Tesla Cybertruck, Volkswagen ID Buzz, Ford F-150 Lightning, And More New EVs Face IIHS Crash Tests With Mixed Results
BY LOGAN K. CARTER SEPT. 16, 2025 5:03 PM EST
IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shared moderate overlap crash test results for seven EVs today, many of which have never been evaluated by IIHS before. The Tesla Cybertruck, Volkswagen ID Buzz, BMW i4, Tesla Model 3, Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan Ariya, and Chevrolet Blazer EV make up the vehicles that faced off against the IIHS’ deformable barrier, and the results were mixed. Four of the seven EVs achieved the IIHS’ highest rating of good in the updated moderate overlap test, while one scored the second-highest rating of acceptable, one earned the second-lowest rating of marginal, and one got the lowest possible rating of poor. Each vehicle was also evaluated on the performance of their headlights, and the performance of their pedestrian crash avoidance systems.
The IIHS’ updated moderate overlap crash test simulates an offset crash between two vehicles traveling in opposite directions, like if someone crossed over the center line on a two-lane road, at a 40% overlap at slightly under 40 miles per hour. It was updated and made more challenging in 2022 with the inclusion of a small woman or 12-year-old child-sized crash test dummy in the rear seat as well as an average size male dummy in the driver’s seat.
Updated moderate overlap results
The most common reason for vehicles to struggle in the updated moderate overlap test is high injury metrics on the dummy located in the rear seat. The Cybertruck, ID Buzz, i4, and Blazer EV all earned the highest rating of good in this test, so they all offer excellent protection for front and rear-seat occupants in this test, and good protection for front and rear occupants in a similar real-world crash. It should be noted that this test only applies to Tesla Cybertrucks that were manufactured after April 2025, since that’s when Tesla made changes to the Cybertruck’s frontal underbody structure.
Tesla’s facelifted Model 3 got the second-highest rating of acceptable because the smaller dummy in the rear showed a “somewhat elevated risk of chest injuries due to high belt forces.” The Nissan Ariya earned the second-lowest rating of marginal in the updated moderate overlap front crash test because the rear-seat dummy showed that a similarly sized human would face a high risk of chest injuries due to the seatbelt.
Then there’s the Ford F-150 Lightning, which earned the lowest score of poor because the rear-seat dummy showed a high risk of chest injuries, as well as a high risk of injuries to the head or neck. The lap belt of the rear dummy’s seatbelt also slipped off of the dummy’s pelvis during the impact and onto the abdomen, which increases the risk of internal injuries.
Headlight rating results
IIHS
None of the vehicles evaluated in this test earned a good rating for the efficacy of their headlights. The IIHS evaluates a vehicle’s headlights by measuring the distance over which the headlights provide adequate illumination on both straightaways and curves. It also tests the headlights or excessive levels of glare that may dazzle oncoming drivers.
Neither the BMW i4’s standard or optional headlights performed well in the IIHS headlight evaluation. The standard system got the lowest rating of poor, and the optional system came in one rung higher at marginal. Both provide inadequate illumination on the high beam setting, and the standard headlight system creates excessive glare with its low beams, too.
The Tesla Cybertruck earned a poor rating in the IIHS’ headlight evaluation tests because its headlights cause significantly excessive glare for other motorists. The Volkswagen ID Buzz, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Model 3, Nissan Ariya, and Ford F-150 Lightning all achieved the second-highest rating of acceptable in the IIHS’ headlight evaluation.
Front pedestrian accident avoidance system test results
IIHS/ YouTube
Every model evaluated in this set of tests either earned a good or acceptable rating for their front pedestrian crash prevention systems. Each system is evaluated on its performance in 10 recreations of real-world scenarios. The only test scenario performed in daylight is a child-sized dummy running out into the street from behind a parked car, performed at 12 mph and at 25 mph. Nighttime scenarios are all performed with both the vehicle’s low beams on, and again with the vehicle’s high beams on. The first scenario is an unobstructed adult-sized dummy crossing a street at nighttime, and the test is performed with low beams and high beams at both 12 and 25 mph. There is also a parallel test, where vehicles drive toward an adult-sized dummy walking in the same direction of travel as the car at night, performed at 25 mph and at 37 mph with both high and low beams active.
The BMW i4 saw the IIHS’ highest rating of good in the front crash prevention test, where it either prevented or vastly reduced the speed of impact with a crossing child dummy in daylight, a crossing adult at night, and a parallel impact with an adult at night. The Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan Ariya, and Tesla Model 3 all earned good ratings in the IIHS’ front pedestrian crash prevention tests, but only the Teslas avoided hitting the pedestrian dummies in every single test. The other cars avoided collision in most tests, and greatly reduced the speed of impact in others.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz and Chevrolet Blazer EV both earned acceptable ratings in the front pedestrian crash prevention tests, with the ID Buzz only avoiding collision in four out of the IIHS’ 10 tests. The Blazer EV avoided collision in all but two of the 10 scenarios, but it still hit the pedestrian dummy walking parallel in the same direction as the car at night at 18 mph, and its pre-impact driver warnings were too late.
Head to the IIHS website for the full detailed breakdown of each vehicle’s performance in these tests, as well as the explanation of how vehicles are evaluated, and detailed test protocol and technical information. Most of the vehicles evaluated in this cycle are also rated on their seat belt reminder systems and the ease of use of their LATCH car seat systems, which can be found on the IIHS website as well.
