Jason on Cars

This car ranks right up there with what you�d expect from a luxury SUV. Comfortable leather seats, large spacious interior, and a host of extras that make driving easier. However, with all of that, there isn�t really a surprise to this car, it�s exactly what you�d expect.

Unlike some other Lexus cars, this one is obviously a descendant of a Toyota, and was referred to as the �Land Cruiser� for the duration of its test. While it still looks nice, it still kind of gives it �just an expensive upgrade� look. However, I was pleased with the small, elegant lighting on the running boards that light up when you unlock the doors with the key fob (not sure if that comes with the Toyota or not). It also had good ground clearance but wasn�t too hard to climb into.

The interior was very nice. All leather, comfortable seats, wood finish and a host of options. This car had the built in navigation system that was pretty easy to use, AND, the screen doubled as a video monitor when backing up. A small camera mounted just below the rear window gave clear vision of what you were backing up into, and was pretty easy to tell how close you were to upcoming objects. �Even I could parallel park this car,� a friend exclaimed, which says a lot considering the size of the car and the sloping width that would make it difficult to really see your edges.

Driving it was comfortable. It wasn�t as peppy as the Range Rover Sport, X5, or Mercedes ML, but it rode very smooth and didn�t remind you that you were in driving the descendant of a truck like some rougher SUVs. It�s turning radius was tolerable; better than the Nissan Xterra, but worse than the Honda Element. The third row seats are the type that sit on the rear deck, and don�t truly allow you to put your legs lower than your butt. As a tall guy, I was glad to never have to get back ther. The second row seats were very comfortable and had lots of leg room even behind taller drivers. One feature I thought was nice was the third row seats folded up, Honda Element style, onto the interior sides of the vehicle, making a quick switch from load-hauling rig to people-hauling in less than a minute.

Overall, it was a comfortable ride, didn�t disappoint much, but never really stood out except for a few features that are easily lived without. It felt too nice to ever take off road, and not better than lower priced alternatives from Volvo, Range Rover or BMW. It is slightly larger than those competitors, but I personally don�t like the extra length.

3.5 Stars