New 2016 Lexus RX 350 continues its crazy-safe legacy

The new 2016 Lexus RX 350 has the highest possible safety rating. The outgoing model has the lowest possible driver deaths.

In its first-ever small frontal overlap test, the all-new 2016 Lexus RX 350 scored as high as possible. Its “Good” rating is confirmation that Lexus and Toyota continue to build vehicles that are among the safest in the world. Coupled with a “Superior” rating for its forward collision prevention (FCP) system, the Lexus has now earned the highest possible safety rating from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS), the Top Safety Pick+.

Although the 2016 Lexus RX 350 competes with other very safe automobiles, none have its impressive record of real-world safety statistics. The RX 350 is by far the highest selling mid-size premium five-passenger crossover. It outsells its closest rival, the Cadillac SRX by two to one. Yet, even with its huge volume of sales, the outgoing generation of the RX 350 AWD had a “zero” driver deaths per million registered vehicle years (A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year). Only ten vehicles of all those sold in the U.S. market scored this well in actual safety based on crash statistics, and two others were also Toyota/Lexus brand SUVs (Highlander AWD and Sequoia AWD).

That zero includes one of the most amazing crashes ever involving an RX 350 in which… Well if you want to see it click here.