Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2017 Lexus RX

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2017 Lexus RX 4-door SUV
2016 Lexus RX shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front: driver-side
G
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
G
Roof strength
G
Head restraints & seats
G

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
AM
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
LATCH ease of use
G
+

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Lexus RX 350 4-door 4wd

The Lexus RX was redesigned for the 2016 model year.

Evaluation criteriaRating
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID CEN1537
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 10
Left toepan (cm) 11
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 5
Lower instrument panel (cm) 5

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID CEN1537
Head
HIC-15 156
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 2.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.71
Right 0.66
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 3.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 63
Right 52

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Lexus RX 350 4-door 4wd

The Lexus RX was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Evaluation criteriaMeasurement
Test ID VTF1514
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6
Left (cm) 9
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) -1
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTF1514
Head
HIC-15 221
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.7
Femur force - right (kN) 2.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 3
Knee displacement - right (mm) 3
Maximum tibia index - left 0.37
Maximum tibia index - right 0.76
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 51

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Lexus RX 350 4-door 4wd

The Lexus RX was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1513
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -24.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS1513
Head HIC-15 69
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 29
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.40
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.20
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.1
Combined force (kN) 2.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.1
L-M moment (Nm) 44
A-P moment (Nm) -33

Passenger injury measures

Evaluation criteria Measurement
Test ID VTS1513
Head HIC-15 87
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 21
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 13
Average deflection (mm) 11
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.00
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.11
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.5
Combined force (kN) 1.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 44
A-P moment (Nm) 15

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Lexus RX 350 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
G
Curb weight4,410 lbs
Peak force21,136 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.79

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
G
Dynamic rating
G
Seat/head restraint geometry
G
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 30
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.5
Head contact time (ms) 61
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 458

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim equipped with Bi-LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Bi-LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
A
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim equipped with Bi-LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Bi-LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
A
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 135.4 m 11.5%
Straightaway left edge 57.6 m 11.5%
250m radius right curve, left edge 67.0 m 34.6%
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.6 m 23.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge 75.3 m 84.6%
150m radius left curve, left edge 62.2 m 18.3%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.9 m
Straightaway left edge 136.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 99.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 98.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 74.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 83.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamp package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamp package
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
M
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve, fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamp package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamp package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
M
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 69.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 39.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 60.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 40.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.6 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 39.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 145.4 m
Straightaway left edge 128.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim
  • RX 450h trim
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
M
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual left and gradual right curves and inadequate on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Evaluation criteria Measurement
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim
  • RX 450h trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
M
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 134.9 m 35.8%
Straightaway left edge 61.5 m 35.8%
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.8 m 45.7%
250m radius left curve, left edge 58.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.6 m 29.4%
150m radius left curve, left edge 55.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 138.1 m
Straightaway left edge 130.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 54.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-19 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimRX 350
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimRX 350
Seat type leather
1 2 3
Rating iconRating
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

PositionRating
1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 84
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation