The 2016 Lexus GX offers off-road prowess that few buyers really need, but it is comfortable inside and on the road.

Anyone who’s driven a true body-on-frame, truck-based SUV like the GX before will probably feel right at home in it. With a 301-horsepower V-8,it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is slow for a V-8.The 6-speed automatic transmission provides quick, smooth shifts, so at least there are no flat spots in the power delivery. The standard Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System is a mixed blessing.It helps keep the vehicle level in corners and in precarious off-road situations, yet it creates a jittery feeling at times on pavement. Ride quality is otherwise good, and the cabin is quiet, as a Lexus should be inside.Light, long-ratio steering and a soft brake pedal enforce the idea that it’s a traditional SUV at heart.