviced regularly at an authorised Lexus workshop. And the warranty policy is also transferable which is handy if the model is sold on.

The LM is certainly quite a surprise arrival but its instant appeal and popularity has astounded everybody, including Lexus bosses in fairness.

Despite only really being a practical and viable option for such a small minority of buyers and being offered with a steep price-tag, it does boast plenty of individual charm.

But if you really want to know what all the fuss is about, then simply open those rear doors and take a peek inside. Then you’ll understand.