
While we’re still waiting for crash-test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) for the Rivian R1T, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has already completed its crash tests on the all-electric pickup truck. The R1T aced the IIHS’ tests and earned its highest possible safety rating by being named a Top Safety Pick+.
The all-electric R1T pickup truck earned a rating of “Good” in all six of the organization’s crash tests, has standard headlights that earn a rating of “Good,” and has a front-crash prevention system that earned a rating of “Superior.” These are the highest scores available in their respective tests. With the scores, the R1T met the requirements to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award.
The R1T is the first all-electric pickup truck to be put through the IIHS’ crash tests, so it sits in a segment of one. We’re interested to see how the Ford F-150 Lightning fares, as it’s the R1T’s main competitor.
We weren’t quite sure what to expect from the R1T’s crash-test scores, but pickup trucks tend to do poorly in the organization’s tests. The only other pickup truck in the IIHS’ large pickup truck category to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award is the Toyota Tundra. Options like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 were named Top Safety Pick vehicles. All of the other large trucks that the IIHS has tested haven’t done well enough to earn an award.
While the R1T is the first all-electric pickup truck that the IIHS has tested plenty of EVs. Options like the Genesis GV60, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Volvo C40 Recharge, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Audi e-tron, are all Top Safety Pick+ winners.
Source: IIHS