Overview

ONCE seen, never forgotten is the best way to describe the $168,520 + ORC Lexus LM 350h AWD Sports Luxury tested here mainly because of its cowcatcher-size “spindle” grille which surely must rate as the biggest in people-mover-land although LDV’s similar-looking Mifa is a serious challenger for the title.

From behind the ‘wheel, you can watch on-lookers reaction in the street and see them pointing, mouthing “look at the front” which may have a degree of appeal to some.

Upon scrutinising the new car price guide the vehicle appears not to have any direct competitors suffice to say a Kia Carnival hybrid large people mover is $56,100 + ORC and a Benz V-Class Exclusive is $143,193 + ORC, with an LDV Mifa pitched at $46,971 driveaway.

But the hybrid-powered Lexus takes opulence to the next level offering executive jet class comfort and features to its seven passengers as well as legendary Lexus build quality, the latest safety equipment and in this case, the advantages of all-wheel-drive.

If you look beyond the rather ridiculous face of the big, seven-seat LM 350h it is a one box design that is perhaps a touch slab-sided capped off by a stylish rear end with a splash of tapering LEDs across the tailgate.

It rolls on big 19-inch alloys tucked away under tight fitting guards and there’s plenty of chintzy chrome trim that circumnavigates the LM 350h body three times - at the top, in the middle and around the base, dark tinted side windows adding to the model’s mystique.

The steeply sloping windscreen imparts a chiselled look to the front matched inside by one of the deepest dashboards in the business.

The rather understated dash contains a large 14.0-inch centre-mounted info-screen with a 12.3-inch digital driver’s console to the right fronted by a chunky multi-function steering wheel.

Audio is via a 21 speaker Mark Levinson hi-fi unit while fascia material is a wood finish layered in a herringbone style with copper coloured edging and metallic panels in the same colour all contrasting the test vehicle's gorgeous cream/white leather upholstery.

The front doors have robust plastic protectors on the bottom and are enormous, opening almost down to pavement level complemented by a pair of large electrically operated side sliders with auto deploy side steps and a big electrically operated tailgate.

Seating is arranged 2-2-3 with the middle row equipped with supple L-aniline leather-accented captain's chairs featuring ottomans, folding tables, recline and massage function, heating and ventilation with heated armrests all of which are controlled through individual removable smartphone-like controllers.

Mounted mid-roof in its own wood trimmed console is a fold down entertainment screen also accessed via the two middle row smartphone-like controllers.

Hybrid motive power comes from a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol four cylinder with permanent magnet synchronous motors on each axle for e-Four AWD. Fuel consumption is a claimed 5.5 litres per 100km (NEDC) combined.

The test vehicle was equipped with a comprehensive array of the latest active and passive, primary and secondary safety equipment in conjunction with extensive ADAS.

Driving Impressions

It’s like being in a limo, even better if you’re in the middle row, not so much down the back which isn’t as spacious or as easy to access.

The front compartment is a good space even for the driver which will likely be a chauffeur in many cases as the LM’s price precludes it from family applications making it more or celeb-mobile or luxury hotel transfer vehicle.  

The last point is problematic as it has little load space behind the third row perhaps enough for one large suitcase and a few soft bags around the edges.

As already mentioned, access to the front and middle rows is easy through large doors while access to the third row is facilitated by the amount of fore/aft seat travel in the middle row.

The test vehicle was equipped with high quality equipment and materials starting with the soft carpet and rolling up through the soft leather upholstery, high-definition screens to the monumental 21-speaker audio system.

Obviously, Lexus doesn’t “cheap out” when it comes to equipping its vehicles, further exemplified in the lustrous mica grey duco on the test vehicle.

It’s “Lexus quiet” most of the time apart from when the petrol engine winds up with a characteristic CVT slur under acceleration but once the required speed is attained, all falls quiet.

Performance from the hybrid powertrain is good but we can’t figure out how Toyota rates its power and torque as a bunch of different figures are quoted for the ICE and individual electric traction motors but no overall power and torque.

We’ll have a stab based on the LM’s weight of 2355kg and how it performs and guestimate it has around 250kW/450Nm from all power sources.

It’s enough to push the big bus along at a decent clip and with brisk off the mark acceleration while sipping 95RON premium petrol from a 60-litre tank at an indicated 7.0 litres per 100km.

Ride quality is surprisingly good for such a big vehicle thanks in part to its well calibrated front MacPherson strut and double wishbone with trailing arm rear set-up. It sails over rough roads without flinching, isolating any errant noises and gives tidy dynamics (to a point) in tighter going aided no doubt by the all-wheel drive on this model.

No issues were experience with the large format disc brakes and the beast steered as well as a smaller sedan or hatchback vehicle with, as already mentioned an impressively small turning radius.

No tow rating is listed which may be an issue for hotel use that often mandates a luggage trailer.

Some ADAS annoyances revealed themselves in particular the driver monitor that incessantly asks if you want to take a break… yeh, give us a break … and the usual lane keeping assist intrusions all accessed through the large and distracting centre screen’s menus.

We weren’t able to round up seven peeps to assess the impact of a full load, but the LM hardly noticed four passengers and a bit of luggage.

We were able to squeeze 800km out of the test vehicle with possibly a little in reserve which makes a Sydney to Melbourne run without refuelling a possibility.

You could put the LM in cruise control and it’s probably achievable if you can stand all the electronic intrusions or better still, tell the chauffeur to take you there and sit in the middle row watching movies sipping champagne…

Now that’s how to travel!