If you've been looking to buy a Lexus LM 350, we've established that you are someone who probably doesn't know your bank account balance (you know, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it). And let's face it, if you're prepared to fork out money for a Lexus LM, you're not gonna care that it costs twice the money of an Alphard.

What you probably will care about is, perhaps what's the car like? Well, that is why you're here, prospective Lexus LM 350 owner, to find out the pros and cons of this car, right? Perfect, let's dive in then. 

Also read: Regular Malaysians won’t understand - Nearly 20 orders collected for RM 1.1 mil Lexus LM 350

Pros - Imposing presence on the road

Starting with the spindle grille on the front (this is how you do an imposing grille, BMW), matched with Lexus' signature LED daytime running lights, you won't mistake the LM 350 for anything else on the road. Ok, perhaps the Toyota Alphard yes, but there are subtle cues that lift the LM 350's presence above its more plebian relative. 

The 18-inch multi-spoke metallic chrome wheels, the katana-motif chrome trim (inspired by the Lexus LC) on the rear sliding doors, and even the bespoke triple-projector LED headlamps. It all combines to make the LM a massive presence on the road. 

Is it a bit over-the-top? Well, yes. But isn't that the point? You don't buy a Lexus LM out of a need, you buy it because you can, and you'd wanna shout about it. Have one in White Pearl Crystal Shine, and this car will get you all the eyeballs, standstill or on the move.

Pros - A Lexus through and through

If you needed more evidence of what your RM 1,106,513 buys you, then just take a seat inside. The interior trim, build quality, and ambience is one that is a cut above any Alphard or Vellfire you have ever been in. Expensive, opulent, and classy. This is Lexus at its finest.

Another fancy feature in the interior is the digital rear-view mirror. See, the front quarters are blocked off from the rear for ultimate privacy (RM 1.1 million tends to buy you such things), hence, having a traditional rear-view mirror would've been pointless. So Lexus saw it fit to include a fully-digital one, how flipping cool is that?

But it's at the rear where the real majesty is. Where in an Alphard/Vellfire there were seating for five behind, in the LM 350 there's only.... two. And the two seats are the most sumptuous seats you can find anywhere. Everywhere you'd care to look, there is supple leather. Entertainment? 26-inch screen to keep yourselves amused, and it's hooked to a glorious 19-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. Rear headroom and legroom? We ran out of tennis balls.

Cons - Sits only four

Yes, this is a curious one indeed. Sure, RM 1.1 million buys you a lavish palace on wheels, but this should be a 7-seater right? I mean, if you can afford one of these, you'd probably have a Mercedes S-Class or Lexus LS parked in the garage as well. 

Those already do the job of hauling four persons in consummate majesty. So what does the Lexus LM 350 do that is so different compared to the other two? Sure, it's easier to get in and out of, but that's pretty much it. 

A posh, plush and grandiose 7-seater MPV? Nobody has done that up to this point (Alphards/Vellfires don't count). To be fair, the LM can be had with 7 seats, just not in our country, yet. 

Personally, having a 4-seater Lexus LM 350 kinda misses the point a little bit. Buying a car of this size and stature should mean that one can ferry his/her entire family in it, right? Or maybe my bank account isn't that well-endowed to understand the consumption behaviour of the 1 percenters.

Cons - No powered tailgate opening

Fuelling more curioisity is the fact that the Lexus LM 350 comes with an electrically-operated tailgate.... that doesn't open electrically. Wait, what? RM 1.1 million (there's that price tag again) and you expect me to manually open it? How uncouth! How silly would you look when trying to impress your buddies at the golf club?

The official reason for this is safety. Lexus says the tailgate is too large to safely open electrically. But hang on, isn't the tailgate of the Lexus RX similar in size? How come that can be electrically opened safely? My colleague Adrian opined that owners of this car will have butlers/drivers to do the opening for them. But, what happens when said butler/driver is off duty, or heavens forbid, on a holiday? 

Simply put, it's rather unacceptable not to have such a feature on a car costing this much, especially when you're trying to mark it out from the regular Toyota Alphard/Vellfire. For me, this completely flies in the face of the ultra-luxury that the Lexus LM 350 wants to project. It's not a good look. 

Conclusion

Just to reiterate, nobody goes out and buys a Lexus LM 350 out of necessity. This is every bit a vanity purchase. As my colleague Hans mentioned in his piece, some will even put down money for one of these if his/her chauffeur likes it after a test drive. Now that is a level of affluence that is completely foreign to me.

Be that as it may, there's no denying that the Lexus LM 350 has its own unique appeal. Ostentatious or not, that is up to you to decide. Besides, at this elevated level of car buying, you won't care as much about the specifications and driving experience. What matters more is, you have one of these, and others don't.