Triple beam vs standard headlights performance test surprise results
 

From IIHS:

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...022#headlights

Have a look at the bottom graphic which shows the performance of the standard bi-level LEDs with reference markers showing how the triple beam lights compare. In multiple areas the triple beam headlights underperform the standard ones, including straight ahead to a significant degree plus some side angles. Also the triple beam lights have more glare. When high beam assist is turned on however the triple beams are king.

I was surprised.

On the UX250 the triple beams perform well and the standard lights perform poorly in comparison which is what you’d expect. Weird.

Interesting. All I know is my triple beam performs damn well and I love'em. Look better too imo.

I didn't want them on my Ultra Lux but had to take them with the package. Glad I did because they look excellent and especially like the cornering and leveling features.

They look cool when they dance on startup. That's worth the $1,515 I paid for them 🤣🤣

I had an LS430 that did a cool alignment startup dance, I do miss that!

INDEED! I'm glad I have them too.

My last two ES, 2016 and 2018, were luxury with bi led auto leveling and were much better than my previous 2010 ES.

My 2022 ES 300h luxury has the triple beam and what have noticed is the light seems more broad and lights the road very well. I have never had another car flash it’s lights at me in either.

I prefer the triple beam for function and looks. Also the led turn signal is super bright and I doubt anyone will miss it.

Also, the DRL turns off when the side that the turn signal is operating. The 2016 and 2018 did not. I believe the incandescent turn signal is harder to see. I do not know if the standard headlight has the DRL turn off when the turn signal is on.

Federal regulations now require that the DRL must shut off when the turn signal is activated if they are in close proximity to each other, which they certainly are on the ES. I’m not sure when the reg went into effect but I believe it’s been a couple of years (my 2022 ES350 UL shuts them off).

I believe you are misreading the "reference markers" on the bottom graph. The light blue and white bar "markers" on the bottom (as well as the top) graph are the distances IIHS considers optimal for that measurement regardless of car manufacturer and headlight type.

You need to expand the "Technical measurements for this test" for each headlight type and then compare the quantitative measured distances for each measured test category. If you do so you'll find the 2022 changes to both the Triple Beam LED projector (TB LED) and standard LED projector (LED) resulted in only the "250m radius right curve, right edge" and "150m radius right curve, right edge" both high and low beam measured distances for the standard LED projector exceed the measured distances for the Triple Beam LED projector.

"250m radius right curve, right edge" - low beam: TB LED 77.3 m versus LED 80.0 m - high beam: TB LED 77.5 m versus LED 80.6 m
"150m radius right curve, right edge" - low beam: TB LED 62.2 m versus LED 62.8 m - high beam: TB LED 62.0 m versus LED 62.2 m

Granted starting with the 2022 model year Lexus significantly improved the illumination distances for the standard LED projector headlights but except for the above listed measurements the Triple Beam LED projector headlights still have the greater illumination distances.

If you want to see the changes in illumination distances for both headlight types between the prior 2019-2021 model years' versions and the 2022 and subsequent model years' versions see my Adaptive Headlights -- How do I find these? post #9 where I included measured illumination distance comparison tables for prior and current implementations for both headlight types.

When I wanted to buy this car, when I saw the pictures and there were no triple-beam headlights, I just skipped.

Same here. The car is beautiful and sleek and the triple beams just complement it perfectly. The standard headlights may work just fine, but they don't suit the car very well cosmetically.

The average Joe would never know the difference.

Cosmetically or functionality-wise? Cause cosmetically people 100% notice the difference between the two. It's not exactly subtle.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...6ddca36446.png

Different strokes for different folks I guess. I don’t like the look of the triples, they make me think of spiders LOL.

I wanted every available option on my car except the triples and lux seats. Didn’t find exactly what I wanted but the car I ended up with was reasonably close.

Both - I'm not talking car folks. I know the difference - I have the trips in my ES, wife does not in her RX. I like the dance as I said.