How safe is the Lexus NX 300?
Drivers of the 2018–2020 Lexus NX 300 died at a rate of 8 per million registered vehicle years, 77% 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 21st of 127 vehicles, safer than 84% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
This is the most recent IIHS data for this model, covering 2018–2020 models. It doesn't appear in the newer 2023 study, often because it was redesigned or discontinued.
Where the Lexus NX 300 sits among all 127 vehicles
Lexus NX 300 (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 NX 300 2WD | 6 | 0–17 |
| Lexus NX 300 4WD | 13 | 0–32 |
Vehicles ranked near the Lexus NX 300
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Acura MDXLuxury SUV · Midsize | 7 | 87 |
| 19 | Lexus RX 450h 4WDLuxury SUV · Midsize | 7 | 85 |
| 20 | Ford EdgeSUV · Midsize | 8 | 85 |
| 21 | Lexus NX 300Luxury SUV · Midsize | 8 | 84 |
| 22 | Chevrolet BoltCar · Small | 8 | 83 |
| 23 | Chevrolet TraverseSUV · Midsize | 9 | 83 |
| 24 | Honda PilotSUV · Midsize | 9 | 82 |
How it compares with other luxury SUVs
Among the 15 luxury SUVs ranked, the Lexus NX 300 is 11th. 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 |
| 11 | Lexus NX 300Luxury SUV · Midsize | 8 | 84 |
Common questions
Is the Lexus NX 300 a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Lexus NX 300 is one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver. Its driver death rate of 8 per million registered vehicle years is 77% lower than the average, and it ranks 21st of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Lexus NX 300 compare with other luxury SUVs?
It ranks 11th of 15 luxury SUVs. The safest is the Audi Q5 4WD, with a rate of 2.
Is the 2WD or 4WD Lexus NX 300 safer?
The 2WD version had the lower driver death rate (2WD: 6, 4WD: 13). Their ranges overlap, so the difference may be down to chance.
Why is this different from the Lexus NX 300'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.