Lexus

LM

The Lexus LM takes luxury passenger journeys to a whole new level with every creature comfort imaginable, including a cinema-like rear screen, first-class seating and even a fridge to store the champers. It’s available with four or seven seats along with front or all-wheel drive.

Test Drive

Lexus LM – First Drive (2024)

The Lexus LM is a van-shaped people mover that takes luxury and passenger comfort to a whole new level – for the right price of course.

UK customers have certainly surprised the Japanese carmaker by oversubscribing for the vehicle that really covers a niche market. With only 50 models available this year, more than 170 people have put in orders.

So, what’s the LM (it stands for Luxury Mover) all about then? Basically, it’s a high-sided vehicle that introduces every luxury imaginable to the mix in order to transport passengers in a style akin to first class airline comfort.

With prices ranging from £89,995 to £112,995, there is a choice of three models which are all powered by the same four-cylinder, 2.5-litre petrol hybrid engine paired with two electric motors and a CVT gearbox.

There are seven seat versions with either front or all-wheel drive, along with a range-topping LM Takumi model that is AWD and has just four seats. This was the car we tested both as a driver and a passenger for that ultimate pampering experience.

First impressions are certainly deceptive when it comes to the LM with its van-like styling and a massive spindle grille that looks quite imposing. There are smart light clusters with a wrap-around light bar at the rear, twin sunroofs and striking 19-inch alloy wheels.

The real magic starts when you start exploring inside though. Up front the driver and front seat passenger are treated to all manner of creature comforts with sumptuous seats that are powered and can be heated or ventilated. The main focal point is a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, full smartphone connectivity, a pitch perfect 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and plenty more besides.

But open the sliding rear doors and it’s like entering the penthouse suite at plush hotel. The twin seats look like high-end armchairs and they offer the same levels of comfort too with power adjustment, heating and cooling functions, lumbar settings plus a massage set-up with seven different programmes. These seats can be fully reclined and the ottomans and armrests can also be heated.

Legroom is excellent and so is the on-board technology with a 48-inch ultra-widescreen monitor with three viewing modes for full screen, cinema and separate left and right screens to watch different content. Each passenger has an individual detachable smartphone-like tablet and these offer full control over the entertainment, seats, audio, window blinds, heating and much more besides.

There is a fridge to store a bottle of bubbly and the LM is also the world’s first model to provide a voice recognition system that responds specifically to commands from rear seat passengers.

But all these considerations would mean nothing if the comfort was spoilt by poor ride and handling. After all, what high-powered exec wants to be finalising a business call or finishing off a million-pound deal on their computer while being thrown around all over the place and troubled by outside noise.

Well, rest assured that won’t happen. Firstly, despite its van-like looks, the LM is built on the same GA-K platform as the Lexus RX and NX SUVs and therefore it boasts a low centre of gravity, which in turn translates into less roll for any passengers onboard. There is innovative active noise control technology along with outstanding insulation and that means barely a sound filters through into the cabin.

And if you want extra privacy the hatch separating passengers from their driver or chauffeur up front, can be closed at the press of a button and even frosted over.

While Lexus is quick to point out that the LM is a car that focuses on passenger comfort rather than dynamic pace, it still handles well when put to the test.

With 247bhp and 239Nm of torque, it can reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.7 seconds (9.1 for the front-wheel drive model), tops out at 118mph and can deliver a combined WLTP-tested 39.2mpg with carbon emissions of 163g/km.

It’s very capable when cruising on motorways and is deceptively well-balanced and confident when faced with more challenging country lanes with lots of twists and turns. The vehicle switches over to EV mode whenever possible to save on fuel and its even quite nimble in busier city centres, although at more than five metres in length, you will need a large parking bay (or two).

The steering is nicely weighted and there are drive modes called Normal, Eco, Sport and Custom that alter the throttle reactions along with transmission timings, steering and suspension settings depending on the mode selected. However, try to drive the LM with aggressive acceleration and the CVT transmission does put in quite a vocal protest.

There are storage compartments galore throughout the car, including pull-out sections each side of the fridge plus tables that fold out from the rear armrests. And the boot can swallow 752 litres of luggage which is less than the seven-seat model that can have seats folded for a capacity of 1,191 litres.

The LM is also packed with the latest Lexus safety technology that will help protect occupants and other road users alike. And it comes with the company’s attractive warranty plan which allows the standard three-year, 60,000-mile policy to be extended free of charge to 10 years or 100,000 miles provided the car is serviced regularly at an authorised Lexus workshop.

All in all, the Lexus LM is quite a car. It looks quite aggressive in its styling, but beneath the covers it is home to every lifestyle luxury imaginable.