The Australian motoring landscape is at a turning point, with EV’s leading the charge (as it were), but we’re also seeing new types of traditionally powered vehicles enter the market. That includes the 2024 Lexus LM 350h Sports Luxury AWD.
It represents a unique take on a passenger van, encompassing the luxuries of a bespoke flagship vehicle, in the frame of a people mover. It’s unlike anything else on Australian roads, and that starts with the aesthetics.
Let’s get to the elephant in the room right away, in the form of that massive signature Lexus spindle grille up front. It extends right down to the ground, casting a droid-like visual that you simply won’t miss, nor mistake for anything else.
It’s a true representation of Lexus’ design language, adapted to what is a very large frontal surface area. The svelte lines across the sides follow an upward trajectory, adorning what would otherwise be a slab-sided van with shape and character.
That’s accentuated by our example’s Titanium finish, one of four hues to choose from. The large rear door opens upward using buttons on the trailing edge of the rear side windows (or your remote, or driver console), allowing access to the luggage compartment.
There is peculiar elegance about the overall design of the LM, but aside from aesthetic outcomes, there is much thought put into the engineering of sheet metal and panels to ensure low drag coefficient and noise suppression.
First impressions of the luggage space were a little underwhelming, and with the third row up, you’re left with a miniscule 110-litres of space. Thankfully, with the seats folded against the walls, the cargo space extends to a cavernous 1,200-litres.
This relegates the vehicle to a 4-seat proposition, which may or may not be an issue. The storage issue dissipates once the electric sliding doors open to reveal two beautifully crafted airline-specification chairs in the middle row.
These are the centrepiece of the LM in so many ways, never mind the fact they’re the most comfortable seats in the house. Ingress and egress is aided by an electric step that presents itself as the sliding doors open.
When combined with a high roof, planting one’s posterior into those divinely soft, semi-aniline leather and suede covered armchairs is supremely easy. A look around reveals Sumi Ink-coloured open-pore Walnut trims that extend to the overhead console.
It truly is an opulent space with a massive acoustic glasshouse, including panels in the roof to allow light in, with the option of blinds all-round for privacy. Each chair has its own mobile phone-like tablet to control various functions too.
From the six points of electric adjustability in the seats themselves, the 14-inch LED screen that folds down from the roof, individual climate controls and even ambient lighting, everything is at your fingertips.
The seat coverings, along with almost every soft surface in the interior, are designed with acoustic management in mind. It’s safe to say the cabin is incredibly well insulated and wonderfully quiet, even at highway speed.
Those beautiful chairs house a stowable table, USB-C and wireless charging for devices, along with handy storage for everything from cups to bags. At the touch of a button, they can fold almost completely flat, including a footrest that extends from the base.
Once in this wonderous position, there are various massage programs available to keep one relaxed and pampered while commuting. The internal heating and cooling functions of the seats are connected to the Lexus’ Climate Concierge.
That means the temperature of the individual in the seat is measured to provide either cooling or heating to complement the air temperature selected in each of the four individual zones throughout the vehicle.
Despite the obvious focus on the second row, front row occupants aren’t a poor relative. The seats are soft and comfortable, providing eight points of electric adjustability for the driver and four, for the passenger.
The huge doors and aperture allows access that is just as easy as the second row, and climbing aboard reveals the same open pore timber across the dashboard, with a 14-inch HD multi-vision wide display LED screen taking pride of place atop the centre stack.
The driver takes hold of a familiar Lexus steering wheel, with sensible buttons that are easy to interpret and use. Despite many functions being screen-driven, the interface is simple to operate, even when fishing through multiple sub-menus for things like massage functions.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto are paired with a brilliant 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system that’s a delight to the senses, providing brilliant aural detail and depth.
Lexus’ active noise control uses those same speakers to emit reverse-phase frequencies, cancelling out unwanted internal and external noises, throughout the cabin. Front row occupants have a range of USB-C ports and a wireless charger to keep devices topped up.
On the road, we were surprised by the way the all-wheel drive vehicle drove and rode during an 800km return trip to the nation’s capital, via the Kangaroo Valley. It’s powered by a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, with support from electric motors on the rear axle.
These provide immediate drive when needed and help deliver 184kW of power and 293Nm of torque, with the hybrid combination linked to a CVT transmission. It’s all very smooth and quiet, providing average fuel consumption of 9.5-litres/100km.
Lexus claims 5.6-litres/100Km, making for a slightly disappointing difference, especially given most of our time was on the open road. Despite our initial trepidation at the combo, we were pleasantly surprised at tractability and refinement of the familiar drivetrain.
Despite this writer’s disdain for CVT gearboxes, it’s the right option here when consider this vehicle’s focus on passenger comfort. There are five drive modes too, including Rear Comfort Mode.
This option co-ordinates the adaptive variable suspension, electric power steering and braking to minimise disruption to the lucky rear seat passengers. Regardless of the chosen mode though, the LM 350h always felt serene, but stable and planted.
It’s not unreasonable to expect the full armament of safety gear either, and you’ll find six airbags, and the same excellent lane trace assist and cruise control functionality we enjoyed in the LS 500, cross traffic alert, blind sport monitoring and pre-collision assist.
One would assume most sales for Lexus’ people mover will be high-end transport services, and that assumption may be right, but for those that can afford the $178,542 drive away price tag, the LM 350h represents luxurious and effortless transportation.
Backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, you can find out more by visiting the Lexus Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
Our test vehicle was provided by Lexus Australia for independent review purposes.
