Car safety is a top priority for many drivers when purchasing a new vehicle. With advances in technology and safety features, car manufacturers are constantly striving to make their vehicles safer and more secure. However, not all vehicles are created equal regarding safety ratings and rankings. Recently, Car and Driver released its list of the safest cars of 2022, and it may be a surprise that only two Lexus models made the cut.

1. The 2022 Lexus ES has advanced safety features, earning it high safety ratings

Regarding safety ratings, the 2022 Lexus ES received high overall scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The frontal barrier crash rating for the driver’s side was rated as good, the side crash rating was rated as high, and the combined side rating for the front and rear seats was highly rated as well. These ratings indicate that the Lexus ES has excellent crashworthiness and is well-equipped to protect occupants in the event of a collision.

According to Car and Driver, all ES models come standard with Lexus’ Safety System+ 2.5. This is a suite of advanced driver-assistance features designed to enhance the vehicle’s and its occupants’ safety and security. These features include pedestrian and cyclist detection. It uses radar and cameras to detect potential collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, with the ability to automatically apply the brakes to prevent or mitigate accidents.

The ES also has automated emergency braking, which can detect potential collisions with other vehicles and objects and can apply the brakes to prevent or reduce the severity of accidents.

2. The 2022 Lexus IS made it onto Car and Driver’s list of the safest cars of 2022 

Lexus made some important modifications, such as modifying the footwell, the front of the car, and its doors to improve its crash resistance. These changes translated into good IIHS crash-test ratings across the board. In particular, the 2022 Lexus IS received a good rating for overall frontal barrier crash, overall side crash, and rollover ratings.

Interestingly, the standard headlights on the base model of the IS received a higher rating than the optional Premium Triple-Beam LED projector headlights. According to IIHS, the output of the triple beams was not great when measured for headlight distances. However, it’s worth noting that these headlights are optional, and the standard headlights on the base model still provide good visibility and safety and also received a higher rating from the IIHS.

With the IS, Lexus still includes a number of driver-assistance systems as standard equipment. These attributes include, among others, the identification of pedestrians and cyclists, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2023 Lexus ES and IS come with some safety upgrades

The 2022 Lexus ES and IS have impressive safety features and ratings, but it’s worth noting that the 2023 versions of these vehicles incorporate even more advanced safety technologies.

For instance, the 2023 ES comes standard with the new Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which includes new features like front cross-traffic alert and left-turn assistance. Additionally, the 2023 ES offers an available advanced safety package with features like lane-departure prevention, a 360-degree camera, and adaptive headlights.

The 2023 Lexus IS also offers new safety features, showing that the IS continues to prioritize safety and offers advanced driver-assistance technologies to help prevent accidents and protect occupants in the event of a collision.

Overall, the 2022 Lexus ES and IS are already among the safest Lexus cars on the market, but the 2023 versions raise the bar even higher with their advanced safety features and technologies. As always, Lexus expresses committment to providing drivers and passengers with the highest level of safety and protection on the road.