These Lexus Models Are Among the Safest Cars on the Road

Drive Safe

When shopping for a new vehicle, there are many considerations one typically mulls before making that pricey plunge. That list includes styling, pricing, comfort, features, and fuel economy, of course, but also safety - arguably the most underrated factor when it comes to car shopping. The good news for Lexus fans is, that the luxury brand continues to live up to its reputation of making some of the safest vehicles on the road, and that tradition continued with the recent release of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick winners.

Photos: Lexus

Criteria

The IIHS has been evaluating new vehicles and handing out Top Safety Pick honors since 2006, which aim to single out the safest models in each class This year, to earn a Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must post good ratings in the driver- and passenger-side small overlap front tests and the original moderate overlap front test, an acceptable or good rating in the updated side test, an acceptable or good headlights standard, and an advanced or superior rating for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention.

To secure a Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver- and passenger-side small overlap front tests and the original moderate overlap front test, a good rating in the updated side test, an acceptable or good headlights standard, an advanced or superior rating for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, and an advanced or superior rating for nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention.

Photos: Lexus

Lexus NX

First up on this list, we have the Lexus NX, which earned a Top Safety Pick+ award by posting the highest possible rating of "good" in every single category, as well as superior ratings in crash avoidance and mitigation - an impressive showing for the compact crossover.

Photos: Lexus

Lexus RX

The Lexus RX also earned Top Safety Pick+ honors by securing "good" or superior ratings in every single category that the IIHS tests for, which is great news considering that the crossover received a total, ground-up redesign for the 2023 model year. 

Photos: Lexus

Lexus ES 350

The only Lexus sedan to earn Top Safety Pick honors this year was the ES 350, which performed quite admirably in IIHS testing for the mid-size segment. There were only two hiccups that prevented the ES from securing top honors - a rating of "acceptable" in the updated side crash test, and an "advanced" rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian daytime front crash protection.

Photos: Lexus

Lexus RZ

Finally, we have the Lexus RZ - the brand's very first globally-available EV, which secured a Top Safety Pick+ award by posting "good" and "superior ratings in every category, save for an "acceptable" rating in terms of its headlight performance. 

Photos: Lexus

>>Join the conversation about the safest Lexus models right here at ClubLexus.com.

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