How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Each contender must be a Multi-purpose Vehicle (MPV), also known as ‘minivan’ in North America, and sold with a Category B Certificate of Entitlement (Cat B COE). Pretty straightforward.

Meet The Contenders

Clockwise from top left are the Kia Carnival, Lexus LM, Nissan Serena and Toyota Vellfire.

The Kia Carnival looks futuristic and aggressive simultaneously. With lots of tech and creature comforts on the inside, packaging and ergonomics that are well thought out, loads of practicality and comfort and pretty good fuel economy for a vehicle it’s size, the Carnival is a great package for the family.

The Lexus LM comes into this competition with its luxury credentials ablaze. For those that demand the highest quality while moving six people, the LM goes to town with captain’s chairs and creature comforts that aim to soothe Sir or Ma’am in the middle row, sufficient but understated customization that follows the Japanese style of opulence, and ride comfort that rivals much more expensive brands.

The Nissan Serena e-Power needs no introduction because it’s relatively common sight on our roads – for good reason.

Practicality, check. Packaging, check. Spaciousness, check. It hits all the essentials on the bullseye while offering good comfort, sufficient tech integration and a unique powertrain that’s a stepping-stone to EV-dom without the accompanying range anxiety.

Want a more sporty-looking yet understated MPV? The Toyota Vellfire is right up your alley in this case. With lots of space, practicality, ride comfort and Japanese sophistication, the Vellfire lets you move the family while sipping petrol with Toyota’s famed hybrid powertrain.

Four minivans that mean business, but only one can be crowned king.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B SUV
Kia Carnival

The winner with 413 points is the Kia Carnival. The South Koreans sure know how to offer a lot of vehicle for the money, and the Carnival represents a fantastic value proposition in this group.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the Kia Carnival for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat B SUV!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!

What is it?

Now, that’s a particularly important question when it comes to the Lexus LM, or “Luxury Mover” as it’s officially dubbed. From a glance, you might mistake it for an MPV, and yes, those van-like proportions don’t lie. But underneath, the LM is built on the same modular global architecture that underpins the Lexus NX and RX SUVs.

For those who care about such things, it’s the GA-K passenger car platform, so while it may not boast the sharp reflexes of a sports car, it does offer better structural rigidity and body control than your average minivan.

But, let’s be honest, no one’s buying the LM for its sporty handling. The real action, as we all know, happens in the back. This vehicle is a celebration of luxury travel, and if you’re familiar with Japan’s domestic car scene, you might already know the Toyota Vellfire or Alphard, an icon in this niche.

So, when Lexus first announced the LM was coming to Singapore, they had our attention. 

Striking yet subtle at the same time

The Lexus LM manages to prowl through traffic with some cloak-and-dagger discretion. It’s the fourth model in Lexus’s so-called “Next Chapter” of design; they’re leaning heavily on “dignified elegance” and what they call a “Resolute Look.”

With a massive frontal area, they’ve got plenty of room to play with. The signature spindle grille is as bold as ever, now body-coloured on the LM. There’s a deep windscreen, sliding doors on the sides, and a full-width L-shaped light bar around the rear, giving it an unmistakable stance.

At 5.1 meters long, 1.9 meters tall, and just under 1.9 meters wide, it’s got presence in spades. Some folks may prefer something flashier, but the stealth wealth x-factor is what makes the LM special to me.

What is it like on the inside?

This is where the LM shines. Chief engineer Takami Yokoo envisioned the LM as a space where “guests who lead busy, active lifestyles can return to their natural selves.”

Sounds like a tall order, but the LM pulls it off beautifully, channelling the traditional Japanese hospitality philosophy Omotenashi. Lexus was into wellness long before it became a buzzword, and the LM’s rear cabin is designed to soothe you in ways that rival even a Rolls-Royce.

Let’s start with the seats. Lexus drew inspiration from first-class air travel, and dare I say, they may have surpassed it. The headrests cradle not just your neck but the upper back too, keeping your core comfortably in place. And of course, they’re heated and ventilated, with seven different massage settings.

Heating even extends to the leg rests and armrests. The seats also recline nearly flat, creating a cocoon of relaxation.

