Lexus RZ rated five-star safe under new 2023 ANCAP test criteria

The 2023 Lexus RZ has become the first vehicle tested against ANCAP’s latest 2023-2025 test criteria – and the first to be awarded a full five-star rating under the stricter new assessment protocol.

The new mid-size luxury electric SUV – the sister model to Toyota Australia’s long-awaited first EV, the delayed-again bZ4X – was awarded 87 per cent for its adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 84 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 84 per cent for its safety assist systems.

That was more than enough to satisfy ANCAP’s 80, 80, 70 and 70 per cent thresholds, leading to a maximum five-star safety rating.

An important detail here is the fact the vulnerable road user protection threshold for a five-star rating has been upped from 60 to 70 per cent under the new protocols (other star thresholds have also increased), while myriad testing and scoring practices have been overhauled or added.

For starters, a greater focus has been put on vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility through the doubling of possible penalty points – now eight instead of four – while performance standards for occupant restraints have been upped considerably.

Other changes include the examining of a vehicle’s ability to detect and avoid collisions with motorcycles via autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring and lane-support systems, as well as assessment of cyclist anti-dooring functions, head-on and intersection-crossing AEB performance, and the direct examination of driver monitoring functionality.

Also added to the mix from 2023 is the assessment of how easy a vehicle is to get out of when submerged, evaluation of in-cabin systems that detect if a child has been left in a vehicle and the reverse AEB’s ability to detect and react to child pedestrians.

“Against the new 2023 criteria, the Lexus RZ satisfied the cyclist anti-dooring requirements, demonstrating its ability to warn occupants of an approaching cyclist when exiting both the front and rear doors, and to prevent door opening if needed,” testers said.

“Vehicle submergence requirements for door and window opening were also met.”

‘Good’ scores were also awarded in the new lane support and autonomous emergency braking scenarios, including those with a stationary and braking motorcycle, and in intersection turning scenarios involving an oncoming motorcycle.

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