It’s easy to get a false sense of security in the curved bodies of our cars. However, there is always the risk of getting into a car accident, resulting in injury or death. Some types of vehicles are safer than others, and unfortunately, not many pickups are very safe—especially the midsize versions. However, there is an exception, and it is not Toyota or Ford. The safest midsize truck in the event of an accident is the all-electric 2023 truck. It’s the only midsize truck to earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
2023 Rivian R1T is the safest midsize pickup truck—and the only truck to earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is one of the most trusted safety rating agencies. It conducts extensive crash tests on new models, including pickup trucks. These crash tests are a good indicator of safety, as they show how a car will perform in the event of a car accident.
The R1T is the only one to receive the coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. According to the IIHS, the R1T is the safest midsize truck.
IIHS also earned a Class II Top Safety Pick award, but no midsize trucks have earned that award either. While the IIHS has evaluated other midsize trucks, none have earned any safety honors. This includes the Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon, and Jeep Gladiator. While the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger are two of the best-selling midsize trucks, when it comes to safety, they lag far behind the R1T.
Why is the 2023 Rivian R1T so safe?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2023 R1T EV an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award — and the Safest Midsize Truck honor — because it exceeded a very high standard for crash test ratings. You have met the condition of obtaining the best possible score of “Good” in all of the “Crash Resistance” tests. This includes the small overlap front (driver and passenger sides), moderate overlap for the front, side, power roof, seats, and headrests. The midsize truck also earned a “Good” rating for its headlights.
In addition, the Top Safety Pick+ award requires at least a “Superior” or “Advanced” rating for “Collision Avoidance and Mitigation.” This includes preventing collisions for vehicle-to-vehicle accidents and pedestrian accidents. For each of these two tests, the best possible “superior” rating was achieved.
The Rivian R1T’s high-level safety is due in part to its robust body structure. With a combination of high-strength steel, aluminum alloy and carbon fiber, it holds up well in crashes. Also, the midsize electric van has a low center of gravity, which helps prevent rollover accidents.
Moreover, it offers an abundance of safety-enhancing features. This includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Dynamic Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning, Park Assist, Trailer Assist, Automatic High Beams, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Assist, Road Assist Lane change, lane departure warning, lane keep assist.
Other IIHS Award Winning Pickups
While the 2023 Rivian R1T is the only midsize truck to earn the IIHS Safety Award, trucks from the small and full-size segments were also honored. For the pickup segment, the 2023 was named IIHS Top Safety Pick. However, the compact Ford Maverick was left empty-handed.
As for the full-size truck category, the only one to receive a Top Safety Pick+ award is the 2022 Toyota Tundra. However, the 2023 and 2023 Ram 1500 earned the Top Safety Pick award.
For those who want a very safe mid-size pickup truck, the best option isn’t the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger. It’s the all-electric 2023 Rivian R1T. It’s the safest A-list midsize truck—because it’s the only truck to earn the prestigious IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
