Used 2010 Lexus GX 460

Take a glance at any online dating site and you'll likely see ads from people eager to let you know they can do it all with ease. The men will proudly state, "I'm as comfortable in a suit as I am in jeans and a T-shirt" while the ladies will likewise boast, "I'm as comfortable in an evening gown as I am in sweats and a ponytail." Well, if the 2010 Lexus GX 460 were looking for a companion, it could brag about having a similarly well-rounded nature.

The GX 460 is the little brother of Lexus' superb full-size LX 570. Like the LX, the midsize GX 460 is a luxury SUV that has the ability to mimic an LS 460 or Toyota FJ Cruiser, depending on what the owner wants at any given moment. In fact, the GX shares its rugged chassis components with the FJ Cruiser and the related Toyota 4Runner. However, it also offers V8 power, three rows of seating and traditional Lexus levels of luxury and refinement.

Yes, there are plenty of other luxury midsize SUVs. But most of them are car-based crossovers, not burly, truck-based (body-on-frame) rigs. The 2010 Lexus GX 460 is in the latter group, so it can tackle terrain that would make most crossovers run to the safety of the mall's parking lot, yet it still manages to provide a smooth, refined ride on blacktop.

The GX 460's most formidable rival is the new Land Rover LR4, which offers a lower starting price and similarly ensconces its occupants in luxury while being able to transport them to Hell (Michigan) — don't laugh, it's a popular place with fishermen and mountain bikers — and back. It also features considerably more power and a more adult-friendly third row.

But Lexus sports a strong reliability record, whereas Land Rover has historically been spotty in that regard. The GX 460 also beats the LR4 by an estimated 3 mpg in combined fuel economy. If we were just dating (or should we say leasing), the LR4 might get the nod. But for a long-term relationship, we'd lean toward the GX 460.