Quiet and comfortable, totally worth it

I didn't think I was a Lexus person and certainly not an SUV person. I was wrong.

For the same price as a sedan, I get a wonderfully comfortable ride and lots of storage space. Did I mention the seat heaters, great stereo, and 2 buttons to pre-set control positions for different drivers?

I'd suggest this vehicle to anyone, unless your first priority is good gas mileage. This is not a big SUV, but gas mileage hovers around 19 MPG with city driving. We get around 21 highway. There is a convenient electronic system that tracks this for you. I've become addicted to the little timer that says how long you've been on the road.

After test driving locally and falling in love with the car, we purchased online by emailing several dealers across the country and agreeing on a good price. Prices ranged by about $4000.

In terms of reliability, for peace of mind, we went for a qualified pre-owned, which increased the price by about $1500. So far, we have had no problems at all. I have avoided the Lexus dealer for oil changes since they charge about $100. The dealership itself has a lovely waiting area and snacks, but still not worth the extra money.