Recline in an oasis of relaxation, or have a private business meeting on the go. The four-seater Lexus LM500h checks all the boxes
Here’s our take: you don’t drive the Lexus LM500h, you’re driven.
That’s not a bold statement to make when the entire car–from its build and technical specifications, right down to the suite of user features–seems to be conceptualised, designed and developed with a its focus centred on the two rear passengers.
In fact, Lexus’ LM chief engineer, Takami Yokoo, echoes this exact sentiment: “The inspiration for the development of the new Lexus LM was the increasingly diverse lifestyles of customers in the luxury segment. This is where the development concept was born. Our goal was to provide an environment that would allow busy individuals to relax in mind and body, free from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.”
For someone who’d typically choose to be in the driver’s seat, the idea of a full-day chauffeured LM experience wasn’t particularly exciting. I was intrigued by the idea of a four-seater though, after looking at some images of the LM500h online. “Look, it’s like business class seats but in a car. You have your own screen and remote, and the seat reclines all the way,” I said to my colleague, who had zero interest in anything automotive-related and was understandably mildly annoyed by the disruption.
As it turns out, I was wrong about it resembling business class. I haven’t been in a first class suite (yet), but I imagine it to be exactly like the LM500h experience.
If you’ve seen or been in a Toyota Vellfire or Alphard, the outlook of the Lexus is somewhat similar–long, boxy body, looks like a van, automatic sliding doors–except it exudes a sense of prestige that its Toyota cousins don’t. The first thing you’ll notice about its interior isn’t the two passenger seats, nor the 48-inch screen that it faces. It was the vast airiness that, combined with sleek clean lines all around (even the windows were straight-edged and squared), amplified an air of opulence and unparalleled luxury.
As I climbed aboard, I’m struck by the realisation that it doesn’t feel empty, like I imagined it to after removing an entire row of seats. On the side of the hefty passenger seats, buttons are available to recline seats to the exact angle one desires to enjoy the in-built massage functions. Upward-flipping ottomans automatically activate upon reclining to support your calves. A host of storage solutions surround the seats, with multiple power sockets built into the console, plus a stowaway flip-up tray table stored in the side armrest. Did we already mention that there’s a small chiller?
While integrated rather seamlessly, aside from the two digital touchpads detachable from the centre console for personalised seat and temperature settings, there is a noticeable amount of buttons on the consoles and above one’s head. These buttons power the seats, doors, window shades, sunshade, and the window on the vertical wall that separates the passengers’ space from the front cabin.
The retractable window, allowing for ease of communication between passengers and the driver, turns frosted at the touch of a button for maximum privacy in the hind quarters. And as it turns out, Lexus was heavy-handed with the sound insulation with this second-generation luxury MPV, following up on feedback on its first-gen.
Beneath that window is where the huge 48-inch screen is nested–passengers can choose a personalised split screen or combine it. Not forgetting audio technics, an impressive 23-speaker sound system crafted by Mark Levinson is available as standard.
This iteration of the LM has a 2.4-litre hybrid drivetrain and a six-speed automatic transmission. Yes, Lexus has replaced the first generation’s continuous variable transmission (CVT) in this variation, taking into account clients’ previous gripes regarding the CVT drone in the LM500h’s predecessor. And granted, the vehicle is hefty, but it still is capable of 366 bhp with 460 Nm of torque, making a zero to 100 km/h timing of 6.9 seconds. Not that it matters much anyway, this Lexus isn’t the sort of vehicle where such numbers matter.
But don’t just take my word for it. Experience what first-class suites on four wheels is like for yourself. Viewing of the car is currently available in the Lexus VIP Preview Lounge at the Lexus Boutique on Leng Kee.