What else is in this Krisflyer Gold lounge?

The LM’s rear compartment is a masterclass in understated luxury. No gaudy embellishments here, just peerless materials and a clean, calming design.

Lexus has tucked away any sign of hard plastics, even in areas you’d expect them. Each passenger gets their own tablet to control the seats, audio, climate, lighting, and blinds.

The lighting, by the way, is customizable with 14 shades and 5 mood themes. A roof panel above replicates some of these functions, adding to the private jet-like atmosphere.

If you opt for the 500h four-seater Takumi version, there’s even a cabin partition with a massive 48-inch ultra-wide screen that can be tilted for optimum viewing.

What about your driver?

While the back of the LM steals the show, the front seats haven’t been neglected. Lexus’s Tazuna cockpit philosophy keeps everything intuitive and within easy reach, with physical controls (hooray!) for the climate system.

The Yebane herringbone wood trim and special red pigment details lift the cabin’s aesthetic, making it clear that even the driver (or rather, the chauffeur) isn’t forgotten.

It’s a nice place to be, and everything from the materials to the seating comfort reinforces the idea that this is a well-thought-out vehicle. Even parking this big beast isn’t too much of a challenge, thanks to its suite of cameras and sensors.

Smooth as silk

To no surprise, the Lexus LM ignores dynamism in favour of a more relaxed, leisurely approach on the roads. Built on a passenger car platform, sure, but this is a tall, hefty vehicle that doesn’t demand you rush. Any driver with a job to keep will take a measured, smooth approach. 

Lexus has done a commendable job with NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness), making the LM class-leading in this regard. The suspension, a double-wishbone setup at the rear paired with adaptive dampers, is designed less for precision handling and more for keeping the rear compartment serene. And that, of course, is the real priority.

Any drive modes?

Of course. There are five, but the one you’ll care most about is Rear Comfort mode. This is all about making sure the back-seat experience is as smooth as possible, minimising the squat and dive under acceleration and braking.

The braking system comes with tech like Braking Posture Control to reduce roll and pitch, and Smooth Stop Control to keep the LM from rocking like a boat when coming to a halt. A chauffeured experience in every sense.

In the right hands, it’s wonderfully tranquil. The powertrain, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with two electric motors, churns out 247bhp and 237Nm of torque. It’s not quick by any means, with a century sprint time of 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 190km/h, but that’s hardly the point here.

The hybrid powertrain is smooth enough, but no one’s going to fall in love with the CVT gearbox. It’s efficient, but when pushed to accelerate or overtake, the noise is less than inspiring.

Still, in urban driving, the switch between EV and petrol modes is seamless, and the rear passengers won’t be the wiser.

And everyone’s safe too

Lexus doesn’t skimp here. The LM packs the latest in driver assistance and safety systems, including Safe Exit Assist for the sliding doors.

What’s more, the warning alerts are subtle, unlike the overly intrusive ones that have you frantically searching for the mute button in some cars.

Are there rivals?

In today’s world, the truly famous don’t flaunt their status with traditional limousines. They want something that blends luxury with discretion, and that’s where the luxury minivan or SUV comes in.

There really isn’t anything else on the market that comes close to the Lexus LM. Probably the closest cross-shopper would be the Mercedes V-Class, but while you can doll up the aesthetics, the V-Class can never fully escape its utilitarian roots.

Bow before the king

Lexus has always been about quality, even if it didn’t always prioritise driver engagement. 

But that’s the emphasis here: in the LM, the driver isn’t the point. The only interaction that truly counts is the one between the rear-seat passengers and the chauffeur up front. 

This is a game-changer in luxury, a vehicle that puts Lexus back on the map in the world of opulence, where it first staked its claim with the original LS sedan over three decades ago.

A fantastic choice for those who want nothing but the best.

Technical Specifications

Lexus LM (Luxury 350h)

Engine: 2,487cc 4-cylinder in-line 16-valve DOHC
Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
Power: 184kW (247 bhp)
Torque: 239 Nm
Gearbox: CVT (A)
0-100km/h: 8.7 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 180km/h
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Energy Consumption: 18.5 km/litre (claimed)

Price: S$661,800 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Lexus Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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