√2023 Rivian R1T is first electric pick-up to top US crash tests

The Rivian R1T is the first electric pick-up to earn the highest crash-safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2023 Rivian R1T electric pick-up has been named as a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after a round of crash tests in the US.

It’s the first electric pick-up to collect the highest rating from the IIHS and one of only two US pick-ups to earn the award, joining the 2022 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab petrol-electric hybrid.

The Rivian R1T result follows an earlier rating of ‘Superior’ for Rivian’s R1S three-row SUV, without crash-testing by the IIHS.

To earn the rating as a ‘Top Safety Pick’, a vehicle must score a ‘good’ rating in six IIHS crash tests at 64km/h — a frontal driver-side small overlap, frontal passenger-side small overlap, moderate frontal overlap, original side, roof strength, and head-restraint.

It must also have a frontal crash-prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.

Adding the ‘+’ tag requires what the IIHS describes as “good or acceptable headlights” on all trim grades.

There is no comparable testing in Australia and the IIHS ratings are separate to the official testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration, which is a US government agency.

There is still uncertainty around the future for Rivian in Australia, despite earlier indications of sales here.

Speaking to Drive in September last year, a representative from the brand said “We can’t wait to meet our Australian customers”, but there has been nothing official since then.

More recently, Rivian has also suffered financial troubles including its latest $US1.7 billion loss and a significant safety recall.

The crash-testing comes as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety prepares to test a growing number of heavyweight electric vehicles, including SUVs and pick-ups, as reported by Drive.

Last week the IIIHS tested an older-generation Ford F150 pick-up loaded to 4100kg, the expected weight of future SUVs, for crash testing.

The Rivian R1T weighs an epic 3242kg – about twice as heavy as most small cars and medium SUVs.

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