2025 Lexus LM 500h review (video)

It’s not often these days to see risk-averse luxury carmakers venture into new segments, so when Lexus brought a people mover van to the market, it caught our attention.

While sedans and SUVs reign supreme in the west, vans of high calibre are the chariot of choice for captains of industry in Asian markets. The concept makes a lot of sense if you think about it; a van offers the largest volume and therefore the most space. Lexus is hoping the trend takes off here with the LM, and with 201 units moved to the end of September 2025 (VFACTS), it isn’t going too badly – it’s the third-best-seller in the $70k+ category.

We previously tested the entry level Lexus LM 350h Sports Luxury, which has seven seats in a 2-2-3 layout. The LM 500h Ultra Luxury commands $60,000 more and gives you three fewer seats, for a total of four – but that’s not the whole story. It’s touted by Lexus as ‘The Ultimate Chauffeured Experience’, with its primary focus on pampering the occupants of those two back seats.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Specifications

Engine: 2.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder hybrid
Output (combined): 273kW
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 19×7.0, 225/55
ANCAP: Not tested
Kerb weight: 2475kg
Power-to-weight: 9.06:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 6.6L/100km
Our consumption: 9.4L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 60L/95 RON

Power efficiency: 41.36kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.69 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.50 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.21 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.63 seconds at 147.9km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.645g*
100-0km/h braking: 43.44m in 3.36 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.395g*
Decibel at idle: 46*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 85*
Starting price: $223,520

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2025 Lexus LM 500h: How much does it cost?

Pricing for the 2025 Lexus LM 500h starts from $220,888 before on-road costs, which makes it the most expensive MPV on the market. To put things in perspective, the next most expensive rival is the Mercedes-Benz V300 Exclusive from $169,248.

Other comparable vans you might consider are the electric LDV MIFA 9 Luxe or the $139,900 Zeekr 009 – with 440km and 686km of WLTP range, respectively. The Zeekr 009 also has a party trick; 600hp. Lexus offers something that none of those others can hope to, however, with its unique interior layout.

Warranty coverage is five years with unlimited kilometres, and Lexus will extend the hybrid battery coverage to 10 years (contingent on regular servicing). There’s no sting in the tail when it comes to maintenance; capped-price servicing is set at $695 per annual/15,000km visit for the first five years. In total, about $3475 covers five years of scheduled maintenance, which is reasonable given the vehicle’s price and complexity. You also get a subscription to Lexus’ Entune program, with valet service, loan cars and exclusive travel and event perks.

Being a hybrid, you’d expect the economy to be excellent and an official rating of 6.6L/100km is a good trade-off for extra performance, compared with the LM 350h’s 5.5L/100km. This provides a theoretical touring range of 909km, but we achieved 9.4L/100km on test, which would yield a still decent 638km from the 60L tank.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Interior & packaging

Our test example features the opulent Scarlet Crimson paint (there’s no charge for metallic paint), which highlights the contours of the LM’s body and scalloped lines. The front end treatment features a bonnet-mounted Lexus badge, adjoining two sharp LED headlamp units.

A patterned grille cleverly disguises the car’s elephantine proportions, with very classy 19-inch wheels shod with Michelin rubber capping it off. To our eyes, it successfully conveys its high-end status with well-resolved styling.

The Lexus LM 500h is a tale of two halves; the business class front and the opulent first class in the back, segregated with a large bulkhead between the two worlds.

Starting with the front, two comfortable chairs with heating and cooling and myriad adjustments are ensconced in a typically Lexus cabin – superb build quality and a tranquil theme of Solis White leather, open pore wood and rose gold accents giving the car an authentic, luxury vibe.

A 14-inch infotainment screen features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as native navigation, and does not ask for much at all, except maybe a head up display (HUD) and seat massaging – the yuppies in the back get it after all.

Another potential issue is the presence of the bulkhead restricting the recline angle of the backrest. Taller drivers may encounter issues here, but this will be a 9-5 office for chauffeurs, and on that front, it’s a comfortable place to spend a work day.

It’s when you open the electric sliding doors that the main attraction comes into view. Two thrones separated by an armrest/storage/control console are positioned far back in the cabin for maximum space, with thigh support, massage, heating and cooling and almost every amenity you could imagine.

