REHEARSAL. LM350h: the Lexus “Limospace”

Lexus is on the offensive in the European market. And it is a total offensive. While the luxury brand of the Toyota galaxy is also trying to make significant progress in the urban vehicle market with its famous LBX, it also reflects on current trends and wants to try to answer a question: how to travel in large groups comfortably. ? Premium conditions if you don’t want to go through the box of the SUV or large sedan?

The answer comes from Asia, where a very active market is flourishing, that of premium minivans (for “Multi Purpose Vehicle”), large luxury minivans. Favorites of prestigious VTC services, VIP transportation, hotel concierge, airport shuttles or fleets of company management vehicles, these large, luxuriously equipped vans are well known and in demand in Japan, South Korea and even China… But, curiously, very little present in the European market. Only Mercedes reigns in this segment with its famous Viano (later Vito and Classe V), so famous that it has even become a common name in the lyrics of certain rappers, accustomed to traveling between two concerts or showcases of this luxurious and . comfortable machine.

Lexus, a brand adored by these same rappers (especially since the 90s in the United States), wanted to reinvest this segment in Europe with a big coup. And suffice to say, the LM350h is spectacular. Already with its enormous parallelepiped appearance, its absolutely open grill that from afar looks like a real sperm whale and its elegant chrome details. A visually huge car, with reasonable dimensions… At 5.13 m long and 1.9 m wide, the car is less bulky than a Mercedes S-Class! On the other hand, with its height of 1.94 m, it will conquer everyone… The LM350h also retains all the characteristic aspects of the minivan and, in particular, its very practical sliding rear doors and a well-raised shoulder line.

But this “limospace” has a great advantage that makes the difference: unlike the Mercedes minivans, the chassis of the LM350h is not that of a utility vehicle, but rather the one inherited from the large LS sedan. And in fact, even though the seat is raised, you don’t have the impression of sitting in the seat of a van. A feeling of comfort very typical of a sedan and, above all, very Lexus, with all the internal refinements, ivory leather in abundance, carpets and abundant instrumentation. In this way, the driver and the bodyguard will be very well taken care of.

We also like: dreamy comfort

But it is evident that the real places are places of second rank. And there we find comfort conditions that are difficult to match with everything on the market. Accessible at the perfect height through the sliding doors, the passenger seats constitute the height of luxury, with ultra-soft seats (also all in ivory leather), configurable and configurable down to the smallest detail, air-conditioned from the inside, with massage (with different programs) and can even recline in the sleeping position for a comfortable nap.

All settings can be accessed through a multitude of buttons or even with small touch screen remote controls located on the central armrest, which also houses 2 retractable shelves on which a possible small snack can be placed.

Mark Levinson’s 23-speaker audio is concert hall-worthy, deep and consistent, and designed especially for this large living space. And a large digital screen tilted from the ceiling will allow you to watch television or the Internet, by connecting your devices via Bluetooth, USB or even HDMI.

Screen that additional passengers can also see comfortably, with the last three rear seats located in the trunk being far from being extra seats.

Finally, if the sun or the environment bothers you, no problem: the rear windows, the side panels and the glass roof can be hidden by courtesy curtains that are very effective but do not prevent the entry of light.

At the wheel, sensations close to those of a saloon

Silence and ride comfort are on the program and once again the privileged ones are the passengers: the carefully studied suspension settings will always favor the balance and tranquility of the rear seats. And for the record, the beautiful 19-inch dark gray alloy wheels have been developed in collaboration with Yamaha, with the aim of reducing vibrations and rolling noise as much as possible. The bottom line is that Yamaha and Lexus collaborated, it was already 15 years ago, to develop the V10 engine of the terrible LFA and the question of fair beaucoup of noise… the cooperation lasts, même si les objectifs ont bien changé con time.

Without incident, the classic 250-horsepower 350h hybrid propulsion, similar to that of the NX SUV, has no problems propelling this necessarily very heavy machine (2.4 tons), but ultimately very pleasant to drive, almost as if we were behind the wheel. of a classic sedan. Its sound, although not pleasant, is still very discreet and the transitions between electric and thermal are carried out without too much brutality (a recurring defect in Toyota). And the LM350h manages to be remarkably maneuverable, without even having to resort to 4-wheel steering, very popular in the field of large luxury sedans or SUVs. But the LM has very useful all-wheel drive to balance the traction of the machine in the many aspects of the urban or road environment.

Finally, the Lexus Limospace is quite economical to use. Once again we are faced with a very heavy machine, but relatively frugal at this level of comfort, luxury and space. The observed average of 8 l/100 km on mixed journeys (urban and peri-urban with main roads) does not seem exaggerated, especially since it can be reduced even further in the strictly urban driving phase (traffic jams and low speeds), by activating the EV. function that will maximize the possibility of using the battery.

We like it less: pay attention to the roof and doors!

It is difficult to speak rationally about defects in such an exotic machine with such a specific use. However, you should never forget that you are 1.94 meters tall. Although you will notice that all the drivers around you make way for you, stop to let you pass, etc… this extraordinary height will prevent you from accessing the vast majority of underground parking lots, especially since the rear spoiler that encloses the camera gives a step back and the antenna adds a few more centimeters of height. So immediately forget about any thoughts like, “Oh, we’ll try it anyway.” The LM350 is strictly reserved for large utility vehicles and outdoor spaces. You also have to pay attention to the entrance doors, which go down very low, forcing you to be alert for certain somewhat high sidewalks.

Some internal automations are still a bit unpleasant, such as speed alerts, lane keeping assistance or even the attention control of the driver who always has one eye fixed on yours, but, as usual, they are easily deactivated . Finally, despite the immense interior space and great modularity, luggage space will be very limited in the 7-seater configuration, unless the 2 rear seats are folded down. A weak point compared to Mercedes models, its only real competitor.

But at what price? The price of the exception.

In short, this LM350h manages to convey a unique traveling pleasure in the automotive world, for both the driver and the passenger. Great luxury, abundant equipment, small practical details absolutely everywhere, obsessive care and attention to passenger comfort. All this with the atypicality of an MVP format that, although at first it is intriguing and requires some limitations, demonstrates all its advantages of use in terms of comfort, but also practicality, combining a minivan format with limousine comfort, with a efficient and quite economical drive chain. For 123,700 euros for our test version, the quality-price ratio seems almost advantageous for a machine that is once again exceptional.

A choice option for luxury transportation professionals, who will have to choose between the 7-seat Executive version (our tested version) and 4-seat version (VIP version, with driver-passenger separation, refrigerator and giant 48-inch screen in the rear) . A motoring experience without real competition at the moment that has its followers and that fully deserves to be experienced. Furthermore, if Lexus has reserved only 16 examples of the LM350h for the French market this year, the manufacturer has already received 117 orders in total.