If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV, you may be considering the Lexus RX vs Audi Q7. Which is the better choice? It comes down to safety, but how do you know if the Lexus RX or Audi Q7 is safer? Let’s look at the IIHS crash test ratings to compare. 

The 2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Audi Q7

The 2021 Lexus RX has a 3.5-liter V6 engine. There’s a hybrid option and lots of safety features. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Lexus RX a Top Safety Pick Award. 

The 2021 Audi Q7 has a turbocharged V6, eight speed transmission, and can go 20 mpg. The IIHS safety ratings are all good, except for one area. What keeps the 2021 Audi Q7 from getting an IIHS safety award?

What is an IIHS Top Safety Pick award?

An IIHS Top Safety Pick award must get good ratings in all IIHS crash tests. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. It also must get good scores in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

An IIHS Top Safety Pick must also have an advanced or superior in crash prevention. This includes both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Available headlights also have to have a good or acceptable rating. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not, so it’s important to check the test results of the trim level you’re considering purchasing. 

How are the 2021 Lexus RX and 2021 Audi Q7 crash tests?

The 2021 Lexus RX crash test ratings are very good. The RX got a good score for small overlap front: driver-side and passenger-side. Similarly, the RX got good moderate overlap front crash tests results. Side crash test ratings for the 2021 RX were also all good. 

The 2021 Audi Q7 also got all good front: driver-side and passenger-side and moderate overlap front crash test results. 

Does the 2021 Lexus RX or 2021 Audi Q7 do better in a rollover and crash prevention?

The roof strength in both the 2021 Lexus RX and 2021 Audi Q7 got good scores. The RX has a curb weight of 4,410 pounds, a peak force of 21,136 pounds, and a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.79.  

The Audi Q7 has a curb weight of 4,946 pounds, a peak force of 27,749 pounds, and a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.0. 

Both the 2021 Lexus RX and 2021 Audi Q7 got superior ratings for their crash prevention systems. It’s the headlights that make the 2021 Lexus RX safer than the 2021 Audi Q7. Trim level headlight ratings range from poor to acceptable in the Lexus RX, but in the Audi Q7, they are all poor. 

Overall, the RX is a Top Safety Pick because of its stellar crash test results and the optional acceptable headlights. With any vehicle you purchase, pay attention to the ratings on the particular trim level you’ve chosen, as they can vary from trim to trim.