Overall Crashworthiness Evaluations, current models LUXURY SUVs

RX got poor rating in the new test again for: Rear crash protection

 

Not surprising. Seeing as the chassis wasn't redesigned, they probably didn't test it again. It will be interesting to see if the 2009 does better, but I wouldn't have expected any improvement for the '07 or '08 based on previous poor ratings for the same generation.

 

Wait a minute, do the folks @ www.activelysafe.com know about this?

 

No wonder the site shows the simulated picture for lexus frontal crash only on the splash page with "Crash damage simulated" and higlight "The safest Accidents"

 

Come on, these comparisons are becoming more and more ridiculous. Every year, the benchmark gets higher and higher. If the RX was at the top 4 years ago then it's not gonna be now since standards get improved. The RX is 4 years old and it won't be able to compete completely with models that just came out. The new RX will incorporate new safety standards and it'll get better rating.

 

You have a valid point. Safety improvements occur when their is a platform revamp. So, as long as we all know where the comparisons are... we are ok.

 

Has anyone truly bought a vehicle based on particular crash ratings? I know if we were on a Volvo forum the roars would be deafening, but seriously...

"Hmmm, doesn't have any of the features I want and it's uglier than a bucketful of suck, but it ranked first in overall crashworthiness testing so I'll buy it."

...I just can't imagine myself doing that. Obviously I want any vehicle to be safe, but I genuinely think that's a given these days, at least in anything above the subcompact market.

 

With all due respects, do you want the safest car or you want to cherry pick which benchmark to believe in order to believe RX is the safest?

4 years ago RX has a different chasis, the RX300 did quite well http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_res...nts.aspx?lexus getting a "Good", improved from an "Acceptable" in 1999. Kudos for Lexus to make improvements in the past.

Actually IIHS is fairly good at updating. In addition to the RX300 update, IIHS reflected a recent running change that Acura made on 2007 MDX. From May 2007, all MDXs get a better headrest to minimize whip lash neck injuries, IIHS updated the MDX rear crash protection rating from "Marginal" to "Good"
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_res...nts.aspx?acura
Let's hope Lexus makes similar improvement for 2008 RX350. I am sure all RX350 owners are eager to see what Lexus will do to improve safety rating.

 

you are absolutely correct. these reviews never take this stuff into account. recently there was a review on convertible safety and the audi A4 cabrio got low reviews for safety even though it was incredibly safe when it came out like 6 years ago, meeting and/or exceeding the expectations. the current model is on its way out, but of course the reviewers never acknowledge this or somehow weight it in their comparo.

 

Rear crash safety is an acknowledged weakness among many, many vehicle models of different makes and types. For instance in the past LS, the rating for rear crash safety was lower than for everywhere else. This is possibly a reason why Lexus introduced a rear pre-crash safety system for the LS 460. In reading different makes' results on IIHS, I found rear crash safety to be where many models score lowest.

With the new RX, it's likely the Lexus Pre-Collision System will be introduced, albeit for frontal impact. But it's also possible the rear safety will be improved.

 

I agree with your disagreement?

No one is cherry picking safety standard. The 2008 RX350 didn't have any significant redesign in term of safety thus is the same as the 2004 model, while the MDX is all new for 2007. That's where the disparity lies. The 2007 MDX is new hotness (in safety, etc) compared to the RX's old busted hotness.

 

not surprised

 

Wait a year...let's see what reviews the new RX gets.

 

Exactly, some components from the RX350 are modular enough that Lexus can make improvements on. Better impact absorbing rear bumper and head rests can be made without modification of the rest of the chassis.

 

I think Toyota-Lexus will take it a much higher bar, when it rolls out its 09 RX.