Lexus LM500h

One of the Japanese’s highly sought-after models, the super luxurious and posh, Lexus LM, upgraded for the year 2024 and launched in Malaysia.

Alias AW10, underpinned is the GA-K version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform and the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

Fully-imported (CBU - Japan), the second-generation MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is offered in two variants (LM350h 7-seater - MYR 1,228,000, LM500h 4-seater - MYR 1,468,000).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a five-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, and an eight-year, unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty.

Four exterior colours (Graphite Black Gloss Flake, Sonic Titanium, Sonic Quartz, Sonic Agate). Two interior colours (Black, Solis White).

The new Lexus LM gets a tiered and symmetrically-aligned dashboard with premium quality, adopting the Tazuna Concept (linkage - jockey-horse).

Outfitted with soft-/hard-touched panels, it sees two colour options (Solis White, Black), detailed with Yabane Wood ornamentation (Herringbone Wood).

Centre-staged is the floating screen setup (infotainment), and linked to the dash is a flatly-wide-high-rising centre console (armrest).

Overall, the cockpit is well-designed. Every accessibility is purposefully-arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is a 12.3-Inch Colour TFT Multi-Information Display (MID) setup.

Luxurious, the interior sees variant-specific (7-seater - LM350h, 4-seater - LM500h) seating configurations (2-2-3, 2-2).

Draped in Semi-Aniline leather with Ultrasuede trimmings, it sees two colour options (Solis White, Black).

Installed are electronic-powered (multi-way, lumbar, memory, headrests, ventilation, heating) Comfort Seats (first-row, second-row).

Variant LM350h gets a second-row with two single-seaters (captain chairs/business class-style - electronic-powered - full-recline, ottoman, massage, ventilation, heating, two multi-control touchscreen tablets, stowable centre tables), and a third-row with a three-seater bench (electronic-powered - 40:20:40 split-fold).

Variant LM500h gets a rear lounge-seating with two single-seaters (captain chairs/ business class-style - electronic-powered - full-recline, ottoman, massage, ventilation, heating, two touchscreen tablets, stowable centre tables), and a glass panel partition (front/rear separation, die-cast magnesium frame).

Complementing the layout is an independent (left/right) glass roof (electric sunroof - tilt/slide, sunshade), and a multi-theme ambient lighting system (64-colours, 14 themes - ceiling illumination).

Courtesy of its largely-designed body, an executive build, it has generous cabin space, offering ample mobility for front, middle and rear occupants. Plenty of head-, shoulder- and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in leather (LM350h, LM500h) with Bengala Wood finish (LM350h).

Features are multi-switches (Media, Bluetooth, vehicle settings), electronic adjustments (tilt, telescopic), paddle shifters, and memory/heating functions.

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., door/seat back pockets, under-seat storages (rear), partitioned/caverned centre console storages, an accessory box, a cooler box (LM500h), and a glove box.

Multiple cup holders and bottle holders are strategically placed around the cabin.

Provided are seven USB ports, one 12 V power socket, and a wireless charger.

Accessing its powered-tailgate (contactless, key fob, buttons), opens up to 110-/1,191-Litres (rear seats up/rear seats down - LM350h) and 752-Litres (fixed rear seats up - LM500h) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 2,295 KG (LM350h) and 2,475 KG (LM500h), the new Lexus LM stands at 5,125 MM long, 1,890 MM wide, 1,940 MM (LM350h) and 1,955 MM (LM500h) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,000 MM.

An imposing and elegant demeanour with aerodynamically clean-cut contours, it parades Lexus’ Dignified Elegancy’ design language.

The front-end sees a mildly-raised bonnet, smoothly-contoured fenders, and a seamlessly-sculpted bumper with Lexus’ new frameless ‘Spindle Body’ grille (hot-stamp satin-finished Silver inserts).

Accentuating the layout are the Lexus emblem (Chrome), A-pillars (Black), and body trimmings (Silver - upper grille, fog lamp surrounds / Chrome - lower lip, side sills, window surrounds, side mirrors).

Boldly-sleek and commandingly-wide, it furthers the luxury appeal featuring neatly-formed outlines with cascading edges.

The rear-end sees a straight-cut roofline (left/right independent glass roof) with a roof-edge spoiler, smoothly-contoured fenders, a centre-flowing-three-dimensional tailgate, and a seamlessly-sculpted full-panelled bumper (body-colour).

Accentuating the layout are the Lexus script (Chrome), inverted fin-like D-pillars (body-colour), and body trimmings (Chrome - centre tailgate, lower lip, side sills, window surrounds, side mirrors).

Fiercely-framed, the headlamps are angular-looking, projecting a very sharp and focused design. Installed are Tri-beam LED projector units. 

Features are dual-L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), sequential turn signals, automatic On/Off/levelling, Adaptive High-beam System (AHS), LED cornering lamps and welcome lights.

