For years, the Lexus IS has built a rock-solid reputation as a highly reliable and very safe compact luxury car. As safety standards evolve, however, even segment leaders face uphill battles. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its ratings for the 2025 model, and the results confirm a stark contrast between driver and rear occupant protection.

 

Despite its structurally rigid chassis and suite of standard crash prevention features, the D-segment sedan was held back from being designated a Top Safety Pick by a "marginal" performance in the highly challenging moderate overlap front crash test. To understand where the Lexus IS stands, we must look at each criterion reported by the nonprofit organization.