Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2021 Lexus IS

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

2021 Lexus IS 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard 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 2017-24 models built after June 2017

Tested vehicle: 2017 Lexus IS 200t 4-door

The Lexus IS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with the 2017 model year, the front-end structure was reinforced and the driver door, lower hinge pillar, and sill were modified to improve occupant protection in driver-side small overlap frontal crashes.

Beginning with 2017 models built after June 2017, the front-end structure was modified again and backing material in the footwell was added or changed to further improve occupant protection in driver-side small overlap crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test of the 2017 Lexus IS built after June 2017.

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.

Forces on the left lower leg were just high enough to contribute to a moderate risk of injury.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1721
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Footrest (cm) 12
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Parking brake (cm) 9
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 4
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1721
Head
HIC-15 122
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 2.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.73
Right 0.43
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 4.3
Right 3.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 86
Right 56

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Lexus IS 300 4-door 4wd

The Lexus IS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with the 2021 model year, the passenger-side front-end structure was reinforced and the passenger door was modified to improve occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap frontal crashes. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Lexus IS conducted by Toyota.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2011
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 12
Right toepan (cm) 9
Center toepan (cm) 7
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 7
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 9
Right lower dash (cm) 7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2011
Head
HIC-15 117
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 22
Maximum Nij 0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 2.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.48
Right 0.49
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 4.2
Right 2.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 59
Right 60

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2011
Head
HIC-15 109
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.22
Right 0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 26
Right 36

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Lexus IS 250 4-door

The Lexus IS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1310
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 8
Left (cm) 8
Center (cm) 8
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 8
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 0
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1310
Head
HIC-15 187
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.31
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.9
Femur force - right (kN) 2.0
Knee displacement - left (mm) 3
Knee displacement - right (mm) 3
Maximum tibia index - left 0.68
Maximum tibia index - right 0.54
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 3.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 62
Right 54

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Lexus IS 250 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags

The Lexus IS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1306
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -17.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1306
Head HIC-15 345
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 46
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.04
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.37
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.4
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 3.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 110
A-P moment (Nm) 72

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1306
Head HIC-15 67
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 21
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 12
Average deflection (mm) 12
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.26
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.05
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 2.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 93
A-P moment (Nm) 35

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Lexus IS 300 4-door 4wd

(Curb weight from 2017 Lexus IS 200t 4-door 2wd)

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,726 lbs
Peak force17,513 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.70

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 19
Distance below top of head (mm) 5
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 16.3
Head contact time (ms) 63
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 335

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • 300 trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
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 good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 300 trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 141.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 78.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 51.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 149.2 m
Straightaway left edge 145.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 68.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 69.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 52.1 m

Trim level(s)

  • 300 trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
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 fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves, fair on the sharp left curve and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • 300 trim equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 85.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 48.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 73.5 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 42.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.1 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 154.5 m
Straightaway left edge 151.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 59.6 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 - Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 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

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 - Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-24 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 26 mph. A warning was issued 2 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2017-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimIS 300
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 only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimIS 300
Seat type leather
1 2 3
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

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
none available
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 Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
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 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
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 Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 61
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
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

About the child seat anchor evaluation