There’s a cooled fridge under the 48-inch screen, and you can raise a partition window between the front and rear to keep the riff-raff out. Better yet, it becomes frosted opaque at the touch of a button.

Two shades overhead allow more sun to enter the cabin, but you can also have your own private cocoon if you so choose, with window shades rising from the sides – perfect for secret business…

Each rear passenger can tailor their environment individually – no fighting over temperature settings here. Other indulgent touches include fold-out airline-style tray tables, and even thick, deep-pile carpet underfoot that your shoes practically disappear into.

Other notable amenities include multiple cubby holes and wireless phone chargers – exclusively for the rear. The ambience in here is top of class.

Moving onto entertainment, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson sound system offers cinematic sound quality, but lets face it, the 48-inch screen is the focal point of the car. Disappointingly, it suffered for not being connected to a native WiFi system, which forces you to use a native app. We couldn’t get that to work, but it does have HDMI inputs for, say, a PS5.

Betwixt the two rear occupants are two individual, smartphone shaped controllers, which can split the screen or change the channel. In this era of software-defined vehicles with 5G – particularly those from China, such as the Zeekr 009 – this glaring omission dents the appeal and it’s something we hope Lexus can sort out. If it does, it would be more likely to grab conquest sales from affluent younger buyers who would’ve otherwise defaulted to a large SUV.

Other practical considerations include 752 litres of boot space and length/width/height of 5130mm/1890mm/1955mm, respectively, with a 3000mm wheelbase. So, measure your garage and driveway if you’re buying privately.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Powertrain & handling

The LM in the car’s title stands for Luxury Mover, not Le Mans. That becomes abundantly clear when you encounter some bends. With some 2475kg of kerb mass to shift around, you’re never going to get a hippo to do ballet, but all told, it has a lot more composure than you’d expect and hangs on in corners – particularly in Sport mode. It can be a bit rough and noisy under high revs though, a tad more than we’d like for the price.

The AWD system provides lots of mechanical grip with a well-judged ride in all conditions. The highest compliment we can pay this car is that it never feels like a van or a chore to drive.

Performance is decent for this kind of car, with 273kW of combined output thanks to a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder developing 202kW and 460Nm, and a 292Nm electric motor. It is channelled through a six-speed automatic.

We can’t help thinking air suspension would be a necessary inclusion though, as the rear passengers can get jostled around if the driver decides to go loco. It’s definitely not a good idea to lay the seats flat while it is being thrown around the bends by DE’s Brett Davis, unless you want to paint the interior with your lunch, as I almost did.

As it stands, the LM 500h is an interesting vehicle which I was very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into. An unmatched sense of opulence and a more accomplished chassis than you’d expect are definite highlights.

There’s just a nagging sense that it lags behind the Zeekr 009 in the rear entertainment stakes and it isn’t making the most of that 48-inch screen in our opinion. Combined with the lack of HUD, seat massaging and wireless phone charging in the front, and you get the impression it has a one-dimensional purpose as a hire car or airport transfer shuttle.

But there is no other way to experience this combination of space and ambience in such an enriching, indulgent way. And all with Lexus’s outstanding reputation for long-lasting build quality, reliability, and resale value.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• It has more room than a Rolls-Royce: Neither a Phantom nor Cullinan can match the space and grace.
• First-class rear experience: Reclining massage seats, privacy partition and a 48-inch screen create a cabin unlike anything else.
• Materials and finish: White leather, rose-gold trim and open-pore wood create a genuine first-class experience.
• Efficient performance: Strong hybrid powertrain balances 273kW output with great economy – find us another 2475kg non-EV that drinks less fuel.
• Unmatched reputation: Lexus is one of the most trustworthy car brands out there, offering a long history in reliability and retained value.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Key considerations before you buy

• Front cabin omissions: Potentially upright driving position due to bulkhead (depending on your height) with limited recline, and no wireless phone charger for the driver or HUD.
• Connectivity lacking: Rear screen lacks built-in apps or Wi-Fi, relying on HDMI instead of modern streaming options.
• Driving engagement: Comfortable and stable, but light steering and heavy weight make it dull for keen drivers. As we said, it’s not the Le Mans 500h.

2025 Lexus LM 500h: Video