Rivian R1T Crash Tested, Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award
Rivian’s trucks take top honors in IIHS crash testing.
The Rivian R1T recently went through the wringer of the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it succeeded with flying colors. It may be the first electric truck the IIHS has tested, but the Rivian R1T earned IIHS Top Safety Pick + honors.
The Top Safety Pick + is more than just a meaningless title, it takes a bit of work for vehicles to achieve. Firstly, the vehicle must score “good” in all crash categories; small overlap (driver and passenger side), side impact, roof crush, moderate overlap, and head restraint tests. Then, it needs to ace the headlight and front crash prevention systems. Added together, that brings the Rivian R1T to its Top Safety Pick + designation.
The Rivian R1T held up really well in crash testing. The driver’s survival space held up well. The dummies had minimal risk of injury in the tests.
The R1T only had one “poor” rating; the seatbelt reminder. The IIHS said it took too long to start, didn’t last long enough (only lasted 8 seconds, “negligible,” according to the IIHS), and wasn’t loud enough. This rating didn’t affect the Rivian’s final Top Safety Pick + rating, however.
Only the Rivian R1T and Toyota Tundra are the only two pickups to achieve the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick + award for 2022. The Rivian R1S crossover hasn’t been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA yet, but if the R1T’s results are anything to go by, the R1S should likely produce similarly spectacular results.
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Kevin has been obsessed with cars ever since he could talk. He even learned to read partially by learning and reading the makes and models on the back of cars, only fueling his obsession. Today, he is an automotive journalist and member of the Automotive Press Association. He is well-versed in electrification, hybrid cars, and vehicle maintenance.
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