Only 1 American Truck Is Very Safe for Surviving Crashes
American pickup trucks have a reputation for toughness, with their ability to take a beating and keep on going. However, when it comes to high-level safety, it’s a different story. There’s only one American truck that’s very safe for surviving crashes. It earned a 2023 safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And it’s not best-selling trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, or Ram 1500. It’s the all-electric 2023 Rivian R1T, which received a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
2023 Rivian R1T is the only American pickup truck to win a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award
The 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for the 2023 Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is highly coveted by automakers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is respected for its safety and crash test analysis, and many consumers consider the safety awards when making a buying decision.
Also, the fact that the Rivian R1T is the only American truck to get a safety award from IIHS makes the honor even more significant. The only other truck to get honored by IIHS in 2023 is the 2023 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup, which also received a Top Safety Pick+ award.
In 2022, other American trucks received IIHS awards. This includes the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. However, IIHS implemented more rigid safety requirements in 2023 — and the Rivian R1T and the Toyota Tundra are the only trucks to make the cut.
Excellent results in crash test evaluations for the Rivian R1T
The 2023 Rivian R1T earned the 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award following a series of safety and crash test evaluations. For nearly all of these evaluations, the R1T achieved perfect scores. This includes top marks for headlights, roof strength, seats, head restraints, side impact, front impact, and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
The only area in which the R1T wasn’t perfect was the nighttime test for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention. While the electric truck achieved a top score for the daytime test, for nighttime, it received a second-tier “advanced” rating.
Conversely, other American trucks, including the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500, didn’t perform as well as the R1T in these evaluations. Consequently, none of them earned an IIHS award.
Safety features in the R1T
Excellent results in the IIHS evaluations can be credited to the wide range of safety features in the 2023 Rivian R1T. This includes a high-strength and protective body structure, which is composed of carbon fiber, aluminum alloy, and steel. Additionally, the low center of gravity of the electric truck minimizes rollover incidents.
Also, the R1T has a plethora of driving assistance technologies. Along with providing convenience, they improve safety. Features include forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, automatic emergency braking, lane change assist, highway assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic warning, blind-spot warning, park assist, automatic high beams, and trailer assist.
For American pickup truck safety, the best choice is not the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500, or Ram 1500. It’s the all-electric 2023 Rivian R1T, the only American truck to win a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
