Used car safety, rank #13 of 181
Lexus NX 300 2WD Safety Rating (2018-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2018-20 Lexus NX 300 2WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionThe 2018-20 Lexus NX 300 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9, which is 45% below the class average. That places it #13 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 93.6/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation, and it typically sells used for $22,000 to $32,000.
What the Lexus NX 300 death rate means
At 6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Lexus NX 300 2WD beats the midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9 by 45%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 17, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 27 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Lexus NX 300. It is higher than the Lexus NX 300's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Lexus NX 300 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the BMW X3 4WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 4WD | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 98.6 | 2.5/5 | $22,000 to $36,000 |
| Audi Q5 4WD | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 6) | 97.1 | 3.0/5 | $23,000 to $38,000 |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 13) | 96.3 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $42,000 |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2018-20 | 5 (0 to 16) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $23,000 to $36,000 |
| Lexus RX 350 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 10) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $26,000 to $40,000 |
| Acura RDX 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 93.6 | 4.5/5 | $22,000 to $34,000 |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 19) | 93.6 | 2.0/5 | $28,000 to $48,000 |
| Porsche Macan | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 14) | 93.6 | 1.5/5 | $32,000 to $52,000 |
| Lexus NX 300 2WD (this page) | 2018-20 | 6 (0 to 17) | 93.6 | 4.0/5 | $22,000 to $32,000 |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 10.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Lexus NX 300
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Lexus NX 300 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lexus NX | TSP+ | 94.8 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 93.6 used-car score above.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 4.0 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Lexus NX 300 4.0/5, 2nd out of 11 in its category. Owners spend about $690 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.5 times a year for unscheduled work, and 6% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsUsed price: $22,000 to $32,000
Typical asking prices for 2018-20 Lexus NX 300 2WD listings. For a model with a death rate of 6, that buys more real-world protection per dollar than most alternatives in the midsize luxury SUVs class.
Safety recalls for the Lexus NX 300 2WD
No recalls on record for the 2020 model year.
Lexus NX 300 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Lexus NX 300 2WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years for the 2018-20 Lexus NX 300 2WD, 45% below the class average (10.9 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 93.6 out of 100 and rank #13 of 181 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Lexus NX 300 2WD driver death rate?
6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 17. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Lexus NX 300 died at a rate of 27 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2018-20 models.
How does the Lexus NX 300 2WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 10.9 driver deaths per million; the Lexus NX 300 2WD sits at 6. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the BMW X3 4WD with a death rate of 0.