Top Five Electric Vehicles Receive Excellent Safety Scores in IIHS Crash Tests
Electric Vehicles' Safety Performance Assessed by IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently concluded its safety evaluations of seven electric vehicles, providing insights into their performance in various tests.
In the moderate overlap test, four vehicles—the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz—earned good ratings. However, the Ford F-150 Lightning and Nissan Ariya received poor and marginal ratings, respectively. The Tesla Model 3 was rated acceptable, while the Cybertruck's rating applies to models built after April 2025.
All the tested electric vehicles provided excellent protection for the driver. However, concerns were raised regarding their performance in protecting rear seat occupants. Both the F-150 Lightning and Ariya provided good protection for the driver but fell short in protecting passengers in the rear. The Model 3, on the other hand, showed a somewhat elevated risk of chest injuries for rear passengers due to high belt forces.
In the pedestrian crash prevention evaluation, good ratings were given for the i4, Lightning, Cybertruck, Model 3, and ID.Buzz, while the Blazer EV was rated acceptable. The standard and optional systems available on the Ariya previously earned ratings of good in this evaluation.
The IIHS started evaluating back seat performance in 2022, and back seat performance differentiates vehicles, according to the institute. Solid protection for rear passengers was provided by four of the tested electric vehicles—the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz.
Measurements taken during a test of the F-150 Lightning from the rear dummy showed a high risk of chest injuries, injuries to the head or neck, and an increased risk of internal injuries. Similarly, the Ariya showed a high risk of chest injuries for rear passengers, according to the IIHS.
The manufacturers of the two electric cars that received poor ratings for rear seat occupant protection in the moderate overlap test by IIHS are Tesla and Chevrolet. This serves as a call for these manufacturers to improve the safety features of their vehicles, particularly for rear seat occupants.
In conclusion, while most electric vehicles tested by the IIHS performed well in terms of driver safety, there is room for improvement in ensuring the safety of rear seat occupants. The IIHS's evaluations provide valuable insights for consumers and manufacturers alike, helping to drive improvements in vehicle safety.
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