The Australian motoring panorama is at a turning level, with EV’s main the cost (because it had been), however we’re additionally seeing new varieties of historically powered autos enter the market. That features the 2024 Lexus LM 350 Sports activities Luxurious AWD.
It represents a novel tackle a passenger van, encompassing the luxuries of a bespoke flagship automobile, within the body of a individuals mover. It’s not like anything on Australian roads, and that begins with the aesthetics.
Let’s get to the elephant within the room straight away, within the type of that huge signature Lexus spindle grille up entrance. It extends proper right down to the bottom, casting a droid-like visible that you just gained’t miss, nor mistake for anything.
It’s a real illustration of Lexus’ design language, tailored to what’s a really giant frontal floor space. The svelte traces throughout the edges comply with an upward trajectory, adorning what would in any other case be a slab-sided van with form and character.
That’s accentuated by our instance’s Titanium end, one among 4 hues to select from. The big rear door opens upward utilizing buttons on the trailing fringe of the rear facet home windows (or your distant, or driver console), permitting entry to the baggage compartment.
There may be peculiar class concerning the general design of the LM, however apart from aesthetic outcomes, there’s a lot thought put into the engineering of sheet metallic and panels to make sure low drag coefficient and noise suppression.
First impressions of the baggage area had been a bit underwhelming, and with the third row up, you’re left with a miniscule 110-litres of area. Fortunately, with the seats folded in opposition to the partitions, the cargo area extends to a cavernous 1,200-litres.
This relegates the automobile to a 4-seat proposition, which can or will not be a problem. The storage subject dissipates as soon as the electrical sliding doorways open to disclose two superbly crafted airline-specification chairs within the center row.
These are the centrepiece of the LM in so some ways, by no means thoughts the very fact they’re essentially the most comfy seats in the home. Ingress and egress is aided by an electrical step that presents itself because the sliding doorways open.
When mixed with a excessive roof, planting one’s posterior into these divinely comfortable, semi-aniline leather-based and suede lined armchairs is supremely simple. A go searching reveals Sumi Ink-coloured open-pore Walnut trims that reach to the overhead console.
It actually is an opulent area with a large acoustic glasshouse, together with panels within the roof to permit gentle in, with the choice of blinds all-round for privateness. Every chair has its personal cell phone-like pill to regulate numerous capabilities too.
From the six factors of electrical adjustability within the seats themselves, the 14-inch LED display that folds down from the roof, particular person local weather controls and even ambient lighting, the whole lot is at your fingertips.
The seat coverings, together with virtually each comfortable floor within the inside, are designed with acoustic administration in thoughts. It’s protected to say the cabin is extremely effectively insulated and splendidly quiet, even at freeway pace.
These lovely chairs home a stowable desk, USB-C and wi-fi charging for units, together with useful storage for the whole lot from cups to luggage. On the contact of a button, they will fold virtually fully flat, together with a footrest that extends from the bottom.
As soon as on this wonderous place, there are numerous therapeutic massage applications obtainable to maintain one relaxed and pampered whereas commuting. The inner heating and cooling capabilities of the seats are related to the Lexus’ Local weather Concierge.
Which means the temperature of the person within the seat is measured to offer both cooling or heating to enrich the air temperature chosen in every of the 4 particular person zones all through the automobile.
Regardless of the apparent give attention to the second row, entrance row occupants aren’t a poor relative. The seats are comfortable and comfy, offering eight factors of electrical adjustability for the motive force and 4, for the passenger.
The large doorways and aperture permits entry that’s simply as simple because the second row, and climbing aboard reveals the identical open pore timber throughout the dashboard, with a 14-inch HD multi-vision extensive show LED display taking delight of place atop the centre stack.
The driving force takes maintain of a well-known Lexus steering wheel, with wise buttons which are simple to interpret and use. Regardless of many capabilities being screen-driven, the interface is straightforward to function, even when fishing by way of a number of sub-menus for issues like therapeutic massage capabilities.
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto are paired with an excellent 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system that’s a delight to the senses, offering good aural element and depth.
Lexus’ energetic noise management makes use of those self same audio system to emit reverse-phase frequencies, cancelling out undesirable inside and exterior noises, all through the cabin. Entrance row occupants have a spread of USB-C ports and a wi-fi charger to maintain units topped up.
On the highway, we had been stunned by the best way the all-wheel drive automobile drove and rode throughout an 800km return journey to the nation’s capital, by way of the Kangaroo Valley. It’s powered by a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, with assist from electrical motors on the rear axle.
These present fast drive when wanted and assist ship 184kW of energy and 293Nm of torque, with the hybrid mixture linked to a CVT transmission. It’s all very clean and quiet, offering common gasoline consumption of 9.5-litres/100km.
Lexus claims 5.6-litres/100Km, making for a barely disappointing distinction, particularly given most of our time was on the open highway. Regardless of our preliminary trepidation on the combo, we had been pleasantly stunned at tractability and refinement of the acquainted drivetrain.
Regardless of this author’s disdain for CVT gearboxes, it’s the proper possibility right here when contemplate this automobile’s give attention to passenger consolation. There are 5 drive modes too, together with Rear Consolation Mode.
This feature co-ordinates the adaptive variable suspension, electrical energy steering and braking to minimise disruption to the fortunate rear seat passengers. Whatever the chosen mode although, the LM 350 all the time felt serene, however secure and planted.
It’s not unreasonable to anticipate the complete armament of security gear both, and also you’ll discover six airbags, and the identical wonderful lane hint help and cruise management performance we loved within the LS 500, cross site visitors alert, blind sport monitoring and pre-collision help.
One would assume most gross sales for Lexus’ individuals mover might be high-end transport companies, and that assumption could also be proper, however for these that may afford the $178,542 drive away price ticket, the LM 350 represents luxurious and easy transportation.
Backed by a 5-year limitless kilometre guarantee, yow will discover out extra by visiting the Lexus Australia web site, or by speaking to your native dealership.
Our check automobile was supplied by Lexus Australia for impartial evaluate functions.
