The Lexus RZ has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.
With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus RZ is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
|
RZ |
Ioniq 5 |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Crossing Child - DAY |
|
12 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH |
AVOIDED |
-22 MPH |
|
Crossing Adult - NIGHT |
|
12 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
12 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-20 MPH |
25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-3 MPH |
|
Parallel Adult - NIGHT |
|
25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
Warning Issued-Low beams |
1.7 sec |
1.5 sec |
The RZ has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Both the RZ and the Ioniq 5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus RZ is safer than the Ioniq 5:
|
RZ |
Ioniq 5 |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Structure |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
124 |
129 |
Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Shoulder Deflection |
.47 in |
1.34 in |
Shoulder Force |
156 lbs. |
312 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.18 in |
1.46 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
6 MPH |
7 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
82 |
143 |
Neck Tension |
22 lbs. |
134 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Shoulder Deflection |
.24 in |
.55 in |
Shoulder Force |
112 lbs. |
134 lbs. |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Pelvis Force |
469 lbs. |
1093 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |