Verdict
The RM72,000 saving makes the Lexus LM the more accommodating choice for a Malaysian buyer carrying people: it has seven seats, a 3,000 mm wheelbase and powered sliding doors, against the Porsche Panamera’s five seats and 2,950 mm wheelbase. The Panamera answers with 348 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 5.1-second 0-100 km/h time; its 494-litre boot also dwarfs the LM’s 110 litres. The LM counters with a petrol-hybrid powertrain, 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty and RM835 annual road tax, versus RM1,865 for the Porsche.
Pick the Lexus LM if seven seats, powered sliding doors, lower RM835 road tax and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty matter more than outright pace and boot volume.
Pick the Porsche Panamera if you want 348 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive, a 5.1-second 0-100 km/h time and a 494-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus LM RM1,228,000; Porsche Panamera RM1,300,000.
- Power and torque: Lexus LM 188 hp and 236 Nm petrol engine plus a 180 hp/270 Nm motor; Porsche Panamera 348 hp and 500 Nm.
- Driveline: Lexus LM front-wheel drive; Porsche Panamera all-wheel drive.
- Seats and boot space: Lexus LM 7 seats and 110 litres; Porsche Panamera 5 seats and 494 litres.
- Dimensions: Lexus LM 5,125 mm long, 1,890 mm wide and 1,955 mm tall; Porsche Panamera 5,052 mm long, 1,937 mm wide and 1,423 mm tall.
- Annual road tax: Lexus LM RM835; Porsche Panamera RM1,865.
LM
- Seven seats with power-folding last row
- Petrol-hybrid powertrain and RM835 annual road tax
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty
- 110-litre boot versus the Panamera’s 494 litres
- Front-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive
- No head-up display or auto parking
Panamera
- 348 hp, 500 Nm and 5.1-second 0-100 km/h time
- 494-litre boot
- All-wheel drive, air suspension and head-up display
- Five seats versus the LM’s seven
- RM72,000 higher purchase price
- Four-year/100,000 km warranty versus five years with unlimited mileage
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,228,000✓ | RM1,300,000 |
| Body type | MPV | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM835✓ | RM1,865 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated, Atkinson cycle with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, twin-turbo with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,494 cc | 2,894 cc |
| Horsepower | 188 hp | 348 hp✓ |
| Torque | 236 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 180 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 270 Nm | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | E-CVT | PDK |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Porsche |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 272 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,125 mm | 5,052 mm |
| Width | 1,890 mm | 1,937 mm |
| Height | 1,955 mm | 1,423 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm | 2,950 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,980 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 110 litres | 494 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R19 | 265/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R19 | 295/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Primacy SUV+ | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Mesh Aluminium Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Porsche Active Suspension Management with Adaptive two-chamber air suspension and two-valve dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver and Front Passenger Knee, Front Side, Front Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators | Matrix LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 18-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilated | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with Power Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Rear Panoramic Roof | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front 12-volt, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot; 2 USB-C Ports Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 4 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered rear sun shade and rear door window shades | Side Window Sunshades, Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 14" Lexus Premium Audio Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 10 Speakers | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Porsche Communications Module, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding with Soft-close Function, One-touch Auto Close, Anti-pinch | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
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 LM & Panamera for sale
LM vs Panamera FAQ
Is the Lexus LM or Porsche Panamera better?
The Lexus LM is better for carrying up to seven people, with powered sliding doors and lower annual road tax. The Porsche Panamera is better for performance, with 348 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive, a 5.1-second 0-100 km/h time and a 494-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Panamera costs RM1,300,000, which is RM72,000 more than the RM1,228,000 Lexus LM.
Which has the lower annual road tax?
The Lexus LM has lower annual road tax at RM835, compared with RM1,865 for the Porsche Panamera. That is a RM1,030 yearly difference.
