Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Lexus RX

midsize luxury SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2021 Lexus RX 4-door SUV
2020 Lexus RX shown

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
Advanced

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 2016-22 models

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

The Lexus RX was redesigned for the 2016 model year.

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.

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

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

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

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Lexus RX 350 4-door 4wd

The Lexus RX was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Beginning with the 2020 model year, the bumper and front-end structure were reinforced on the passenger side to improve occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap frontal crashes. Passenger-side small overlap ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test 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 VTP1927
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Footrest (cm) 8
Right toepan (cm) 6
Center toepan (cm) 5
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Upper dash (cm) 3
Right lower dash (cm) 3

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1927
Head
HIC-15 163
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 23
Maximum Nij 0.32
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.26
Right 0.39
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 31
Right 43

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1927
Head
HIC-15 46
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.48
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 2.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 27
Right 56

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.

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 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

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.

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 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

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

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
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
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
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 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with 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 and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam LED Headlamps package
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with 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 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 87.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 49.8 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.1 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 47.5 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 57.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 43.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 141.3 m
Straightaway left edge 137.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 76.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 79.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 57.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 58.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim
  • RX 350L trim
  • RX 450h trim
  • RX 450hL 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 Some glare

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

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 fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim
  • RX 350L trim
  • RX 450h trim
  • RX 450hL trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 114.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 56.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.0 m 30.5%
250m radius left curve, right edge 54.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.1 m 55.9%
150m radius left curve, left edge 47.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 152.3 m
Straightaway left edge 134.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 67.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 51.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 49.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built after November 2020
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built after November 2020
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built after November 2020
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built after November 2020
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
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 Excessive 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 excessive glare.

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

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling 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 2021-22 models built after November 2020
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 123.7 m 60.6%
Straightaway left edge 65.7 m 60.6%
250m radius right curve, right edge 86.5 m 116.0%
250m radius left curve, left edge 67.5 m 13.3%
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.9 m 103.1%
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 139.7 m
Straightaway left edge 136.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 81.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built before December 2020
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built before December 2020
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built before December 2020
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package; built before December 2020
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
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 Excessive 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 excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair 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.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • RX 350 trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 350L trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450h trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling LED Headlamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System package
  • RX 450hL trim equipped with Triple-Beam Auto-Leveling 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 2020-21 models built before December 2020
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 122.9 m 60.2%
Straightaway left edge 66.0 m 60.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge 82.7 m 68.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 71.5 m 52.7%
150m radius right curve, right edge 65.0 m 186.4%
150m radius left curve, left edge 61.3 m 17.2%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 141.8 m
Straightaway left edge 135.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 82.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 80.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 64.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 62.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Lexus Safety System + 2.0 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 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 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-22 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 22 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 25 mph. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Overall evaluation
+
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.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimRX 350
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
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