Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Lexus RZ

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Fully electric
2023 Lexus RZ 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
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 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Premium 4-door 4wd

The Lexus RZ was introduced in the 2023 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but started to move off the left side because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the driver-side 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 dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but moved partway off the left side, allowing the head to approach the gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags.

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 CEN2305
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 17
Footrest (cm) 2
Left toepan (cm) 1
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN2305
Head
HIC-15 97
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 39
Right 66

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e EV

The Lexus RZ was introduced in the 2023 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 RZ 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 VTP2313
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Footrest (cm) 1
Right toepan (cm) 1
Center toepan (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 5
Right lower dash (cm) 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2313
Head
HIC-15 143
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 12
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.40
Right 0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.0
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 33
Right 33

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2313
Head
HIC-15 55
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 23
Right 33

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e EV

The Lexus RZ was introduced in the 2023 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 RZ 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 VTF2313
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 8
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) 2
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2313
Head
HIC-15 208
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.9
Femur force - right (kN) 2.1
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.29
Maximum tibia index - right 0.59
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 4.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 44
Right 54

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Lexus RX 450e EV

The Lexus RZ was introduced in the 2023 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 RZ conducted by Toyota.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2326
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -25.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2326
Head
HIC-15 124
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 12
Lateral force (kN) 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 30
Average deflection (mm) 20
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.55
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.25
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2326
Head
HIC-15 82
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 6
Lateral force (kN) 0.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.76
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.31
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.1

About the side crash test

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
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 the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. 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 straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2023-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 77.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 74.1 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 46.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 131.2 m
Straightaway left edge 126.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 85.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 81.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 65.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2023-24 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, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 2.4 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2023-24 models
Superior
Superior

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 23 mph when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 35 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 27 mph and a warning was issued 1.7 seconds before impact.

About pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim450e
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 trim450e
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) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 92
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 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 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 93
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
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