Safety

Packed with 10 airbags and the requisite safety features found in luxury cars these days, the 2010 RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2009. For 2010, those ratings will include a roof-strength test, which the RX has not yet undergone. The RX should, however, meet most car shoppers' safety thresholds.

Additional options — like a pre-collision warning system and a subscription service that contacts roadside assistance for tire changes and emergency responders for crashes — are peace-of-mind features we like to see in this class. The pre-collision warning system detects when traffic ahead is stopped or moving too slowly and sounds an alert in the cabin, and it initiates braking when needed. It's part of a $1,500 option package that also comes with speed-sensitive cruise control that adjusts your speed to match traffic in front of you.

    See also:

    Driving assist systems
    To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following systems operate automatically in response to various driving situations. Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and sho ...

    Coat hooks
    To use the coat hook, push it in. CAUTION: Items that must not be hung on the hook Do not hang a coat hanger or other hard or sharp object on the hook. If the SRS curtain shield airbags deploy, ...

    Cargo
    One winning attribute for the RX is its spacious cargo area. At 40 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 80.3 cubic feet with them folded, you'll be hard-pressed to find another two-row crossover ...