The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) unveiled the first results of the 2025 safety tests for seven electric vehicles on Wednesday. The findings are mixed, and no model has yet earned the Top Safety Pick distinction.
Mixed results for electric pickups
Among the vehicles being evaluated are the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan Ariya, Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen ID Buzz. While the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning share similarities, their safety performances differ.
Ford F-150 Lightning struggles
The F-150 Lightning’s weakness emerged during the new moderate overlap test, designed to assess resistance to “oblique” frontal collisions. Despite good results for the front passengers, the electric pickup only received a “marginal” rating due to issues in the rear.
“Measurements from the rear dummy showed a high risk of chest injuries, as well as head or neck injuries,” the IIHS statement notes. “Additionally, the rear dummy’s lap belt slipped from the ideal position on the pelvis toward the abdomen, increasing the risk of internal injuries.”
Tesla Cybertruck and the headlight puzzle
Conversely, the Tesla Cybertruck performed well in the moderate overlap test, earning a “good” rating. However, this evaluation only applies to vehicles built from April 2025 onward, as Tesla made a specific modification to improve crash test performance.
Despite this performance, the Cybertruck cannot qualify for the Top Safety Pick. Its headlights are the main reason. The pickup received the lowest rating (“poor”) for lighting, similar to the BMW i4. The IIHS cited excessive glare from the low beams as the primary reason for this downgrade.
Strict criteria for Top Safety Pick
To earn the Top Safety Pick distinction, a vehicle must achieve “good” ratings in the small overlap and side crash tests, “acceptable” or “good” ratings for its headlights (available on all trims), and an “acceptable” or “good” rating in the pedestrian avoidance test.
At this stage, only the Nissan Ariya and Chevrolet Blazer EV have completed their full testing cycles. Neither meets the criteria for an award. Testing continues for the other models.
