Sedan or Minivan? Lexus Turns Its $100K Flagship Into a High-Tech Van

Lexus is blurring categories with a flagship that mixes sedan luxury and minivan practicality. The result is a tech packed, space-focused design that challenges what a six-figure luxury car is supposed to be.

Lexus LM

Man… I swear, this thing confuses me. It’s like Lexus saw a private jet and went “yeah, but make it 4 wheels.” It’s got curtains, leather, like, massaging everything—but when you first see it on the road you’re like… is that, um, a Toyota van from 2008? (no offense). I think it costs around a hundred grand, which—if you told me I could buy a mini hotel room on wheels—I guess it makes sense. But still. It’s a van. Fancy, sure. But still a van. My brain can’t process that.

Toyota Sienna

Every mom I know has some kind of trauma involving a Sienna. The sliding door, the Goldfish crumbs, that faint smell of… what do you call it… desperation? Still, it’s kinda bulletproof, like, if you crash it tomorrow, it’ll still start. It’s like the family version of a cockroach. Costs what, forty-something? Maybe fifty with the hybrid thing. You’ll hate it but also defend it passionately if anyone else insults it. Weird loyalty.

Honda Odyssey

Honestly, if you ever rode in one as a kid, tell me that wasn’t the softest seat in the world. My uncle had one, smelled like french fries and Armor All, and the DVD player never worked right. He’d smack it, mutter something about “cheap plastic.” Now those things are like $45K and feel… worse? Too clean. Too screens-everywhere. No mystery anymore.

Mercedes EQV

Okay so this is the “fancy” electric van thing Mercedes made. Saw one once in LA, looked like an airport shuttle trying too hard. I get the idea—silent, luxurious, smooth ride—but when you spend like 80 or 90 grand, you kinda expect some emotion. Instead, it feels like a hotel elevator: quiet but dead inside.

Kia Carnival

Bro, Kia out here pretending the Carnival isn’t a minivan. “Multipurpose Vehicle”—like c’mon, it’s got sliding doors, who are we fooling. But I gotta say, it looks good. Like unusually good for something under 40 grand. I sat in one at a mall once (don’t ask why), and the seats felt way more expensive than they had any right to. I almost wanted to nap in it, which probably says a lot.

Chrysler Pacifica

You know when a car tries too hard to be modern? That’s the Pacifica. All those little “tech” touches that stop working after a year. My cousin had one, hybrid version—cost nearly 50K—and yeah, day one he’s like “it’s amazing,” day 200 he’s like “the doors won’t close again.” Every Chrysler owner I know becomes a part-time mechanic. Respect though.

Tesla Model X

Ugh. The falcon doors. Cool for five minutes until you park near a wall. I remember sitting in one, and the owner was like “isn’t it amazing?” while I was too busy trying to duck under the door wings like a confused bird. It’s almost a van, kinda SUV, but also spaceship? The price tag’s like 100-something K if you want the “Plaid” nonsense. Fast, yeah, but soulless. Like dating a robot.

BMW i7

Okay, not a van, but humor me. When I first saw someone watching Netflix on the back seats of a sedan, I realized money just stops making sense at a certain point. Starts around $110K, maybe more, depending on, I dunno, your greed. It smells nice though. BMW leather always smells like success and stress mixed together.

Toyota Alphard

Japan’s secret luxury flex. Looks like a Gucci toaster. But inside? My god. Recliners, light strips, cup holders that feel custom-sized for your hands. I saw a video of a dude getting chauffeured in one, he looked so calm. Probably thinking “why haven’t Americans figured out vans can be luxury too?” It’s like 70–80K, I think. Worth it if you want to feel like you live inside a spa.