It can sometimes be difficult these days to categorise SUV's, thanks to all the little sub-divisions that seem to blossom every other week, but there's no problem at all classifying this one.
This is the new Lexus LX570, and it falls squarely into the big, luxurious SUV category. It never claims to corner better than a sports car. It doesn't cater to some niche crowd with crazy coupé-like styling, and it can't skeddadle from 0-100 in the blink of an eye.
What it does do, however, is carry up to eight people (yes, eight) in splendid regalness, high enough to look down upon almost all other road users. It can also go off-road as all true SUV's should.
It bears an uncanny resemblance to Toyota's Land Cruiser VX - and for good reason. The LX is indeed a spruced-up version of the Toyota with a bigger engine, totally reworked suspension, Lexified styling and an entirely new fascia.
Think of it as a Land Cruiser tarted up for prom night.
In place of the Cruiser's 4.7 V8 is a 5.7-litre block with an additional 68kW and 120Nm to total 270 and 530 respectively. Put foot and the six-speed gearbox (Cruiser has only five) kicks down a cog and all of its 2.7 tons bound forward.
You get the feeling there's a lot of power under the bonnet, judging by the metallic screams coming from under there, but the vehicle's weight sucks up much of its accelerative capability. Even so, it's capable of sub-10 second 0-100km/h sprints, according to our test equipment.
Luckily Lexus' waftability genes have carried over from the LS460 sedan we recently road tested and the LX570's ride is one of its strongest attributes.
The entire suspension system's been removed from the Land Cruiser and replaced with a pneumatic one that makes the road feel like it's made of marshmallows.
There are three settings (comfort, normal and sport) but in true Goldilocks style the softest is too wallowy and the hardest too firm. Leave it in the just-right middle mode for most effective creaminess.
The cabin's as quiet as City Power's offices on a Friday afternoon, but a standard 19-speaker sound system can make it seem as though the Parlotones are playing live in the back two rows of seats.
There's also a flip-down 230mm monitor for back-seat occupants to enjoy DVDs on, but when in use it all but eliminates rearward visibility for the driver.
In true Lexus style there's little to choose from option-wise. Everything from a touch-screen infotainment system with hard-drive storage and navigation, to swivelling high-intensity discharge headlights is included in its hefty R1 110 700 pricetag. The only options are exterior and leather colours.
The rearmost seats fold up sideways Land Cruiser-style but the Lexus gets a middle seatbelt back there to make seating total eight. I wouldn't like to spend more than a few minutes back there, though, unless I was less than eight years old. Space is limited.
The seats fold down manually and require a little force from the old triceps making it all the more peculiar that they fold up at the push of a button.
CRAWL CONTROL
Lexus has done a decent job with the LX's off-roading credentials and with the help of the air suspension that can be raised for bundu bashing, it's actually quite capable.
There's also a crawl control feature that works much like hill descent control in other 4x4s but in this case also works on uphills and flat ground to maintain a steady (slow) speed without any throttle input.
There are three selectable crawl speeds via a toggle switch near the gearlever and, when engaged this luxurious LX makes like a military tank, ie unstoppable.
The system works with the antilock braking pump to keep all four wheels in check at all times and, if you know anything about ABS pumps you'll know they're very noisy.
There's a constant, vibrating drone filling the cabin while crawling as the pump directs fluid to the four individual brake callipers. It's about as subtle as an air raid.
The LX570 managed our off-road test course with ease, but hairier situations might be compromised by the eye-pleasing full-length running boards - and its sheer size.
A few complaints for the people at Lexus: Lose the touch screen! It's way too complicated. And simplify the climate control. To go from full hot to full cold can take up to 32 button-pushes, literally, and that's just for one of four operable climate "zones".
Lastly, the central locking system needs looking at. Almost all other cars on the market can unlock all doors when the key's pulled out of the ignition and require just one push of the key to unlock. This one needs at least three.
VERDICT
At over a million rands, Lexus will never set the market alight with its flagship (in SA) vehicle. Not when its Land Cruiser sister is coming in at almost two hundred grand less. And for this price you can get a really nice BMW X5 or Range Rover which I'd prefer.
But the LX570 is one helluva statement on the road thanks to its sheer presence and it is one of, if not the most comfortable SUV's available.