Is Lexus one of the safest cars?
Yes. Lexus vehicles are widely considered among the safest options in the luxury segment, routinely earning high safety ratings from independent agencies and offering a robust suite of driver-assistance features across most of their lineup.
How Lexus builds safety into its lineup
Lexus has built safety into both the design and the option sheet of its vehicles, aiming to protect occupants and assist drivers through a combination of active and passive safety technologies. The company's approach emphasizes early collision avoidance, good crashworthiness, and accessible safety aids for regular drivers.
Core safety features commonly found on new Lexus models include:
- Lexus Safety System+ (or newer iterations such as Safety System+ 2.5): a suite that combines pedestrian-detection-enabled pre-collision avoidance, dynamic radar cruise control, and lane tracing assist, with road-sign assist on many trims
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability
- Lane departure alert with steering assist and lane tracing assist
- Automatic high beams and intelligent headlight control
- Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
These features are typically standard or widely available across the latest Lexus models, with newer generations offering refinements and expanded capabilities.
Independent safety ratings and awards
Independent testers like IIHS and NHTSA assess crashworthiness and avoidance capabilities. Lexus models frequently earn high marks, though results depend on the specific model and year.
Key patterns in recent years include:
- IIHS awards: Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ for a number of Lexus models, with ratings varying by optional headlights and trim
- NHTSA ratings: many recent Lexus vehicles earn five-star overall crash safety ratings, with strong performance in frontal and side crash tests
- Overall safety credentials: Lexus emphasizes a blend of passive safety (sturdy structures, airbags) and active safety (collision avoidance and driver aids)
In practice, this means a given Lexus model from recent years is often among the safer options in its class, but buyers should check the exact model-year rating and trim to confirm.
Representative models and what to check by year
Because safety ratings and features can differ by model and year, it helps to look at recent results and the specific equipment on a chosen trim. Below is a general snapshot of how Lexus has performed in the modern era.
Examples of how safety outcomes manifest across the lineup:
- Several recent Lexus models have earned IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ status, with outcomes dependent on headlights and optional safety packages
- Most current Lexus vehicles offer a five-star overall rating from NHTSA in at least some configurations, reflecting solid crash-test performance
- Standardized safety tech tends to be more comprehensive on newer models and higher trims, with a growing emphasis on sensor-based systems and updated driver aids
When shopping, verify the exact model-year’s IIHS/NHTSA results and confirm which safety features are standard or optional for the trim you’re considering.
What to check when evaluating safety in a Lexus
Because safety ratings and features can differ by model and year, here are concrete checks to perform when evaluating a Lexus on the lot or in a review.
Consider these points when comparing models or trims:
- Look up the specific IIHS Top Safety Pick/Top Safety Pick+ status for the exact model-year and trim, including headlight configurations
- Confirm which safety features are standard versus optional (e.g., Safety System+ version, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist)
- Check for advanced driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and pedestrian detection
- Review the NHTSA five-star overall rating for the same model-year
In short, verifying the precise model-year’s ratings and available safety features will give the clearest picture of safety for that Lexus.
Summary
Across its lineup, Lexus consistently positions safety as a core priority, delivering strong crash-test performance and a broad, user-friendly suite of driver-assistance technologies. While exact ratings vary by model and year, the brand’s overall safety record is robust within the luxury segment, making many Lexus vehicles strong contenders for buyers prioritizing safety.
