Rivian’s R1T advanced to become the one and only IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Truck for 2024, beating the Big Three and even Toyota.
R1T earns top marks from IIHS
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s press release, Rivian R1T’s strong back seat protection significantly contributed to achieving the Top Safety Pick+ title.
A good rating in the IIHS’ more stringent moderate overlap front test enabled the 2024 Rivian R1T to earn the accolade.
In hindsight, the R1T only gained the Top Safety Pick title from its previous stellar moderate overlap crash test results. However, the addition of a dummy in the rear seat, the low risk of injury to the head, neck, and chest, and proper seatbelt placement retention advanced its status in the updated test.
Here are the IIHS ratings for the 2024 Rivian R1T crew cab electric pickup:
| Crashworthiness | Rating |
| Small overlap front | G |
| Moderate overlap front: original test | G |
| Moderate overlap front: updated test | G |
| Side: updated test | G |
| Crash avoidance & mitigation | Rating |
| Headlights | G |
| Front crash prevention: pedestrian: Standard system | A |
| Seat belts & child restraints | Rating |
| LATCH ease of use | G |
Criteria
A vehicle must receive an acceptable or good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test to achieve the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ award for 2024.
On the other hand, a good rating in the original moderate overlap front test is still relevant for the lower-tier Top Safety Pick.
For both the Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must secure good ratings in the small overlap front test and the updated side test. Acceptable or good ratings are also required for headlights across all trim levels. Moreover, it must gain an acceptable or good rating in the updated pedestrian front crash prevention test.
The new version replaces the original daytime and nighttime evaluation with a single test that covers some test runs in daylight and some in the dark.
R1T key specs
| Feature | Dual-Motor AWD | Performance Dual-Motor AWD | Quad-Motor AWD |
| Estimated range | 270-410 miles | 352-410 miles | 328 miles |
| 0-60 mph acceleration | 4.5 seconds | 3.5 seconds | 3.0 seconds |
| Torque | 610 lb-ft | 829 lb-ft | 908 lb-ft |
| Horsepower | 533 hp | 665 hp | 835 hp |
| Accented badging | Black | Black | Yellow |
| Brake calipers | Silver | Silver | Yellow |
Interestingly, the IIHS noted that the list of safest EVs for the year is also short. With the new criteria, the Top Safety Pick+ list includes only the Genesis Electrified G80, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Tesla Model Y—and now, the R1T.
