With German brands dominating the Malaysian premium car market, one has to wonder how it is that Lexus keeps itself relevant. Despite the tough competition, the brand’s local product portfolio continues to grow as does its local fan and customer base. So let’s try and dissect why exactly that is.
Lexus Quality
The Lexus brand philosophy is centred around the highest quality standards. Some premium brands choose to chase performance, others prioritise safety. But when quality is your number one target, customers aren’t afraid to spend a little extra on the product – they know that money is going into material selection, the highest standards of quality control and extremely durable parts.
When Lexus first began, they took established premium brands by surprise. The world’s biggest car companies just weren’t expecting that level of quality and craftsmanship. Decades later, Lexus has only gotten better at it.
Returning Lexus customers know that the brand’s commitment to quality doesn’t just stop with the products. It is an aspect that extends into their aftersales. Lexus practices Omotenashi, a Japanese-form of hospitality that is deeply rooted in centuries of tradition. Boiled down, it is about serving wholeheartedly and sincerely. They believe that hospitality cannot just be about actions, but intentions as well. This is impossible to replicate without proper training and guidance, and it is yet another way that Lexus differentiates their brand.
Practicality and Options
Cars have been around for more than a hundred years. Since then, we’ve only found more ways to use them. Lexus has always been quick to respond to these changes. They’ve had the LX for rough roads, they’ve offered not one, but two mid-sized sedans (the ES and the GS) for customers with different needs.
More recently, Lexus Malaysia released the RX350L, a long wheelbase version of the popular SUV. Why offer a whole new version of the RX? Well, there’s plenty of things you can do with that additional 110mm. Naturally, a longer wheelbase means a larger boot and more legroom for rear occupants, but the real value comes from the added versatility.
With the extra length, Lexus RX350L owners can opt for a third row of seats. These fold flat electrically with just a push of a button. The controls for which can be found either near the rear door or in the boot area. Folding these down gives you a luggage area that is approximately 56 litres larger than on the standard model. And if that’s not enough you can specify an RX350L without that third row of seats for an even larger boot. Think of the long vacations and family outings that a car like this can make possible! And how many rivals in the premium space even offer an option like this at a reasonable price? Too few.
Predictable running costs & Peace of Mind
A couple of weeks ago, we had a chance to try it out. It is driven by a naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6. On paper and behind the wheel, that engine wasn’t the sportiest out there.
But we found ourselves realising a simple truth – a larger engine putting out a reasonable amount of power is under less stress than a smaller one being pushed for huge outputs. With a lower workload, the motor and transmission naturally goes through far less wear and tear. This translates to better reliability, giving customers who want to keep their cars beyond the warranty period a sense of security.
Fast cars with small motors are fun and exciting for test drives. But Lexus owners know that peace of mind is a quality that few brands still commit to delivering.
Conclusion
So, yes the premium market may be full of good European deals at the moment, but Lexus Malaysia’s fully-imported line of products continues to draw its own crowd of customers for these very good reasons.
