Lexus LM Review

In Malaysia's luxury MPV market, consumers are increasingly demanding spatial flexibility and a sense of luxury in configurations. The 2024 Lexus LM Alphard (7-seater LM350h) targets this specific segment. As a model that combines household and business attributes, it is equipped with a 2.5L hybrid system, with key selling points focusing on the practicality of its three-row space, abundant safety configurations, and relatively economical fuel performance. In this test drive, we focused on assessing its power responsiveness in daily driving, three-row seating comfort, and whether its configurations meet multi-scenario usage needs.

From the exterior, the 2024 LM Alphard continues Lexus’s family-style design, with an overall look leaning towards stability. The front features a large spindle-shaped grille with dense horizontal chrome strips inside, complemented by sharp LED headlights on both sides that offer high recognition. The side of the vehicle maintains the typical boxy silhouette of an MPV, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear. The lower part of the doors has a concave design that adds a sense of layering. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a through-type design, with a chrome strip featuring the Lexus logo connecting them in the middle. The chrome decoration under the rear bumper further enhances its refinement. The 19-inch multi-spoke wheels paired with 225/55 R19 tires match the positioning of a luxury MPV.

Stepping inside, the interior adopts dark-colored soft-touch materials, with a minimalist layout on the center console. The 14-inch central control screen is large and supports touch operation, while commonly used physical buttons are retained on the left for convenience during blind operations while driving. The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel provides clear displays and offers different display modes, including hybrid system operating status and fuel consumption information. In terms of features, the front seats support 8-way electric adjustment (driver’s seat) and 4-way electric adjustment (passenger seat). The seat cushioning is relatively soft with moderate wrap-around support. Regarding safety configurations, the entire range comes standard with seven airbags, an L2-level driver assistance system (including ACC adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, active braking, etc.), and a 360-degree panoramic camera with high definition, which is very helpful for novice drivers or parking in narrow spaces.

Space performance is a key advantage of the 7-seater version. The body dimensions are 5125mm×1890mm×1940mm, with a wheelbase of 3000mm, ensuring interior spaciousness. The second row features 40:20:40 split-folding seats, and the middle seat can be folded down for easy access to the third-row seats. A 175cm tall passenger sitting in the second row will have more than two fists of legroom and one and a half fists of headroom. The third-row seats support 50:50 electric folding, and with them folded down, the trunk space expands to 1192L, making it easy to store strollers or suitcases. In terms of storage, the front door storage slots can hold two bottles of water, the central armrest box is moderately sized, the second-row seats have cup holders and small storage compartments on either side, and the third row is equipped with independent air-conditioning vents and USB ports, with thoughtful attention to detail.

In the dynamic driving section, the 2024 LM350h is equipped with a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine and a single-motor hybrid system, providing a combined system output of 186.4kW (253.5PS) paired with an E-CVT transmission. The initial acceleration is driven by the electric motor, offering a quick power response, ensuring that even in a fully loaded state, the start doesn’t feel sluggish. During low to medium-speed acceleration, the engine engages smoothly, with almost no noticeable jerks. At high speeds (above 100km/h), the power output becomes slightly smoother, and overtaking requires pressing harder on the accelerator in advance. There are three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. In Sport mode, the throttle response is more active, but the overall tuning of the power system still leans towards comfort.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel offers a light turning feel, suitable for city driving, with minimal play and decent directional accuracy. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson + rear double-wishbone independent suspension setup, tuned for comfort. When driving over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension absorbs most of the vibrations, ensuring that rear-seat passengers do not feel significant jolts. During cornering, the body roll is kept within a reasonable range, avoiding the typical "big boat sensation" of MPVs. The braking performance is stable, pedal travel is moderate, and the braking feel is linear. In fuel consumption tests, the combined fuel consumption in urban conditions was about 6.2L/100km, while on highways it was about 5.0L/100km, close to the official combined fuel consumption figure of 5.5L/100km, meeting expectations.

As for driving comfort details, interior noise control is quite good. At speeds below 60km/h, tire noise is the primary concern, while wind noise becomes more noticeable above 80km/h, but it does not interfere with normal conversations. The seat padding is soft, and even during prolonged rides (such as a 2-hour highway journey), it remains comfortable without causing fatigue. The hybrid system’s energy regeneration offers three adjustable levels. In the lowest setting, the drag effect is negligible, offering a driving experience close to that of a fuel-powered car. In the highest setting, it provides significant deceleration, reducing the frequency of using the brakes.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2024 Lexus LM Alphard (7-seater LM350h) lie in its practical three-row seating, extensive safety features, and economical hybrid fuel consumption. Compared to models in the same class, such as the Toyota Alphard Hybrid, it has the upper hand in brand luxury and configuration details. When compared with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, although it is pricier, its 7-seat layout and hybrid system are more suitable for family users. In terms of application scenarios, it can meet the needs of daily outings for multi-child families as well as occasional business reception requirements. If you're looking for a luxury 7-seater MPV that balances space, features, and fuel efficiency, this car is worth considering.