UK Drive: The Lexus LM offers first-class levels of luxury

The term ‘minivan’ is a term rarely used in the new car market, and that’s largely due to the rising popularity of crossovers and SUVs. Lexus, however, thinks differently and has decided to offer a minivan that is like no other.

Introducing the Lexus LM. The acronym stands for ‘ Luxury Mover’ and that is exactly what it is – a vehicle that aims to exceed the highest levels of luxury while transporting people in comfort, refinement and endless class. So, does it have a market? We’ve been finding out.

The LM essentially is based on two cars that are not offered over here – Toyota’s Alphard and Vellfire. But whereas both those models focus on comfort with practicality – this Lexus is all about first-class levels of luxury.

The LM comes with the option of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive as well as two trim levels and bucketloads of technology that make this vehicle a unique proposition.

Here in the UK, the LM is only available with one engine which combines a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor.

It utilises an E-CVT gearbox to maximise its efficiency and Lexus claims this powertrain can achieve up to 39.2mpg.

Our test car comes with all-wheel-drive for added traction, but the cheaper models in the range get front-wheel-drive instead. A power output of 247bhp and 239Nm of torque mean the LM can get from 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 118mph.

Don’t go expecting this 2.3-tonne minivan to handle or excite you in a way that a hot-hatch might but this doesn’t mean the LM isn’t enjoyable to drive, because it is. The suspension is incredibly soft making every trip sumptuously comfortable and the double-glazed windows mean that the cabin is almost silent from any outside noise – making this the ideal vehicle for those long trips.

The steering isn’t very quick and there is a delayed response while the vehicle’s sheer size means navigating tighter spaces takes effort. But, the turning circle at 11.6m isn’t too bad at all and ‘EV mode’ allows the vehicle to run on electric power of speeds up to 20mph – ideal for city driving.

Put your foot down, and the 2.5-litre petrol engine roars into life with the E-CVT transmission screaming its way up the rev band making the whole car sound rather strangled.

Front visibility is fantastic, due to the thin A-pillars and massive windscreen, but rear and side visibility are poor due to the massive B-pillar obstruction. It makes pulling out of side-turnings a real chore. Our test car’s glass divider between the front and rear seats makes things worse when looking out the back, too.

The LM looks like nothing else out on the road and that’s because it is, essentially, a posh van.

It shares a lot of its body styling with the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire with its very tall and narrow body along with a very flat side profile. At the front, the bulbous and chrome-dotted Lexus grille is prominent and the 19-inch alloy wheels are finished off in dark anthracite.

At the back, the bold image continues with a large rear light bar swarming the boot lid, along with brand-specific lettering on the tailgate along with lots of chrome detailing around the door frames and lower body.

It may have a marmite look, but that’s what makes the LM so appealing as it has its own unique character and identity.

This is where the LM really starts to fall into a class of its own. Up in the front, it’s all typical Lexus that oozes quality with pale wood trim and soft leather upholstery. All the buttons are easy to access and the 14-inch infotainment screen is slick and simple to navigate.

But it’s in the back where things really start to change. If you go for the four-seat configuration as our test car has, you get two large reclining chairs that are not only heated and cooled but have a massaging function, too. They can be controlled via the two portable tablet screens located in between the seats to control various functions.

There are electronic sunblinds, roof shades, ambient lighting, a fridge, endless cubby holes, stow-away picnic tables on either side and a glass divider between the rear passengers and the driver – which can even be made opaque.

But, the best thing is a 48-inch TV screen where you can hook up your phone to watch a film or YouTube. However, the system only works with Android Auto and not Apple CarPlay which is odd.

Space is cavernous. There’s no need to worry about head and legroom with the LM as you can easily fit another row of chairs in front of you with the amount of legroom you have on offer

Boot space also is very commodious standing at 752 litres or 1,191 litres in a seven-seater guise, while the very low boot lip makes loading heavier items a breeze.

Lexus tends to offer a confusing array of different trim levels. Thankfully, the LM is only offered in two flavours – the standard car, or the flagship Takumi.

Prices come in at a rather steep £90,030 for the standard LM 350H with front-wheel-drive. But, we’re driving the all-singing and all-dancing Takumi with the four-seat configuration and all-wheel-drive with a £113,030 price tag.

When you see what you get for your money, it sounds like good value with our car kitted out with those fantastic rear armchairs and a seven-way massaging function, a 23-speaker premium Mark Levinson audio system, 48-inch ultrawide rear entertainment system and screen, a fridge, two picnic tables, two glass sunroofs, electric sun blinds, soft closing doors and the glass divider that separates the front seats from the rear passengers which you can turn opaque if you want more privacy.

The LM is a rather special and unique vehicle. It comes with amazing levels of technology, alongside comfort, class and a premium finish.

If you can afford it, the four-seat configuration with the 48-inch TV screen is the one to go for as it offers a passenger experience like no other vehicle on the market. If you’re a VIP or want to be driven in a car that screams exclusivity, then look no further than the Lexus LM.