Let’s get the gripes out of the way first. Compared with the rest of the goodies on offer in the new generation Lexus RX300, they’re pretty petty anyway.

Firstly, I don’t like blackened out windows in a car, even if they’re only at the sides and the rear. They’re a bit sinister looking and unfair as you don’t know who is looking out at you.

Also, after a good shower of rain, the rear parking camera on the computer screen - which should have showed up the area directly behind me - was mostly obscured with big blobs. But it worked a treat in dry weather and came in very useful when reversing in a tight area. A great safety feature.

Right. So nothing’s perfect, which perhaps makes it all the more interesting. But like every woman I appreciate being spoiled, and this was certainly the case when I test drove the new RX300 - the world’s best selling premium SUV - which besides providing a luxurious comfort zone, is also a very serious off-roader.

This is a big, solid, sporty looking, luxurious vehicle. Low and sleek and altogether quite gorgeous looking. Especially so from the rear with the neat spoiler and wide rear window which curves around the sides, as do the light clusters.

As you’d expect from Lexus, we’re talking about refinement, luxury and peak performance along with top safety levels. There’s also a lot of what they term ‘intelligent packaging’. Some a world first.

The newest version has been on Irish roads since early May this year, the same time as it was introduced to the rest of the world, and Lexus Ireland expect to sell over 100 of them this year.

We’d driven it at the Irish launch in March this year, along some fairly mild cross country routes and across fields. It handled all sorts of tracks in its stride and the suspension was what you’d expect from Lexus.

It gave me a nice feeling to be behind the wheel once again when I recently test drove the the top of the range Executive version at a cost of E67,150.

Again, it proved a gem to drive whether about town or out on the road and you can feel every one of those 299 horses pulling you when you put the foot down.

The car is longer and wider than its predecessor and has more luggage space. It also has a new platform, nine airbags, a 7% increase in fuel economy, and even higher levels of Lexus luxury than before.

Its extra bit of length doesn’t interfere with the turning circle which is still pretty good.

It comes with over E6,500 worth of extra equipment including 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, a five-speed sequential gearbox, 8 speakers, centre dash 6-CD changer, head lamp cleaners, roof rails, 9 airbags, perforated leather and a real spoiler.

Apart from the previous features - such as ABS, EBD, traction control, vehicle stability control, side impact door bars and front and rear crumple zones, cruise control, and electric/heated rear view mirrors - new features to the Executive RX300 include the driver SRS knee airbag, front and rear seat SRS curtain shield airbags, brake assist, dual zone automatic climate control, 8 speakers and 6-CD changer, a 40/20/40 split rear seat, perforated leather upholstery, sliding centre console and wood and aluminium trim.

Exterior changes include 17-inch 6 spoke alloy wheels, head lamp cleaners, roof rails and a rear spoiler.

Other goodies on the review car included satellite navigation - but for Dublin only - that rear parking camera which displays your reversing progress on the dash screen, highlighting any obstacles in the way, and a sunroof.

There’s a very solid clunk sound when you close the doors or tap on the dash. That same dash comes with a grey muddy colour on the top, changing to warm honey at its lower section, the same shade as the leather seats and carpet. Accessorise the look with bright warm wood trim and you’ll get the picture. Once you have adjusted the driver’s seat to suit your frame, simply set the seat-set buttons on the driver’s door to memorise your best seat position.

Cubbies include a large glove compartment, big door bins that pull forward for ease of getting things in and out, two big deep cup holders under the wooden topped top area of the divide between both front seats. You wouldn’t call this an armrest as it’s much too low for that purpose. Two side lids separate to reveal a very deep bin below - big enough to hold any number of CDs for your 6 CD changer.

The rear armrest, when down, reveals another big cubby and two more cup holders in the front section.

The Mark Levinson radio is one of the best I’ve come across in any car.

Combined fuel consumption has also been improved from 21.7mpg for the original RX to 23.2mpg for the latest version, a best in class figure for premium SUVs equipped with 6-cylinder petrol engines.

Its aerodynamic body and higher-performance tyres have increased the top speed from 112 to 124mph.

So stylish is the new RX300, you may forget that it is actually a real honest to God hard working 4x4 vehicle.