The 2020 Lexus RX earns a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when equipped with specific headlights.
The RX, a midsize luxury SUV, was evaluated for the first time in the passenger-side small overlap crash test, earning a good rating. That rating applies only to the 2020 model, when reinforcements were incorporated into the bumper and front-end structure to improve occupant protection in passenger-side small overlap crashes. The RX also scores top marks in five other crashworthiness evaluations.
To qualify for a 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. It also needs an advanced or superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and a good or acceptable headlight rating.
The RX earns a superior rating for its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system. The standard system avoided a collision in IIHS track tests at 12 and 25 mph.
The RX nearly earns the higher-tier TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, but it falls short because that award requires a good headlight rating. The SUV earns acceptable ratings for its base headlights and one of its premium headlight options, both of which are static LED projectors. Its optional curve-adaptive LED projectors earn a poor rating because they create too much glare.
This marks the fourth 2019 safety award for the Lexus brand. The 2019-20 ES, 2019 UX and 2019 NX each qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK+ awards.
