Lexus LM

Upon entering the Lexus LM 350h, you are greeted by an ultra-luxurious cabin filled with premium creature comforts and cutting-edge technology. Its cabin offers plenty of room for you and your passengers, while its seats offer outstanding comfort and ergonomics. Both trims come with ventilated and heated front and second-row seats. Their second-row seats are also equipped with a massage function and power ottomans for elevated comfort. Additionally, this MPV features Lexus’ E-Latch system for easier ingress and egress.

Aside from that, the 4-seater trim offers a 48-inch rear entertainment screen with a privacy function and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a heater. Meanwhile, owners of the 7-seater trim get a wood-and-leather steering wheel. Both trims, however, are equipped with a 12.3-inch full graphic meter (i.e., digital driver display). For convenience, this luxury MPV comes with multiple USB ports, front and second-row cupholders, an HDMI outlet (for the 7-seater trim only) on the center console, as well as a Lexus Rear Climate Concierge. 

Meanwhile, all passengers can enjoy a 14-inch full-HD EMV (Electro Multi-Vision) wide touchscreen infotainment display that has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dynamic voice recognition, and is linked to a Mark Levinson 3D Surround Sound System (4-seater: 23 speakers, 7-seater: 21 speakers). Rear occupants inside the 7-seater trim can also achieve a personalized entertainment experience, thanks to the variant's 14-inch ceiling-mounted display. Overall, the LM 350h’s cabin is very well-rounded, offering a mix of premium comfort, modern functionality, and practicality.

In terms of styling, the Lexus LM 350h looks more modern than ever before, featuring an updated spindle grille with honeycomb-like inserts. A sleek chrome panel connects its 3-eye LED automatic headlamps with curved LED daytime running lights. Additionally, its smooth hood is adorned with the Lexus emblem.

Meanwhile, its MPV frame is very noticeable from the side. The LM 350h runs on an elegant-looking set of 19-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels. It is also fitted with LED cornering lamps, which ensure increased visibility at all times. Aside from that, it comes with door mirrors equipped with LED turn signals and a memory function, as well as power sliding doors for enhanced driver and passenger convenience.

Moreover, it flaunts Lexus’ “three-dimensional flow” design language at the rear. Its modern, elegant rear end is enhanced by an L-shaped light bar lamp, giving it a distinctive, futuristic appeal at night. It is also fitted with a pair of LED rear fog lamps. And, for more convenient loading and unloading of cargo, this MPV comes with a power tailgate with an automatic stop position and memory functions.

In terms of dimensions, the Lexus LM 350h model line measures 5,125 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, and 1,930 mm in height. This luxury MPV also has a wheelbase of 3,000 mm.

The Lexus LM 350h model line is equipped with a MacPherson Strut suspension at the front and a Double Wishbone with coil springs, swing valve shock absorbers, and a stabilizer bar at the rear. This luxury MPV delivers a supple ride on the highway while remaining composed over a variety of road conditions around Metro Manila. However, its weight can be felt at high speeds, especially when you are hitting sharp turns or corners. But, to be fair, the LM 350h is designed as a plush and premium people-mover and is not a sporty, performance-oriented vehicle in any way.

The Lexus LM 350h is powered by the brand’s hybrid technology that combines a 2.5L in-line 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine with Dual VVT-i, which delivers 140 kW (188 hp) of maximum power and 243 Nm of maximum torque, with a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors, generating a total system power output of 247 hp. The front motor produces 134 kW of power and 270 Nm of torque, while the rear motor generates 40 kW and 121 Nm. This luxury MPV comes mated to a continuously variable transmission system and utilizes an all-wheel drivetrain.

Additionally, it is also equipped with five drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Rear Comfort, and Custom. This luxury MPV delivers a smooth and refined cruising experience both in the city and on the highway. At high speeds, its cabin remains calm and quiet, thanks to its high-quality sound insulation system. Most importantly, it boasts outstanding efficiency for its size, making it ideal for long-distance trips out of town.

Like many of the modern Lexus models, the LM 350h is equipped with the brand’s Safety System (3.0 version). Its comprehensive ADAS suite includes an adaptive high-beam system, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beam, a pre-collision system, road-sign assist, a blind spot monitoring system, and dynamic radar cruise control. This luxury MPV also comes with a panoramic view monitor, a parking assist monitor, as well as Lexus’ Teammate Advanced Park and Parking Assist Sensor.

In addition, this MPV utilizes ventilated discs for both front and rear braking. Its braking setup is supported by an anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, a brake assist system, a traction control system, vehicle stability control, vehicle braking posture control, and hill-start assist control.

In my opinion, the Lexus LM 350h is still one of the most complete luxury MPVs in the local market. It excels in nearly every aspect, making each trip more comfortable, entertaining, and worry-free.