Electric Pickup Safety: Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning Under Scrutiny
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released its latest safety assessments for several electric vehicles, unveiling a complex picture of their protective capabilities. Despite the general perception that EVs offer superior crash protection, these evaluations underscore that this isn't universally true, especially concerning pedestrians or occupants in lighter vehicles. The tests also provided an opportunity to directly compare the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck, two prominent electric pickups, revealing distinct safety shortcomings for each model. This article delves into the specific areas where these vehicles excelled and where they require significant improvements to meet the highest safety standards.
While both the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 Lightning deliver commendable safety for front-seat occupants, neither secured the IIHS’s coveted Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards, primarily due to incomplete testing data. Both electric pickups achieved a 'Good' rating for frontal crash prevention, particularly in pedestrian collision avoidance. The Cybertruck further distinguished itself with a 'Good' rating in the moderate overlap front test. However, the Cybertruck's performance was marred by a 'Poor' rating for its headlights, which were found to produce excessive glare. Conversely, the F-150 Lightning stumbled in the updated moderate overlap front test, raising concerns about potential chest, head, and neck injuries for rear-seat passengers, a finding exacerbated by sub-optimal lap belt positioning. The Ford's headlights, however, received a more favorable 'Acceptable' rating compared to Tesla’s.
Beyond the pickups, other electric models like the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz also underwent scrutiny. All demonstrated strong driver protection, earning a 'Good' rating in the moderate overlap test. The Tesla Model 3, however, received an 'Acceptable' rating due to increased risks of chest injuries for rear-seat occupants from high belt forces. The Nissan Ariya, a model soon to be discontinued, fared worse with a 'Marginal' rating in this test, citing similar chest injury concerns for rear passengers. Notably, not a single EV tested achieved a 'Good' rating for its headlights, and even the luxury BMW i4 scored only 'Marginal' or 'Poor' in this category, highlighting a pervasive issue across the electric vehicle spectrum.
These evolving safety standards mean that what qualified for a top safety award years ago might not meet today’s criteria. While all the tested vehicles offer a foundational level of safety for occupants, the results consistently point to two critical areas needing improvement across the board: headlight performance and rear passenger safety. These issues aren't exclusive to electric vehicles, as similar rear-seat safety concerns have been noted in recently tested gasoline-powered models. For consumers prioritizing safety, it is always recommended to consult the IIHS’s comprehensive testing data and focus on models that have earned the highest safety accolades after complete evaluations. For the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning, a definitive safety comparison remains elusive until all crash-testing scenarios are finalized.