Five out of seven recently tested electric vehicles performed well in a key crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), while two models showed weaker protection for back seat passengers.
The 2025 BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck and Volkswagen ID.Buzz earned good ratings in the moderate overlap front test, while the Tesla Model 3 was rated acceptable. The Cybertruck’s rating applies only to vehicles built after April 2025, when changes were made to the front underbody structure. All five models demonstrated strong driver protection, though IIHS noted the Model 3 showed “a somewhat elevated risk of chest injuries” for rear-seat occupants due to high belt forces.
The Ford F-150 Lightning and Nissan Ariya fared worse, receiving poor and marginal ratings, respectively. Both models protected the driver effectively, but back seat results highlighted elevated injury risks. In the Ariya, rear restraints controlled dummy motion but showed a high risk of chest injuries. In the Lightning, data indicated a high risk of chest, head and neck injuries, compounded by the lap belt slipping into a position that could increase the risk of internal injuries.
The moderate overlap test simulates an offset collision at 40 mph, with 40% of the vehicle’s front end striking a stationary barrier. IIHS began rating rear-seat performance in this test in 2022, marking a new benchmark in passenger protection.
In pedestrian crash prevention evaluations, the i4, Lightning, Cybertruck and Model 3 received good ratings, while the ID.Buzz was rated acceptable. The Blazer EV previously earned an acceptable rating, and the Ariya’s systems had earlier achieved good ratings. None of the seven vehicles, however, scored good ratings for headlights. Five models offered acceptable-rated headlights, but the i4 and Cybertruck were downgraded for poor illumination and excessive glare.
Only the Blazer EV and Ariya have completed all required tests for IIHS’s Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards, though neither qualified. The Blazer fell short due to an acceptable small overlap rating, while the Ariya’s marginal performance in the moderate overlap test prevented it from meeting the threshold. The i4, Cybertruck and Lightning were also ruled out from award consideration because of headlight or crash test shortcomings.
