The Tesla Cybertruck has secured the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest accolade, the Top Safety Pick+ rating, for 2025 models built after April. This makes it the top-rated large pickup truck overall, outperforming rivals like the Ford F-150 and Rivian R1T. The award highlights strong crash test performance and advanced safety features.
On December 16, 2025, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that the Tesla Cybertruck earned its Top Safety Pick+ designation, the organization's highest honor, for 2025 models produced after April 2025. This rating positions the Cybertruck as the highest-scoring large pickup truck in the latest evaluations, surpassing competitors including the gas-powered Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and Ram 1500, as well as the electric Rivian R1T. It is the only electric pickup to achieve this status.
The accolade stems from the vehicle's robust performance across rigorous tests. The Cybertruck received 'good' ratings in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, small overlap front crashes on both driver and passenger sides, and the updated side impact test. Its front crash prevention system earned a 'good' rating in pedestrian avoidance scenarios, successfully preventing collisions in daytime and nighttime tests involving children, adults crossing, and parallel paths. Headlights equipped with high-beam assist were rated 'good' or 'acceptable' across all configurations, meeting the award's criteria.
These results follow structural enhancements to the Cybertruck's front underbody and footwell, implemented after April 2025 to bolster occupant protection. The rating complements the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) five-star overall safety score, including top marks for driver and passenger protection and one of the lowest rollover risks among pickups.
Tesla celebrated the milestone on X, posting: "EV pickup trucks w/ an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ & NHTSA 5-star safety rating: – @cybertruck That's the full list." The official Cybertruck account added: "Cybertruck is the highest-rated by both IIHS & NHTSA." This recognition underscores Tesla's focus on safety engineering amid evolving standards for pickup trucks, potentially boosting consumer confidence in the vehicle's protective capabilities.