7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Loving It
Date of Review: Dec 19, 2007
The Bottom Line: Highly recommend this car. I test drove Lexus GX, Toyota Land Cruiser, BMWX5. GL was best combination of ride, comfort, price and best gas mileage rating.
I have had my GL for 4 months and have just over 10k miles. It has turned out to be everything I expected. Great acceleration (some of my passengers are startled with the quickness when I get on the highway), comfortable, sure footed in snow conditions (just went through two major storms in the last week). You still have to drive to the conditions but I felt very confident in navigating yet to be plowed roads. The vehicle has a very elegant look and I get a lot of compliments.
It sounds stupid but when acquaintances ask if I leased it, I love the look I get when I tell them that I bought it.
Initially when I picked up the vehicle there was some brake squeal at low speeds but this went away after a couple thousand miles (break in). The only minor issue I am experiencing is when I close the rear hatch with the automatic close feature it does not always grab and lock immediately. Either I have to give a little tug on the handle to get it to grab or when I start driving (with an alert showing door not closed) the door will completely close once the vehicle jostles a little. I will have this adjusted when i take the vehicle in for its first service.
I like the power 3rd row. Rear storage is good but i can't lay my golf clubs flat across the back door, have to angle them in.
Over 10k miles i have averaged 15.9 miles per gallon and i drive a mix of more highway then local (obviously with just over 10k miles in 4 months).
It takes a while to get used to lane changing, as you will read over and over the side view mirrors are on the small side for this large vehicle. Parktronic is a must have as well as the rear back up camera. My only regret is that i did not get the fully adjustable seats. I am a big guy (6'2" 260) and would like to have a little more adjustability in the seats but the leg room is more than enough. In fact this is the first car in which I do not have the seat all the way back as far as it can go.
Handling in this vehicle is great. Very little body lean in sharp turns. It really feels like a car.
Harmon Kardon sound system is great and love the Sirius satellite radio.
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