Pronouncedly-housed, the slim and wrapped-around tail lamps are in a full-width L-shaped light bar design. Installed are LED combination units. 

Features are sequential turn signals and welcome lights. Paired to the layout is a high-mounted brake light (spoiler), and a set of LED fog lamps.

The two-tone (body-colour-Black) side mirrors are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), featuring sequential turn signals, memory, heating, reverse-link, auto-dimming and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) indicators.

Fitted is a set of ventilated (front, rear) disc brakes with double-piston-floating (front) and single-piston-floating (rear) callipers. 

Incorporated is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Elegantly-sporty, standard fitment is a set of 19-Inch multi-spoke-mesh Aluminium alloy rims, rubbered-up in 225/55 R19 Michelin Primacy SUV+ tyres (front, rear).

The new Lexus LM features the Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Grouped are Front Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Stop/Go Function and Curve Speed Reduction, Lane Keeping System (LKS), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Adaptive High-beam System (AHS), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Active Cornering Assist (ACA), Vehicle Braking Posture Control (VBPC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Emergency Brake Signal, Secondary Collision Brake (SCB), Smooth Stop Control (SSC), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Camera Detection (RCD), digital interior rear-view mirror, Parking Support Brake (PKSB), Lexus Teammate Advanced Park, and Panoramic View Monitor (360-degree camera). 

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front-sides, front-rear curtain), seat belts (reminders, pretensioners, anchors), ISOFIX, parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, Door Opening Warning (DOW), Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Automatic Rear Flashing Hazard Light (ARFHL), Vehicle Telematics System (VTS), alarm system (anti-theft, immobiliser, and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR - front, rear dashcam).

Four drive modes (Normal, Eco, Sport, Rear Comfort, Custom).

Installed is a 14-Inch centre-mounted-floating touchscreen, supporting online navigation/music/weather, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.

Variant LM350h includes a 14-Inch screen rear seat entertainment (second-row roof mounted) with two multi-control panels (remote control - tablet).

Variant LM500h upgrades to a 48-Inch screen rear seat entertainment (glass partition integrated) with two multi-control panels (remote control - tablet). The system supports HDMI input and split-screen modes.

Entertainment is channelled via a Mark Levinson Reference 3D Surround Sound system, incorporating 21/23 speakers (LM350h/LM500h) and a subwoofer.

Variant LM350h features an Electronically-Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT). 

Variant LM500h features a six-speed Direct Shift with sequential shiftmatic (manual mode) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the front (LM350h) and to all wheels (LM500h), via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Acceleration is done in 9.1 seconds (LM350h) and 6.9 seconds (LM500h). Top speed reaches 190 KM/H (LM350h) and 185 KM/H (LM500h).

Fuel tank capacity is at 60-Litres (LM350h, LM500h), and fuel consumption rates at 5.5 L/100 KM (LM350h) and 6.6 L/100 KM (LM500h).

The new Lexus LM comes with these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Entry System (keyless entry, engine start/stop button, auto Start/Stop system, e-latch doors), power sliding rear doors (Quite Sliding Door - soft closing), illumination system (ambient lighting, map lights, welcome lights), automatic headlamps (On/Off/levelling/high-beam), automatic wipers (intermittent, rain sensing), steering wheel (multi-function, electric column adjustments, paddle shifters, EPS), electronic-power seats (front-rear - captain chairs/business class-style), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (front, rear), rear air-conditioning with dedicated vents and controls (second-row - tablet controls), Nanoe X air-filtration system, rear seat entertainment (rear screen, tablet controls), Dynamic Voice Recognition system (interior cabin control), independent (left/right) glass roof (electric sunroof - tilt/slide, sunshade), wireless charger, multiple interior storages, cooler/accessory box, rear-view mirrors (interior - digital, exterior automatic-dimming), Active Noise Control (ANC), powered-tailgate (contactless, key fob, buttons), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), and parking sensors (six - front, rear).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (front, rear) system, with dedicated rear vents and controls (second-row - tablet controls). Included is the Nanoe X air-filtration system.

Underpinned is the GA-K version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA-K) platform, propped-up by Macpherson Strut with stabiliser (front) and double wishbone with stabiliser (rear) suspensions.

Improving drivability and stability levels, structural adhesives are used, limiting body deformation.

Overall, the ride quality is firm, and the interior is luxuriously spacious and extremely comfortable. 

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is very refined and peaceful, alienated from most of the road noises. Also included is Active Noise Control (ANC).

The new Lexus LM is a great build overall. First, it offers an uber amount of space in the cabin thanks to its very massive and stocky build.

Second, its elegant shell envelopes a premium interior, which range from a myriad of advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Ultimately, its quality is luxurious, bargaining good looks and mechanics. The 2024 Lexus LM is surely an MPV for Malaysians to consider.