Minivans are mounting a comeback, but it’s business folk, not baby-juggling families pushing for their return. Lexus threw its hat into the luxury people-mover arena earlier this year with the launch of the 2024 LM and the UK division reported strong interest as it revealed the hefty price tag for the LM in the UK.
The three-tier lineup starts at £89,995 for the basic LM 350h, though the word ‘basic’ definitely undersells it. The seven-seat interior features power-adjustable front and middle-row seats with semi-aniline leather and Ultrasuede upholstery, a pair of fixed sunroofs, dual-zone climate, and power sunshades.
While rear passengers get to play with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson 3D Surround Sound audio and a 14-inch monitor that drops from the ceiling, the driver can enjoy a heated wheel, Panoramic View Monitor, head-up display, and Intelligent Park Assist with smartphone-operated remote parking function.
Under the hood is the same 247 hp (250 PS) 2.5-liter hybrid drivetrain fitted to the NX 350h and RX 350h, and driving the front wheels, though for £92,995 you can bring the rear wheels into the party. The top-spec £112,995 LM 350h Takumi (that’s £6,610 more than an LC Convertible) gets the all-wheel drive system as standard though no extra power, but is marked out by a completely different interior that would look more at home in a Maybach than an MPV.
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Instead of the base LM’s five rear seats, the Takumi only has two, each of which can be fully reclined to the horizontal position and offers seven different massage programs. There are folding tables housed in the armrest of each chair, wireless charging pads, and a more sophisticated climate control system, but by far the biggest draw is the huge 48-inch widescreen monitor that separates the driver from his rear passengers. The monitor can be configured to show one large image or can work as two distinct screens with each of the rear passengers able to enjoy their own content via individual headset.
We look forward to these Lexus luxo-vans hitting the used market a few years down the line when they’ll make great family wheels. Because even if the massive TV doesn’t shut your whingy kids up, the fixed front-rear divider means you at least won’t be able to hear them.
