Verdict
The RM151,000-cheaper Lexus LM is the rational Malaysian choice for carrying people: it has seven seats, five doors and a 3,000 mm wheelbase, against the LC’s four seats, two doors and 2,870 mm wheelbase. The LC is for the driver, with 470 hp, 540 Nm, rear-wheel drive and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time; its annual road tax is a hefty RM10,991 versus RM835. The LM’s 188 hp 2.5-litre hybrid engine and 180 hp motor suit a very different brief.
LC
Pick the Lexus LC if four seats are enough and you want 470 hp, 540 Nm and rear-wheel-drive performance.
LM
Pick the Lexus LM if you need seven seats, five doors and a far lower RM835 annual road-tax bill.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LC RM1,379,000; Lexus LM RM1,228,000.
- Powertrain output: Lexus LC 470 hp and 540 Nm; Lexus LM 188 hp and 236 Nm petrol engine, plus a 180 hp and 270 Nm motor.
- Driveline and transmission: Lexus LC rear-wheel drive with a 10-speed Direct Shift automatic; Lexus LM front-wheel drive with an E-CVT.
- Size and seating: Lexus LC is 4,770 mm long with four seats; Lexus LM is 5,125 mm long with seven seats.
- Performance: Lexus LC reaches 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and tops out at 270 km/h; Lexus LM has no 0-100 km/h or top-speed figure stated.
- Road tax: Lexus LC RM10,991 per year; Lexus LM RM835 per year.
LC
- 470 hp and 540 Nm with rear-wheel drive
- 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- 197-litre boot versus 110 litres
- RM151,000 more expensive
- Two doors and four seats versus the LM’s five doors and seven seats
- RM10,991 annual road tax versus RM835
LM
- Seven seats and five doors
- RM151,000 lower purchase price
- Power sliding doors, rear climate control and a rear panoramic roof
- 188 hp and 236 Nm petrol engine versus the LC’s 470 hp and 540 Nm
- Front-wheel drive E-CVT instead of the LC’s rear-wheel-drive 10-speed automatic
- 110-litre boot versus the LC’s 197 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,379,000 | RM1,228,000✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | MPV |
| Segment | Luxury | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM10,991 | RM835✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated, Otto/Atkinson Cycle with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated, Atkinson cycle with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 4,969 cc | 2,494 cc |
| Horsepower | 470 hp✓ | 188 hp |
| Torque | 540 Nm✓ | 236 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 94 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 12.3 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 180 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 270 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | eCVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Direct Shift | E-CVT |
| Gears | 10 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 8.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 270 km/h | — |
| Co2 | 267 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,770 mm | 5,125 mm |
| Width | 1,920 mm | 1,890 mm |
| Height | 1,345 mm | 1,955 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm | 3,000 mm |
| Weight | 1,965 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 82 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 197 litres✓ | 110 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R21 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R21 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001L Run-flats | Michelin Primacy SUV+ |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloy | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloy | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive F Suspension - Sachs | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on two rear passenger seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated | 18-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | — | 40:20:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with Power Fold |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | — | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Sunroof | — | Rear Panoramic Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front 12-volt, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 4 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered rear sun shade and rear door window shades |
| Audio | 10.3" Lexus Premium Audio Remote Touch Controller with 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay | 14" Lexus Premium Audio Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 10 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Power Sliding with Soft-close Function, One-touch Auto Close, Anti-pinch |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used LC & LM for sale
LC vs LM FAQ
Is the Lexus LC or Lexus LM better?
The LC is better as a performance-focused four-seat coupe, delivering 470 hp and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. The LM is better for passengers, with seven seats, five doors, rear air-conditioning and power sliding doors.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LC costs RM1,379,000 and the Lexus LM costs RM1,228,000, so the LC is RM151,000 more expensive.
Which costs less to tax each year?
The Lexus LM costs RM835 a year in road tax, far below the Lexus LC’s RM10,991. That RM10,156 annual difference is a major running-cost advantage for the LM.