Have you ever been reminded just how old you are or rather in my case how old you are not ? I spent this whole entire week being referred to as Uncle, Baller or even Tycoon. No, I haven't won the lottery, not yet at least, I was just driving the Lexus GX 550 in the SE guise.

This car is Lexus's answer to cars like the Land Rover Defender, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and the Toyota Land Cruiser 250. Tall ask to beat or even hold a flame to some of the cars mentioned above, so then my job was to find out whether if you had the money for any one of those would you rather go for this instead? Lets see.

Initial thoughts? This thing is absolutely massive, and to think that this is the smallest one as just above it sits the bigger LX model which gets even more posh. Anyways here is a premium offering that wears sophisticated and class on its sleeves whilst packing some well welcomed tricks that leave one smirking in impression, starting on the what we can see -

The SE guise gets you these good looking 22 inch wheels that ride on normal tyres than the off-road specific rubber you get on the overtrail guise, a posh two-tone paint job titled Mercury Grey with contrasting darker grey and black panels that give the car much more character aesthetically. Not short of swagger and or presence one bit, maybe you could even get some noticed parking along the likes of the G-Class.

The front features a massive grille with a Lexus badge on it, flanked by two LED headlights that consist of a bright main beam below and individual LED lights above, separated by a signature Lexus LED daytime running light fixture. The lower bumper has fog lights and blind spot lights that illuminate when you turn your steering wheel, helping you see what's beside your path to avoid curbing the wheel-pretty neat.

Come along the side you have massive squared arches that come in handy for wading high waters and showcasing those big boy fitted wheels and my favorite touch, the electronic side step that ejects and folds away when you open and close the door to help you in or out the tall chariot without breaking a sweat. The GX measures approximately 5,005–5,015 mm in length and 1,980–1,990 mm, in width, and 1,921–1,935 mm in height.

Along the rear you have a a LED light bar that runs across the entire width of the electronically operated boot lid that also has a neat trick which is a the ability to open the glass like you would do in a BMW X5 or 3 series touring for an easier access into the boot area instead of opening the huge boot. As standard the GX comes with a Tow hitch attached for all the towing needs but for a cleaner look, one can simply unscrew it out if they feel the need to do so.

Overall the appearance of the vehicle is unmistakable and unmissable, it has a very good sense of presence which in this SE guise is a more premium road car aesthetic that looks like something out of a presidential fleet. Everyone will see you coming, a problem if you are a shy person like myself because it is all eyes on you.

The same goes for the inside " big and large" was clearly the theme. But still, there's a blend of soft-touch materials, leatherette paneling, brushed steel, and two-tone seats. A dual-zone climate for the front, second, and third rows ? Sign me up! It is quite intimidating to first step foot in the driver's seat ; it almost feels like you'd need a special license to operate the sheer size of this thing. However, thanks to the combination of huge mirrors and squared-off shaped windows, your visibility is okay, which gives off the feeling of some kind of competence-minus the rear window ; you can't really see what's back there clearly.

The interior has a driver centric layout that features a massive 14-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Something I thought I would never say but, I love this screen. It is so simple and easy to use, there is a button for the safety systems activations which there are only six of because overkill for Lexus just ain't it. The GX also boasts a 360-degree camera system, 10 airbags, and a Blind Spot Monitor.

There is a button for the climate control along the lower parts of the screen which stays displayed on your screen with some physical dials that are somehow integrated into the screen used to turn on the fast acting air conditioning system, and most of all it was so easy to connect my phone! Simple.

The seats were finished in this dual-tone leather consisting of a grey and dark grey palette, electrically adjustable for the passenger and driver, which is always well welcomed. The cabin consists of a wood trim for a more classic "luxury" that not only looks good but feels good to touch. Overall, the build quality is solid and well-built, while consisting of ample storage spaces and a cooler box in the center console, because why not?

You can carry a good chunk of every last of your family members and one neighbor because the vehicle actually is a seven seater. The third row is electronically operated and they've thought about adding the operating buttons at the boot and either side of the rear passengers doors which is very good from Lexus, nice.

Put your foot on the brake, start it up, and awaken the beast that is the 3.4L V6, which churns out 265 kW and a meaty 650 Nm, all being properly rationed through the four tires via a 10-speed automatic gearbox. This engine is said to achieve a 0- 100 km /h time in 7 seconds flat, provide a fuel consumption figure of 12 L per 100 km, and top out at 175 km /h. I can prove one of those claims to be a bit too optimistic, and that is the fuel consumption, because the lowest I achieved in ECO mode was 19.2L per 100 km, but still, could you complain?

The engine sounds sublime and eggs you on, whether you fool yourself into thinking you're not going to floor it again. The gearbox changes so smoothly that you hardly even notice. However, when you are coming to a complete stop, there is a noticeable clunk as the gear engages first, which had me a bit worried. Nonetheless, the GX has a powerful engine that serves the heavy vehicle well, ensuring that there is more than enough pull and shove when you need it-and literally when you don't.

The drive is one that gives you pride and quickly makes you feel like "you've officially made it in life," thanks to the bulky, high-ride demeanor of the vehicle and also because of its badass looks. Although very top-heavy and bouncy, typically in any ladder-on-frame setup, the car is quite easy to steer and control on the busy highways and neighborhood areas. Of course, the cool factor is not lost because when the car approaches you, you know exactly what you're looking at.

What does one have here? A perfect family commuter that takes practicality, ride comfort, and off-road capability quite seriously and manages to do so without gimmicks and being overly complicated. These good points do, however, have a downside in that the fuel tank is just too small for the gas-guzzling six-cylinder that sits at the front, but I don't think this is an issue for owners who are well within the range of affording such a costly vehicle.

As far as pricing is concerned, the GX is priced at R1,866,500 and comes equipped with a 7-year/100, 000 km maintenance plan upon purchase. I think, compared to its closest rivals, it is definitely the pick of the bunch simply by being able to blend into daily life as a more livable option while packing that good old reliability factor to put one's mind at ease, guaranteeing smiles per gallon.