Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Releases New EV Safety Ratings Ahead of Tax Credit Expiration
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) unveiled new crash test ratings for seven electric vehicles (EVs) as the $7,500 EV tax credit nears expiration on Sept. 30.
IIHS tested a range of EVs, including midsize luxury cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and a minivan, in an effort to provide consumers with safety insights as they consider their options. According to Raul Arbelaez, VP of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center, these models were selected based on their popularity among buyers.
In the moderate overlap crash test, four 2025 models—BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and Volkswagen ID. Buzz—received “good” ratings. The Tesla Model 3 earned an “acceptable” rating, while the Nissan Ariya was rated “marginal” and the Ford F-150 Lightning received a “poor” rating.
Arbelaez expressed disappointment in the underperformance of the Ariya and F-150 Lightning, particularly in back-seat protection, which has been a recent focus of IIHS tests.
Despite concerns about EV fires, Arbelaez reassured consumers that gas-powered vehicles can also catch fire, and the IIHS has observed no significant issues with EV fires in its testing lab.
Headlight ratings were less favorable, with none of the seven vehicles achieving ratings higher than “acceptable.” Specific models, including the BMW and Cybertruck, faced criticism for excessive glare from their headlights.
All EVs tested earned either “good” or “acceptable” ratings for pedestrian crash avoidance. Some vehicles were not rated in other categories, including small overlap and side crash tests.