Comfortable and Fun

My wife has wanted an SUV for a long time (God knows why) so my son and I bought the Lexus GX 470 for her anniversary present. She loves it! Though I've never, ever been a fan of trucks, I must admit that it doesn't drive or feel like one.

The acceleration and braking performance is top notch. The large engine ensures that when you step on the gas you're going to move and move quickly. Of course the downside of that performance is a dismal showing at the pump. The brakes are equally effective, though perhaps a little too responsive. Overall the vehicles functions smoothly and is ultra reliable.

The interior of the car is VERY comfortable and VERY quiet. The Lexus engineers have installed every possible gadget (though not always where you’d expect to find it) to ensure that your ride is comfortable and quiet. The headlights automatically turn on, as do the wipers. The sunroof automatically adjust the wind deflector depending on the speed to ensure the even with the sunroof open your ride is as quiet as possible. I was surprised to find out that the vehicle also comes equipped with an extensive voice command function that allows you to control everything from the CD to the temperature with your voice. It also has a Bluetooth connection so your cell phone will function remotely with the built in speakers and microphone. The build in GPS navigation is both helpful and reliable.

The central command center is the touch screen in the center console. Virtually everything is run from this command center. The concept is sound but Lexus execution is a little counter intuitive. Most functions of the car have to be selected from the screen, but not all of them, so I find myself getting a little frustrated when I want to do a simple task like turn off the A/C. Another example: you must use the screen to adjust your sound, change stations, etc., but you have to go to the radio console to select FM, AM, or CD. I wish they’d have put a little more thought into the logical operation of this system.

Other than that, everything else is purely comfortable. The seats are highly adjustable and very supportive during long trips. The back seats are also very comfortable and they fold up easily if you want to lug big things around. (Please note the third row is not to be used for adults! I sat there for an hour and lost all feeling in the lower half of my body. Only kids and legless adults can sit back there in comfort!)

Overall, I'm very pleased with the purchase. Though I still prefer to drive my little performance cars, the big Lexus make for great distance driving with the family.