Despite its de facto status as an uncool car, the minivan makes a lot of sense for many families. Today’s people movers drive well, have excellent characteristics and ensure that everyone in your team feels comfortable. However, outside the US, the minivan market is more diverse than you might expect.
In Japan, for example, the humble family mobile has been elevated to a full-fledged luxury suite on wheels. The Lexus LM, where LM literally stands for Luxury Mover, offers a luxury experience – unfortunately not one for American buyers.
Or do they? I recently saw a current generation Lexus LM on California roads. At first glance, I assumed someone had swapped the body and badge of a Toyota Sienna. On second thought, however, it should have been a perfect swap as every part looked correct and the fit and finish were of perfect Lexus quality.
So I did a little more research and discovered that the Lexus LM is somehow imported and sold here in the US. And the entrance fee is an eye-opener.
Photo by: Irvine Coast Motorcars
Irvine Coast Motorcars in Costa Mesa, California, has not one but two 2025 Lexus LM vans for sale. Both are LM350h hybrid models, and each is configured with a seven-passenger seating configuration. There’s a four-passenger version that offers enough luxury to make any Maybach owner jealous. In fact, that model is called the ‘Emperor Suite’, which is a great name.
I’m not sure what a four-passenger version would cost you, but I can tell you how much it would cost to put the seven-passenger version in your driveway. Irvine Coast Motorcars is asking for something mouth-watering $258,888 for an LM with 8,709 miles or $269,800 for one with only 1,936 miles.
Even in the seven-passenger configuration, that second-row seat is first class. These are electrically adjustable thrones with tablet-sized controls. You have sunshades to keep the sun out of your eyes, controls for the audio system and you can adjust the climate control to your liking. The armrests are even heated.
Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Engine1
The Lexus LM is based on the Toyota Alphard and rides on the global TNGA-K platform. The model you see here is a second generation LM, which is hybrid only. An LM350h produces about 250 hp, but Lexus also makes a 366 hp 500h version. You can equip the LM350h with front- or all-wheel drive, while the LM500h comes standard with the Lexus Direct4 AWD system. Either way, neither of them should be here, especially with a standard California license plate on the back.
What is it doing on California roads, and how is it registered? We contacted Irvine Coast Motorcars for more information. They haven’t contacted us (yet). However, based on the van’s asking price, we can only assume the answer to our question is cash… and lots of it.
Lexus sells the LM in a handful of Asian markets, Australia and parts of Europe. It would be interesting to see what a version for the US market could do, especially if the price were set at the right level for a true US street version.
#spotted #Lexus #minivan #California