Perhaps the problem lay in the fact that the IS300 didn't have a single facet you could mark out as exceptional. Come to think of it, though, there were a couple of features that did the Lexus no favours in terms of endearment, the first of which was our fault, not its. The original custodian of the SportCross was publisher Pattison, and he requested the pseudo-estate body option as a means to scratch a midlife itch, believing a sporty load-lugger would enhance his status with the rest of the windsurfing dudes. Trouble was, most of us Tower Court dudes thought that the 'estate' rear end looked clumsy, while its steeply sloping lines robbed the SportCross of much of its supposed practical advantage over the regular saloon. Essentially it was a £28K hatchback.

Far more irritating was the automatic gearbox - standard on the six-cylinder Lexus - as its mishandling of gearshifts threw a depressing veil over the SportCross's dynamic talents. While pootling about the auto was just fine, but ask it to participate in a bout of high-revving gung-ho fun and it completely forgot its manners, clunking through shifts like a bad learner driver. Matters weren't improved by using the 'manual' buttons on the steering wheel; in fact, downshifting using the button simply highlighted how underdeveloped the gearbox was, as the changes were even rougher.

Tricky though it was at times, if you could ignore the auto's stumbling then the SportCross would impress. Its 3-litre engine wasn't massively grunty - just 211bhp - but it was as smooth as a crooner and ever-ready to rev. On one trip across Germany it proved itself happy to sit at a 125mph cruise while remaining commendably unfussed and quiet. The SportCross had a big-hearted talent for relaxed long-distance travelling.

A well-balanced rear-drive chassis combined with neat steering and nicely absorbent suspension also meant that the SportCross could be blatted down back lanes with gusto. Alas, whilst you might have enjoyed the experience, the Lexus wasn't the sort of car that encouraged you to turn around and have another crack at the same road.

With Lexus topping every ownership survey, we expected to be treated like kings by the dealers. And so it proved at the 10,000 mile service (£144) carried out by Sims Toyota of Northampton. Sims called a week in advance to confirm our booking, then collected the SportCross and returned it cleaned. Asked to investigate a noise like a failing wheel bearing, Lexus Norwich furnished us with a senior technician who suggested we swap from Yokohama tyres to Bridgestones to cure the din, which proved excellent advice.

Unfortunately, Lexus Norwich later spoiled the good vibe we had with them by being 'unable' to spare just a couple of minutes to look at headlights stuck on full beam, even though it meant the SportCross was pretty much unusable during the long hours of winter darkness. Lexus Ipswich was far more helpful, suggesting a temporary cure over the phone and insisting we come in the following day to sort out this 'potentially dangerous' problem. Sadly we weren't able to get there and the SportCross went back to Lexus still dazzling oncoming drivers.

Will the SportCross be missed? As several members of the team were barely aware it was ever here in the first place, they're unlikely to notice the loss. However - and I will be ribbed mercilessly for this confession - I'm sort of sad that it's gone. Several times when there's been a long trip to do, where comfort, quietness and good sound and navigation systems are of more consequence than being able to rag round corners on the doorhandles, I sort of wish the Lexus was still around. It wasn't the most evo of cars, but it did have its merits.