The 2022 Lexus NX marks a significant redesign for this luxury compact SUV, introducing updated safety features and performance metrics. For prospective buyers prioritizing safety, understanding independent evaluations is crucial. This report delves into the 2022 Lexus NX car and driver ratings, focusing on crash test performance and safety assessments from leading institutions.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has conducted rigorous testing on the 2022 Lexus NX, providing detailed insights into its crashworthiness across various scenarios. These tests evaluate how well the vehicle protects occupants in different types of collisions. Below is a breakdown of the 2022 Lexus NX’s performance in key IIHS crash tests.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test as it concentrates crash forces on a limited area, bypassing the main energy-absorbing structures of the car.
Rating for 2022-25 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Chest: Good (G)
- Hip/Thigh: Good (G)
- Lower Leg/Foot: Good (G)
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good (G)
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test:
| Measurement Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | |
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max (cm) | 2 |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Left Toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake Pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Parking Brake (cm) | 0 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average (cm) | 0 |
| Steering Column (cm) | 2 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max (cm) | 2 |
| Upper Dash (cm) | 2 |
| Lower Instrument Panel (cm) | 2 |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 165 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 12 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 29 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 1.0 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 1.0 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Left | 0 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.28 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.28 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 1.3 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 2.0 |
| Foot Acceleration – Left (g) | 41 |
| Foot Acceleration – Right (g) | 75 |
The 2022 Lexus NX demonstrated “Good” performance in the driver-side small overlap front test, indicating a robust safety cage and effective occupant protection.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side small overlap front test assesses occupant protection for the front passenger in a similar collision scenario.
Rating for 2022-25 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
- Passenger Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Chest: Good (G)
- Hip/Thigh: Good (G)
- Lower Leg/Foot: Acceptable (A)
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good (G)
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Chest: Good (G)
- Hip/Thigh: Good (G)
- Lower Leg/Foot: Good (G)
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good (G)
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test:
| Measurement Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side) | |
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max (cm) | 3 |
| Footrest (cm) | 4 |
| Right Toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Center Toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average (cm) | 0 |
| Center Dash (cm) | 3 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper Dash (cm) | 5 |
| Right Lower Dash (cm) | 7 |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 83 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 1.0 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 5.2 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 3 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 8 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Left | 0 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Right | 5 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.47 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.96 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 3.2 |
| Foot Acceleration – Left (g) | 63 |
| Foot Acceleration – Right (g) | 53 |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 130 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.23 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 31 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 0.8 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 0.8 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 1 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Left | 0 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) – Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.24 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.29 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 0.9 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 1.1 |
| Foot Acceleration – Left (g) | 37 |
| Foot Acceleration – Right (g) | 49 |
The 2022 Lexus NX also achieved a “Good” rating on the passenger side small overlap front test, with a slightly lower “Acceptable” rating for passenger lower leg/foot injury measures, but overall demonstrating strong passenger protection.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
The moderate overlap front test involves 40% of the vehicle’s front width impacting a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test is designed to represent a common type of frontal collision.
Rating for 2022-25 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Chest: Good (G)
- Leg/Foot, Left: Good (G)
- Leg/Foot, Right: Good (G)
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: Good (G)
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front Test:
| Measurement Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | |
| Footwell Intrusion – Footrest (cm) | 2 |
| Footwell Intrusion – Left (cm) | 4 |
| Footwell Intrusion – Center (cm) | 4 |
| Footwell Intrusion – Right (cm) | 4 |
| Footwell Intrusion – Brake Pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement – Left (cm) | 1 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement – Right (cm) | 1 |
| Steering Column Movement – Upward (cm) | 0 |
| Steering Column Movement – Rearward (cm) | 0 |
| A-Pillar Rearward Movement (cm) | 0 |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 166 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 13 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 28 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 1.3 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 1.4 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 2 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 2 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.18 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.45 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 2.8 |
| Foot Acceleration – Left (g) | 53 |
| Foot Acceleration – Right (g) | 42 |
In the moderate overlap front test, the 2022 Lexus NX again earned a “Good” rating, indicating consistent and strong performance in frontal crash scenarios.
Side: Original Test
The side crash test evaluates vehicle safety in side-impact collisions, a particularly dangerous type of accident.
