Maybe I'm spoiled, but I like nice things. I especially like nice cars with rich leather seats, premium sound systems, powerful engines and super-cool features. These are some of the things that make this mama happy. One would assume that the 2009 Lexus GX 470 would fall right into the Things-I-Like category, but it left me scratching my head. I just don't understand who Lexus is targeting with the GX 470.

Several of its features make the GX seem like a throwback to the '80s. Yes, the GX has seats aplenty and luxuries galore, but there's nowhere to put my mommy gear. Folding the third row was a workout for both my upper body and my higher reasoning skills. Luxury is supposed to make things easier, right? Well, in the GX luxury seems a bit dated.

Driving the GX was easy, though. The ride was smooth as silk, and there was enough power to really tempt me. Its huge V-8 engine humbled hills; the full-time four-wheel drive left lesser cars in the dust. Its gas mileage was a reflection of that powerful engine, but really, it wasn't as bad as I expected with its EPA-estimated 14/18 mpg city/highway. Of course, I got 13 mpg in combined driving, but I was testing out the GX's abilities to pass uphill. That's not exactly economical driving. What's not so economical was the GX's recommended 91-octane premium gas. Oh well - luxury rarely comes cheap.

The ride in the GX was luxurious, too; it wasn't even slightly truckish. It was so smooth, in fact, that it seemed almost unconnected to the road. It was more like flying or floating than driving. Personally, I'd like a bit more feedback from the tires, but I can't really complain about an SUV being too smooth (well, I can, but...). There was some of that roly-poly feeling in the turns, which reminded me that I was in a large SUV, and maneuvering around parking lots was a bit of a trial.

• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety