The Lexus UX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the UX deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The UX’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.
The UX has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Front Seatbacks, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Front Seatbacks system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
The UX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the UX and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus UX is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
UX |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
116 |
221 |
Neck Injury Risk |
33% |
34.5% |
Neck Compression |
17 lbs. |
23 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
376/433 lbs. |
349/594 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
290 |
360 |
Neck Stress |
163 lbs. |
195 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
94 lbs. |
99 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus UX is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
UX |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
52 |
69 |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
96 |
103 |
Spine Acceleration |
46 G’s |
46 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
12 inches |
14 inches |
HIC |
292 |
360 |
Spine Acceleration |
44 G’s |
45 G’s |
Hip Force |
919 lbs. |
970 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus UX is safer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
UX |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Structure |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.02 in |
1.34 in |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Pelvis Force |
892 lbs. |
1093 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
150 |
542 |
Head Peak Forces |
no contact |
104 G’s |
Neck Tension |
112 lbs. |
312 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
67 lbs. |
223 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso Deflection Rate |
6 MPH |
8 MPH |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |