If you like listening to good tunes on an awe-inspiring sound system you'll like what Lexus has in store. The top-tier 14-speaker Mark Levinson audio system incorporating a dash-mounted 6CD changer and steering wheel controls is capable of pounding out dance tracks with nightclub omnipresence or when trying to unwind, serving up the delicate nuances of Cole Porter, or for that matter Claude Debussy.
 |
| The Mark Levinson audio system with 6CD changer pumps out remarkable sound. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The weather was near perfect, a bit of a heat wave for this time of year so I set the automatic dual-zone climate control to 20.5 and didn't need to crank on the heated front seats - necessary when climbing into a vehicle with leather seats in the dead of winter.
I took a little time to snap a few photos just before reaching my destination, the 4x4 shot posed, I have to admit. As previously mentioned the GX is capable of quite a bit more than this photo shows, putting it into a class of very few off-road capable luxury SUVs.
 |
| Thanks to features like Active Traction Control, Downhill Assist Control, and Hill-Start Assist Control, the GX is no 4x4 slouch. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
To this end the GX takes advantage of its fair share of electronic aids, including ABS brakes, of course, Active Traction Control (A-TRAC), Downhill Assist Control, Hill-Start Assist Control, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, and Electronic Brake force Distribution. These active safety features not only help it to trek up and down slippery slopes, but also improve on-road stability.
If you're looking in this category and feel you'll be using 4-wheel drive for more than just getting through a little snow in winter, the GX470 is up against the Land Rover Discovery/LR3, Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche's Cayenne in the midsize luxury class. A few others would compete in its general price range but are larger, including the Infiniti QX56, Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, but these won't be able to keep up in serious 4x4 territory.