What is Lexus Safety System+ 3.0?

Automakers are updating and optimizing their advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) on an ongoing basis to elevate safety and driver confidence. These technologies ultimately aim to offer Level 3 and higher autonomous driving capabilities. The Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) is an example of an ADAS suite continually improving itself. Its latest iteration is LSS+ 3.0.

The LSS+ Background Story

Lexus and parent Toyota first introduced LSS+ on the redesigned 2016 Lexus RX. According to the luxury carmaker, it packages LSS+ in an integrated system that focuses on three critical areas of crash prevention: detecting and mitigating frontal collisions, keeping vehicles safely within their lane, and enhancing safety during night driving. In other words, its primary intention has been to help drivers maintain control and avoid accidents in everyday driving scenarios.

In the ensuing years, the luxury brand made this collection of ADAS available on other offerings across its model line, and LSS+ graduated to more sophisticated versions with expanded capabilities. After LSS+ came LSS+ 2.0, LSS+ 2.5, and now, LSS+ 3.0, which builds on earlier versions of the technology.

The Road to LSS+ 3.0

To understand the newest iteration of LSS+, it is first necessary to outline the ADAS that exist in previous versions. Each level builds to the next, paving the way to LSS+ 3.0. In broad terms, LSS+ comprises four systems:

• Forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection
• Lane-departure warning
• Automatic high-beam headlights
• Adaptive cruise control

LSS+ 2.0 and 2.5 add two primary ADAS to the base LSS+ system:

• Traffic-sign recognition
• Lane-centering assistance

Specific features at each level, as outlined in previous JD Power coverage, are as follows:

LSS+

• Adaptive cruise control (works at speeds over 25 mph)
• Forward-collision warning
• Pedestrian detection
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-keeping assistance
• Automatic high-beam headlights

LSS+ 2.0

• Upgraded radar and camera units
• All-speed adaptive cruise control (including stop-and-go capability)
• Cyclist detection during daytime
• Pedestrian detection during daytime and in low-light conditions
• Preceding vehicle detection during daytime and in low-light conditions
• Lane-centering assistance (gives LSS+ 2.0 Level 2 hands-on driving-assist technology)
• Traffic-sign recognition (reads road signs and displays the data for the driver)

LSS+ 2.5

• Improved adaptive cruise control (more quickly overtakes slower vehicles when the driver changes lanes to go around them, the process now beginning when the driver signals the lane change)
• Improved lane and road edge recognition capability
• Intersection turn assistance (identifies when it is unsafe to make a left turn across traffic or when pedestrians are in a crosswalk and can warn the driver or brake the vehicle to prevent a collision)
• Automatic emergency steering (when the driver makes a sudden steering change, such as to avoid an object or correct a potential lane departure, this evasive steering-assistance technology helps to keep the vehicle under control)

What Does LSS+ 3.0 Add?

The LSS+ 3.0 system builds upon LSS+ 2.5 with newly added functionality. The 3.0 version became available initially with the redesigned 2022 Lexus NX crossover SUV. Here are the system's highlights:

• Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist—This system will help you avoid collisions in your lane of traffic by assisting with braking and steering as you make evasive maneuvers
• Left Turn Oncoming Vehicle Detection Braking—If you turn left in front of approaching traffic, this system will warn you and automatically apply the brakes
• Right & Left Turn Oncoming Pedestrian Detection & Braking—If you turn left or right in front of a pedestrian or cyclist, this system will warn you and automatically apply the brakes
• Oncoming Vehicle Detection—This feature augments the existing pre-collision system, warning you and automatically applying the brakes when a possible frontal collision is detected
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Curve Speed Management—Although adaptive cruise control is not new, this feature's ability to maintain constant speed in corners is a new addition to this feature

Which Lexus Models Offer LSS+ 3.0?

The 2022 Lexus NX, NX Hybrid, NX Hybrid+, and upcoming 2023 Lexus RX offer LSS+ 3.0. Other models may follow, but for now, here is a breakdown of LSS+ availability for the rest of the 2022 Lexus product line:

• LSS+: GX, LC, LC Hybrid, LC Convertible, RC, RC F
• LSS+ 2.0: LS, RX, RX Hybrid
• LSS+ 2.5: ES, ES Hybrid, IS, LS Hybrid, LX, UX Hybrid

Summary

With LSS+, Lexus has introduced various advanced driving-assistance technologies over time, from basic features to more significant updates and innovations. The latest enhancements comprise LSS+ 3.0, an ADAS suite that integrates multiple advanced systems to make the driving experience safer than ever for Lexus drivers.

For more on advanced driving assistance systems, visit the Shopping Guides section of the website.

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