Lexus LM Review 2025

The large Japanese manufacturers have always had an excellent sideline in producing very niche and exceptionally mad vehicles, but for more sensible markets like the UK these weird and wacky products normally don’t make it on the boat. As far as Lexus is concerned this has changed with the arrival of the Lexus LM.

The Lexus LM (Luxury Mover in Lexus speak) is based on the Toyota Alphard anddesigned with one purpose in mind - moving people in extreme comfort and luxury.

It is the closest thing you’ll see in the UK market to a luxury MPV. And while the base version is a seven-seat people carrier, the top-spec Lexus LM Takumi is the real deal. Instead of a rear bench it has two captain’s chairs to make it a four-seater while adding luxuries like a 48-inch video screen, seat massage function and even a fridge.

It’s also something of an eye-catcher. The Toyota Alphard is no wallflower, but the LM has possibly the largest front grille Lexus has ever made giving it presence by the bucketload. Which might be what you’re aiming for if you plan to step out of the back seat onto a red carpet.

While it is a little more conservative on the inside, that’s only in terms of taste. In here you’ll find acres of leather, wood trim and gold detailing. All designed to make you feel more special than you already are.

Underneath the Lexus LM is a bit more sensible. There is just a single engine option - a 250PS 2.5-litre petrol hybrid with a CVT transmission, just as you would find in the Lexus RX or Toyota RAV4

There is the option of four-wheel-drive (standard on the posh Takumi model). It also has a clever suspension feature in the form of Rear Comfort mode, which softens the suspension at the front only, in order to give those in the back a better ride.

Perhaps it is obvious that the Lexus LM’s driving experience is therefore focussed on smoothness and comfort rather than fun.

With the ability to drive in pure electric mode in the right conditions it can waft along with impressive ease and a good deal of silence. However, should you need brisk acceleration the CVT gearbox will hold the petrol engine at high revs. Considering it weighs over two tonnes you'll find you need to do this often, especially out of town.

However, it’s important to recognise that a car as specialised as this will appear on very few shopping lists, particularly as you’ll need £95,000 even for the base model. But for those who need a car this large, this spacious and this luxurious, there are very few alternatives that even get close.

Given that the Lexus LM is designed to carry passengers in great comfort it should come as no surprise to find that it has been set up with ride quality in mind rather than scintillating handling.

It's fitted with a sophisticated suspension set-up - Lexus calls it Adaptive Variable Suspension - which means the dampers can adjust to the road in order to keep bodyroll in check and smooth out the ride.

On top of that there's also Rear Comfort mode which gives priority to those in the rear by softening the front suspension slightly to keep the rear more stable.

The result is a car which does offer an impressive level of ride comfort, particularly in the rear where the exceptionally comfortable seats play their part. It’s not Rolls Royce levels of comfort but it's not far off. Either way, your cossetted passengers are unlikely to be disturbed.

As for handling, this is a heavy and tall vehicle so there is inevitably some bodyroll. The steering is light and offers little feel as you'd expect. But there is still plenty of grip from the front tyres and it does not feel unsophisticated. It is hardly a car to press at speed through bends, but it feels composed and reassuring. It's just happier at a more sedate pace...

There's just one model in the line up, the LM 350h. This is powered by a 2.5-litre four cylinder petrol hybrid delivering 250PS and 239Nm of torque.

This comes with a CVT automatic with the option of front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive on the standard LM models. The Takumi gets four-wheel-drive as standard. Performance is best described as 'adequate'. Front-wheel-drive models reach 62mph in 9.1 seconds, while four-wheel-drive models are a little quicker at 8.7 seconds.

One benefit of the hybrid engine is that at reasonable speeds, the ability to run on electric power only helps to make for a quiet and smooth driving experience.

The downside is that given the car’s weight you frequently need to accelerate hard in order to make decent progress. But the CVT gearbox means the engine revs high and stays there while accelerating. This can be frustrating for the driver, but is at least less noticeable from the rear seats.

Ultimately the lack of engine options and that sole choice is excessively vocal when pushed means it is somewhat disappointing as a luxury car for the driver. Those in the back are unlikely to mind though.

