Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Comparing the Genesis GV80 with the Lexus RX on safety comes down to who kept pace with the IIHS as it raised the bar. Genesis's flagship SUV earns a 2026 Top Safety Pick+, meeting the institute's toughest standards, including good ratings across the crash tests and the higher crash-avoidance thresholds. The RX, a former Top Safety Pick+ winner under earlier criteria, does not appear among the 2026 award recipients, because the standards it once met have since been tightened.2026 Lexus RX 350 PremiumLexusSafety ratings at a glanceHere is how the two luxury SUVs line up on the ratings that determine the 2026 IIHS awards, alongside their federal crash-test scores.Safety measureGenesis GV80Lexus RXIIHS 2026 awardTop Safety Pick+No 2026 awardSmall overlap frontGoodGoodModerate overlap front (updated, rear seat)GoodAcceptableSide (updated)GoodGoodHeadlightsAcceptable or GoodAcceptable or GoodFront crash preventionGood, pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicleStandard, qualifying gradesNHTSA overall rating5 stars5 starsHow they stand with the IIHSGenesis's GV80 checks every box for the top tier in 2026. It earns good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side crash tests, a good result in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation, and an acceptable or good rating in the updated vehicle-to-vehicle test, with acceptable or good headlights across the lineup. That is exactly the profile Top Safety Pick+ now requires.2026 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige AWDKristen BrownThe RX is a different case. In earlier testing it earned a Top Safety Pick+, but that was under criteria that accepted a lower grade in the moderate overlap front test. For 2026, the IIHS requires a good rating in that updated test, which now evaluates rear-seat protection, and the RX no longer clears that specific bar for an award. It remains a capably built vehicle, but it is not a current award winner.Why the standards matterThe key to this comparison is that the IIHS deliberately makes its awards harder to earn over time, using real-world crash data to justify the changes. A vehicle that was a Top Safety Pick+ two years ago can lose that status without changing at all, simply because the test it passed has been replaced by a tougher one. That is what happened to the RX, and it is a useful reminder that a past award is not the same as a current one.2026 Lexus RX 450h+Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogFor a buyer shopping today, the GV80's 2026 credential carries more weight because it reflects performance against the current, stricter tests. The RX's earlier honor was legitimate, but it speaks to an older standard.The rest of the safety pictureBoth SUVs come with comprehensive standard driver-assistance technology, and both are expected to perform well in federal NHTSA testing, so neither should be considered unsafe in absolute terms. The RX in particular has a long reputation for solid occupant protection and reliability. Still, when the question is which holds the stronger current safety credentials, the answer is clear. The GV80 met the 2026 bar; the RX, for now, did not.2026 Genesis GV80 Coupe Prestige BlackCole AttishaAdvertisementAdvertisementSo which one is safer?On current credentials, the Genesis GV80 is safer. It earns a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, clearing the institute's toughest standards, while the Lexus RX does not hold a 2026 award after the criteria tightened beyond what it clears in the updated moderate-overlap test. The Lexus RX is not a dangerous vehicle, and its history of strong results, along with its expected federal ratings, mean buyers who prefer it are not taking a real risk. But by the letter of the 2026 IIHS ratings, the GV80 carries the current top honor and takes the win.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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