Lexus IS 300h Rated Best in Class for Safety by Euro NCAP

The new Lexus IS 300h has been declared the best in its class for safety by Euro NCAP. The full hybrid saloon achieved the highest ratings in the “large family” category in the organisation’s 2013 safety performance testing programme, achieving the top overall five-star rating and an overall 91 per cent score.

The IS 300h excelled in each area of testing, including adult occupant safety (91 per cent), child occupant safety (85 per cent), pedestrian protection (80 per cent) and safety assist features (66 per cent).

In its test report, Euro NCAP noted the effectiveness of the active pop-up bonnet, a feature fitted as standard to all models in the IS range. Sensors in the front bumper detect when a pedestrian has been struck and trigger a system that instantaneously raises the height of the bonnet, increasing its clearance over the engine and other hard elements. Tests also commended the performance of the front bumper and leading edge of the bonnet, which secure a maximum score for the protection offered to a pedestrian’s legs and pelvis.

On sale in the UK since July 2013, the IS 300h is the first full hybrid version of Lexus’s premium sports saloon. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system secures a best-in-class combination of performance and efficiency and low running costs. With CO₂ emissions from 99g/km (SE model), the rear-wheel drive IS delivers particularly attractive benefit–in-kind tax rates for company car drivers.