COMMENT(S)
RECOMMENDED
BUYING
ADVICE
Buy One Of These Electric Pickup Trucks Instead Of Humiliating Yourself With A Tesla Cybertruck
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 19, 2025 1:25 PM EST
Jetcityimage/Getty Images
When it was first revealed back in 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck was just a ridiculously angular truck that nobody thought would ever actually exist. By the time it finally went on sale in December 2023, it had become an emblem of everything wrong with Tesla boss Elon Musk, and over the past year that’s only got worse for the big dumb truck.
Things have now gotten so bad for Cybertruck owners that they’re getting poop and eggs thrown at their stainless steel trucks, and some are resorting to novelty bumper stickers to argue that they aren’t fans of Musk anymore, either. If all the abuse has got too bad for your friendly neighborhood Cybertruck owner, then they needn’t worry, as there are a handful of other electric pickup trucks out there that aren’t half as dumb as Tesla’s Cybertruck.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford
Starting price: $65,090
Range: 240 – 320 miles
If you just want a pickup truck that happens to be electric, then the F-150 Lightning is Ford’s truck for you. It looks like a regular F-150, drives like a regular F-150 and, despite having to haul around its own weight, is still rated to tow around 8,500 pounds of stuff whenever you need it to.
When compared to the Cybertruck, the F-150 Lightning is much more likely to blend in and avoid the assaults of any eco-minded activists that brand trucks like this as greenwashing. It’s also much cheaper, but isn’t able to charge quite as quickly as Tesla’s truck, and can also share its power in an emergency situation through clever tech called bidirectional charging, which the Cybertruck also has.
Rivian R1T
Rivian
Price: $71,900
Range: 258 – 420 miles
The slickest alternative to the Cybertruck you can buy right now is the R1T electric pickup from Rivian. The American startup’s flagship boasts distinctive style, but not in an “I was designed by a five-year-old” kind of way, a very usable range and a host of innovative flourishes baked into the design.
The R1T produces up to 1,025 hp, more than the Cybertruck; has an 11,000-pound tow capacity, more than the F-150; and comes with a nifty gear tunnel to add in extra storage space, also not offered on any of its rivals. It also starts at nearly $10,000 less than Tesla’s offering.
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet
Starting price: $75,195
Range: 390 – 492 miles
Prefer your electric pickup truck from a legacy automaker? Then the Silverado EV could be the option for you. The electric iteration of Chevy’s iconic truck comes with a little design flair to set it apart from the gas-powered truck, as well as increased range compared with the options from Ford and Rivian — albeit at a premium.
More expensive doesn’t always mean more better, however, and while the Silverado EV is an impressive machine, our testing of the truck found that it didn’t quite live up to the polish of the F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T.
GMC Sierra EV
GMC
Starting price: $91,995
Range: 390 – 460 miles
If you want to be able to cover more than 500 miles in your electric truck, then the GMC Sierra EV could be the perfect replacement for your Cybertruck. Based on the same platform as the Silverado EV, GMC’s offering comes with more range and a whiff of luxury that you might miss in Chevy’s EV.
It is, however, a pretty ugly truck and might not appeal to everybody out there. At least its looks might not get you egged, but it’s something you’ll be aware of while utilizing its 10,000-pound towing claims or its charging speeds of up to 350 kW.
GMC Hummer EV
GM
Starting price: $98,845
Range: 282 – 318 miles
Like the sound of all that but don’t totally want to lose the attention your Cybertruck brings, get a Hummer EV instead. Based on the same platform as Chevy’s Silverado and GMC’s Sierra trucks, the Hummer EV is a brute that’s almost as ridiculous as the Cybertruck. Almost.
For pretty much the same price as the Cybertruck, GM will sell you a Hummer with an extra 1,000 pounds of towing capacity, the ability to drive sideways (like a crab), and the largest battery of any EV in America. What more could you want from an enormous electric pickup?
RAM 1500 REV
Stellantis
Starting price: Unknown
Range: 350 miles
If you aren’t in a rush to abandon your Cybertruck out of fear it’ll be the victim of a domestic terrorism, then you could soon swap it for Stellantis’ electric truck offering: the Ram 1500 REV. This beast will be the first all-electric pickup from Ram and is slated to launch once the hybrid Ramcharger model hits the market.
When it launches in 2026, the 1500 REV will offer the greatest towing capacity of the trucks listed here at around 14,000 pounds, a range of roughly 350 miles on a single charge, and a payload capacity of more than 2,600 pounds, which is over 100 more than the Cybertruck can manage.
Scout Terra
Scout Motors
Starting price: Under $60,000
Range: 350 miles
Another electric truck that might be worth waiting for is the Terra from the relaunched Scout brand. Revived by VW last year, the Scout Terra is an all-electric truck that offers 350 miles of range, a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, and it’ll be sold direct-to-consumers, so you won’t have to deal with a salesperson piling on markups.
What’s more, the Terra will also be available with an optional range extender in the form of a gas-powered motor. The range-extender models will be capable of covering around 500 miles on a charge, but will take a hit on towing capacity, which will be around 5,000 pounds when the new trucks launch in 2027.
Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1814086/best-cybertruck-alternatives/
Leave a Reply