How safe is the Lexus RX 350?
Drivers of the 2017–2020 Lexus RX 350 died at a rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years, 84% lower than the average of 38 for all vehicles. That makes it one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver: it ranks 10th of 127 vehicles, safer than 93% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
This is the most recent IIHS data for this model, covering 2017–2020 models. It doesn't appear in the newer 2023 study, often because it was redesigned or discontinued.
Where the Lexus RX 350 sits among all 127 vehicles
Lexus RX 350 (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 38
The rate is based on plenty of data, so this ranking is reliable.
2WD vs. 4WD
IIHS rates each drivetrain separately. The score above combines them, weighting the version with more data more heavily.
| Version | Deaths* | 95% range |
|---|---|---|
| Lexus RX 350 2WD | 10 | 1–19 |
| Lexus RX 350 4WD | 5 | 0–10 |
Vehicles ranked near the Lexus RX 350
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Lexus ES 350Luxury car · Midsize | 0 | 94 |
| 8 | BMW X3 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 0 | 94 |
| 9 | Volvo XC60 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 5 | 94 |
| 10 | Lexus RX 350Luxury SUV · Midsize | 6 | 93 |
| 11 | Honda OdysseyWagon / minivan · Very large | 6 | 92 |
| 12 | Nissan MuranoSUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
| 13 | Porsche MacanLuxury SUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
How it compares with other luxury SUVs
Among the 15 luxury SUVs ranked, the Lexus RX 350 is 5th. The safest luxury SUVs are below. See all luxury SUVs.
| Luxury SUVs rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audi Q5 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 2 | 100 |
| 2 | Volvo XC90 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 4 | 98 |
| 3 | BMW X3 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 0 | 94 |
| 4 | Volvo XC60 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 5 | 94 |
| 5 | Lexus RX 350Luxury SUV · Midsize | 6 | 93 |
Common questions
Is the Lexus RX 350 a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Lexus RX 350 is one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver. Its driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years is 84% lower than the average, and it ranks 10th of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Lexus RX 350 compare with other luxury SUVs?
It ranks 5th of 15 luxury SUVs. The safest is the Audi Q5 4WD, with a rate of 2.
Is the 2WD or 4WD Lexus RX 350 safer?
The 4WD version had the lower driver death rate (2WD: 10, 4WD: 5). Their ranges overlap, so the difference may be down to chance.
Why is this different from the Lexus RX 350's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.