by Cybertruck Receives High Safety Ratings
Tesla Cybertruck received a “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after the manufacturer reinforced the underbody structure in April 2025. Six other electric models also passed the moderate overlap front crash test. Among them, the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz showed high results, while the Tesla Model 3 received an “Acceptable” rating due to an increased risk of chest injuries for passengers in the rear seat.
Safety and Testing
Safety has always been key to Tesla’s identity, and the brand often defends this reputation. Despite doubts about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, passenger protection in these electric cars appears impeccable. The Cybertruck successfully passed IIHS crash tests, demonstrating a low risk of injury to the driver’s head, chest, and legs. The passenger in the rear seat had only a moderate risk of chest injury. These results are consistent with the NHTSA’s five-star rating.
Furthermore, the Cybertruck showed excellent results in crash avoidance tests, avoiding every incident at various speeds both during the day and at night. This is especially important given past concerns about this car’s interaction with pedestrians.
Lighting Issues
The main drawback preventing the Cybertruck from receiving the Top Safety Pick award is its headlights. The IIHS notes that they create excessive glare on certain sections of the road and have uneven illumination. The left side of the road and left turns are insufficiently lit, while the right side meets almost all requirements.
This is another example of how electric cars demonstrate strength in safety but need improvement in aspects such as lighting. For instance, the Rivian R1T received a higher rating and the Top Safety Pick+ award in 2024. The only internal combustion engine vehicle to achieve similar results is the Toyota Tundra.
Other Electric Models in the Tests
Besides the Cybertruck, six other electric models underwent IIHS testing. The BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz received a “Good” rating. However, the F-150 Lightning showed poor results due to risks of chest, head, and neck injuries for the dummy in the rear seat, and the Nissan Ariya received a “Marginal” rating due to an increased risk of chest injuries.
In pedestrian crash avoidance tests, the i4, F-150 Lightning, and Model 3 received a “Good” rating, while the ID.Buzz received an “Acceptable”. The Chevrolet Blazer retained its previous results.
Universal Weakness: Headlights
Headlights proved to be a weak point for most electric models. Five out of seven received an “Acceptable” rating, and the i4 and Cybertruck were rated lower due to glare and poor high-beam illumination. Because of these issues, none of the seven electric cars qualified for the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ this time.
Overall, electric cars continue to demonstrate a high level of safety but require attention to details such as lighting quality to meet the strict award standards. Improvements in these areas could significantly increase their competitiveness in the safe vehicle market.
