Ride smoothness
The ride is fantastic. It easily outperforms the Lexus RX in this area. It's smooth, but not unresponsive and completely absorbs all but the largest pavement imperfects.
Quietness
It is very quiet. There is just enough engine and road noise for appropriate driver feedback, but nearly zero wind and external environmental noise. Again, this is a big step up from the Lexus RX.
Front seat room
There is plenty of room in the front seat area. It feels open and spacious. Tall drivers might find they would like a little more headroom or the ability to lower the seat another inch.
Rear seat room & comfort
The rear set is large and fairly comfortable with plenty of leg room and easy access. The rear seat backs recline, making them more comfortable for travel.
Feature availability
There are so many options - panoramic sunroof, backup camera, keyless start, power liftgate, HID headlights, dual-zone climate, memory seats, Bluetooth, NAV, and power fold rear seats. Large dispaly for radio/climate controls.
Exterior styling
The original body style looked sportier and more distinctive. The 2009 redesign replaced the unique tail lights with a more mundane design that looks like any other Toyota or Hyundai. The front bumper looks like it's too high off the ground
Fuel economy
Fuel economy in town has been below 16MPG. It's not bad, but the lack of economy does not deliver exciting performance as it does with other similarly sized SUV's that get comparable mileage.
Front seat support & comfort
Overall, the seat is too soft. The seatback is completely lacking in lateral support and the cushion is too short with no thigh support. It's fine for around town driving, but tiring after just an hour of highway travel. The lumbar support is decent, b
Price or payments
The base price is not too bad, but moving up trim levels and adding options can increase that as much as 80%. Still, fully equipped, it's over $5,000 less than a comparable Lexus RX.
Safety & braking
The brakes are far too mushy feeling and stopping distances are too long. You can really feel the weight of the vehicle when you need to brake suddenly.
