The Second-Gen Lexus NX Passes The Euro NCAP Safety Tests With Flying Colours

• Scored 83 percent in Adult Occupant Protection, 87 percent in Child Occupant Protection, 83 percent in Vulnerable Road Users, and a whopping  91 percent in Safety Assists.

• Offered good protection for the front occupant’s body critical areas, with similar levels of protection even in different sizes and positions.

• Driver assists avoided  collisions in nearly all scenarios, and mitigated the impact in others.

• Expect prices to start from Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

The latest round of Euro NCAP crash tests are out, and the upcoming India-bound second-generation Lexus NX SUV has fared brilliantly. The SUV, launching on March 9, has aced the safety test with a five-star safety rating.

The model, tested in the 350h trim, comes loaded with the eight airbags, ISOFIX mounts, as well as the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite of driver assistance features. Taking on the frontal, side and rear impact tests, the NX managed to score 83 percent in Adult Occupant Protection, 87 percent in Child Occupant Protection, 83 percent in Vulnerable Road Users, and a whopping  91 percent in Safety Assists.

Some notable points from the tests were that the NX offered good protection for the front occupant’s body critical areas, with similar levels of protection even when the dummies were in different sizes and positions. Even in the side impact tests, it offered good chest protection. Whiplash protection was also considered decent. Notably, the NX features an eCall system that alerts emergency services in an accident and has the brakes applied immediately after an impact, to help avoid secondary accidents.

Further contributing to its five-star safety rating was its driver assists which worked well enough to avoid  collisions in nearly all scenarios, and mitigate the impact in others. These driver assists include auto emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, emergency steering assist, automatic high beams, and road sign recognition.

This safety rating bodes well for the next-gen Lexus NX that’s coming to India with prices expected to start from Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom). Rivals will include the  BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Audi Q5 luxury SUVs.