MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Small Overlap:

Side Impact:

Overall ranking and explanation: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh.../lexus/rc/2015

RXSF

I was surprised they tested three lexus models in this round, the RC, NX, and CT. All got good small overlap scores!

EvolutionR

Damn that rim flew away lol

UCSB

Could have been better ... the top few bars on the rating are grey, not green. Just for fun, I looked at the 2015 Subaru Outback ... all bars in rating are green and it is rated at Superior. So a car that cost about half as much does a much better job. Just a reality check.

EvolutionR

But we are a smaller car two door

Flic1

My question is what color combo is that?? Silver lining/Playa? Beautiful!!

UCSB

Then look at the ES, GS or LS ... all larger and even lower ratings than the RC. My point is that I think Lexus needs to do better.

IS JOE

The green bar with the superior rating is the frontal crash avoidance rating, which has nothing to do with the structural rigidity or the survivability of the car in an actual crash.

It's a rating for the pre-collision system (or eyesight as subaru calls it). This is the system with the forward looking radar that detects a eminent crash and applies the brakes for you. The subaru stopped the car, where the lexus did not. If you read about the lexus pre-collision system, it's designed to prepare the brakes and in certain situations apply the brakes to reduce the speed of the vehicle. For whatever reason, it does not look like it is designed to actually stop the car, which is why lexus lost points. This is also why the ES, GS and LS lost points, because of the different support for the autobrake feature.

You could say that Lexus should do better with pre-collision, and that's fair, but please don't confuse it for the actual crash test ratings which the cars did very well. In fact, even for subaru, the crash prevention system is optional equipment, which means if you don't purchase that option, you have zero forward crash prevention protection.