The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released new ratings on the performances of
Some results show the testing of vehicles in the moderate overlap test, which represents an offset crash between two vehicles traveling in the opposite directions and a test vehicle hitting a stationary barrier at 40 miles per hour where 40% of its front-end overlaps the barrier. The IIHS results reveal that while most of the models do offer adequate front-seat protection, rear seat protection varies from vehicle to vehicle.
One model, the Tesla Model 3, earned an "acceptable" rating and four other EV models earned positive ratings: the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck and Volkswagen ID.Buzz. The IIHS noted that ratings for the Cybertruck are based on models built after changes were made to the front underbody structure from April 2025 on. While all five of these models with good ratings had an "excellent" protection performance for the driver and "solid" protection for back seat passengers, high belt forces from the Tesla Model 3 rear seats indicate an elevated potential risk of chest injuries.
The Ford F-150 Lightning earned a "poor" rating and the Nissan Ariya earned a "marginal" rating, as the results show good protection for the driver, but not as highly as for rear passengers. The rear seat dummy used in the Ford F-150 Lightning test showed a high risk of chest and head or neck injuries, and its lap seatbelt shifted from the dummy's pelvis to abdomen–which increases the potential risk of internal injuries, according to the IIHS. Though the seatbelts controlled the motion of the rear dummy in the Nissan Ariya, the IIHS's assessment says there is a high risk of chest injuries.
Ratings for pedestrian crash prevention, headlights evaluations, vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, seat belt reminders and LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) ease of use are all available in the