Rating for 2022-23 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Structure and Safety Cage: Good (G)
- Driver Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Torso: Good (G)
- Pelvis/Leg: Good (G)
- Driver Head Protection: Good (G)
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures:
- Head/Neck: Good (G)
- Torso: Good (G)
- Pelvis/Leg: Good (G)
- Rear Passenger Head Protection: Good (G)
Technical Measurements – Side Crash Test:
| Measurement Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | |
| B-Pillar to Longitudinal Centerline of Driver’s Seat (cm) | -23.0 |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 176 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 24 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 2.14 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.28 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 2.9 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 53 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | -35 |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head HIC-15 | 154 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder Lateral Deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Shoulder Lateral Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Torso Average Deflection (mm) | 16 |
| Torso Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 2.41 |
| Torso Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.24 |
| Pelvis Iliac Force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum Force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Pelvis Combined Force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Left Femur L-M Force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Left Femur L-M Moment (Nm) | 42 |
| Left Femur A-P Moment (Nm) | -29 |
The 2022 Lexus NX excelled in the side crash test, earning “Good” ratings across all driver and rear passenger injury measures, highlighting robust side-impact protection.
Roof Strength
The roof strength test evaluates the structural integrity of the roof in rollover accidents.
Rating for 2022-23 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Curb Weight: 3,843 lbs
- Peak Force: 19,274 lbs
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio: 5.02
With a “Good” roof strength rating and a strong strength-to-weight ratio, the 2022 Lexus NX demonstrates good protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of head restraints and seats in preventing neck injuries in rear-end collisions.
Seat Type: Power Leather Seat
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G)
- Dynamic Rating: Good (G)
- Seat/Head Restraint Geometry: Good (G)
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats:
| Measurement Category | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 14 |
| Distance Below Top of Head (mm) | 6 |
| Seat Design Parameters | |
| Pass/Fail | Pass |
| Max T1 Acceleration (g) | 14.6 |
| Head Contact Time (ms) | 59 |
| Force Rating | 1 |
| Neck Forces | |
| Max Neck Shear Force (N) | 0 |
| Max Neck Tension (N) | 276 |
The 2022 Lexus NX received a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, indicating effective design to minimize whiplash injuries in rear impacts.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2022 Lexus NX offers multiple headlight configurations.
Trim Level(s): 250, 350, 350h with Triple Beam Headlamps package
- Overall Rating: Good (G)
Trim Level(s): 250 with F SPORT HANDLING AWD package, 250 with Luxury package, 350 with F SPORT HANDLING AWD package, 350 with Luxury package, 350h with Luxury package
- Overall Rating: Good (G)
Trim Level(s): 250, 350, 350h (Standard Headlights)
- Overall Rating: Good (G)
Across all three headlight variations tested, the 2022 Lexus NX achieves a “Good” overall rating, demonstrating effective illumination and controlled glare in various driving conditions.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
The 2022 Lexus NX comes standard with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention systems.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention (2022-23 Models):
- Overall Evaluation: Superior
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day & Night – 2022-25 Models):
- Overall Evaluation (Day): Superior
- Overall Evaluation (Night): Superior (with high-beam assist credit)
The 2022 Lexus NX’s standard front crash prevention system earns “Superior” ratings in both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian detection (day and night) scenarios, indicating advanced collision avoidance capabilities.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use for child seat anchors (LATCH) is important for families.
Rating for 2022-25 Models:
- Overall Evaluation: Good (G) + Extra LATCH positions
The 2022 Lexus NX is rated “Good+” for child seat anchors, featuring additional LATCH positions and generally user-friendly hardware for secure child seat installation.
Conclusion
The 2022 Lexus NX demonstrates exceptional safety performance based on IIHS evaluations. Achieving “Good” ratings across the board in crashworthiness tests, along with “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention and a “Good+” rating for LATCH, the Lexus NX stands out as a safe choice in the luxury compact SUV segment. These 2022 Lexus NX car and driver ratings provide valuable information for consumers prioritizing safety in their vehicle purchase decisions. For detailed technical specifications and further information, refer to the IIHS reports and Lexus official website.