Euro NCAP has not safety tested the Lexus LM nor the related Toyota Alphard, but all versions have a generous amount of safety equipment as standard. Active cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Braking, Road Sign Assist and Lane Change Assist are just some of the standard features.

Lexus states that the towing capacity for all versions of the LM is zero, regardless of whether the load is braked or unbraked. No caravans here...

There are different seating layouts available and both versions are spacious as you'd expect, just in slightly different ways.

Seven-seat Lexus LM models have a pair of captain’s chairs in the middle which can slide forward and back, so legroom is generous enough to be completely reclined. The third row is a little less roomy, but still comfortable for adults, although the design of the bench is best suited to two rather than three passengers.

Boot space is also more generous in the seven-seat version, with 1191 litres.

The posher four-seat Lexus LM gives priority to the rear occupants. The two seats are fixed further back to give even more legroom to the point where they can be reclined to near horizontal levels. That also means less boot space at 752 litres.

Given the price tag, it is not unreasonable to expect a high degree of luxury, but the Lexus LM is so impressive in this respect that it is competitive with rivals costing even more.

Almost every surface is either covered in attractive leather or expensive wood, and with subtle (and adjustable) lighting alongside sober but tasteful colour schemes, it is a delightful cabin.

Better still the Lexus reputation for strong build quality is clear too, with a solid feeling to all of the controls, tight shutlines and good paint quality which adds to the luxury factor.

The standard infotainment provision is high, regardless of which model you choose, but there are some differences between the two.

All versions get a 14-inch central touchscreen with navigation, Bluetooth, DAB and wireless smartphone integration as well as the HDMI input.

Seven-seat versions have a 14-inch touchscreen in the rear, while the four-seater has a vast 48-inch display and two HDMI inputs. There is a dedicated tablet for each seat to control it, along with other functions like climate and seating position.

There’s a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system in seven seaters and a 23-speaker version for the four-seater. Both sound incredible to us.

Operating the driver’s touchscreen is easy, with clear graphics, logical menus and good response times. In the rear, the small tablets are equally easy to use and add to the luxury feel by letting those in the back to control their environment.

The huge 48-inch display screen is a real plus, allowing passengers to work as well as relax, although it does require you to connect your own device rather than using the system itself to access content.

Prices start at £94,595 for the seven-seat Lexus LM with two-wheel-drive, with the same specification and four-wheel-drive costing £97,595.

The top-specification Lexus LM Takumi with four seats is £119,595. The options list is also very limited, extending to just a choice of wheel design and interior colours - at no extra cost.

This compares to £77,040 for the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and £92,205 for the Mercedes-Benz EQV, but is cheaper than the Range Rover HSE seven-seater at £120,055 and on a par with the BMW X7 at £94,255.

As for secondhand cars, we found several examples with low or even delivery mileage for under £90,000, representing a reasonable, if not massive, saving over the list price.

A positive aspect of the hybrid engine is that, for a car of this size and weight, fuel economy is reasonable. Official figures claim 42.1mpg for two-wheel-drive models and 39.2mpg for four-wheel-drive versions, which should translate to 30mpg or more in the real world.

Other costs are likely to be high however, with insurance groupings likely to be close to 50. Expect to pay the premium rate of VED until year six also. On the plus side, Lexus servicing is reasonably priced and dealers have a well earned reputation as some of the best in the business. Lexus, like Toyota, also has a strong reliability record, coming top of most reliabilty surveys including the Honest John Satisfaction Index.

Standard Lexus LM modes feature:

• LED headlights
• Acoustic glass
• Front and rear park assist
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive Variable Suspension
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Front Cross Traffic Alert
• Intersection Turn Assist
• Lane Tracing Assist
• 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation
• Bluetooth
• DAB and wireless phone connectivity
• 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio
• 14-inch rear infotainment screen
• Active Noise Control
• Leather upholstery
• Rear captain seats with massage and heating
• Heated front seats with electric adjustment
• Ambient lighting
• Climate control

The Lexus LM Takumi adds:

• Fully reclining captain chairs
• Rear fridge
• Rear wireless charging
• Cabin divider screen
• Heated steering wheel
• Stowable rear table
• Heated and ventilated front and rear seats
• Rear massage seats
• 23-speaker Mark Levinson audio
• Rear 48-inch infotainment display