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Cybertruck aces IIHS moderate overlap front test
The 2025 Tesla Cybertruck earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, the nonprofit announced in September 2025. IIHS engineers praised the truck's protection for rear-seat occupants, noting that shoulder and lap belts stayed properly positioned on the crash test dummy's chest and pelvis during the 40 mph offset impact.
While the overall score is strong, the test data also show a moderate risk of chest injury for the rear occupant dummy. The IIHS used a Hybrid III rear test dummy that represents a 12-year-old child or a smaller adult, which can affect interpretation of some injury measures compared with an average adult male dummy.
Key safety highlights and shortcomings
- IIHS: Top rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test
- Rear occupant belt positioning: praised by testers
- Rear chest injury measures: indicate a moderate risk
- Front crash prevention (vehicle-to-pedestrian): rated Good
- LATCH ease-of-use: Acceptable
- Seatbelt reminders: Marginal
- Headlights: Poor
The Cybertruck's automated front crash prevention performed well in pedestrian scenarios, an increasingly important consideration in urban safety assessments. However, the IIHS gave low marks for ease of LATCH use and only a marginal score for seatbelt reminders—two factors that matter to families installing child seats and to compliance with occupant protection best practices.
Headlight performance remains a weak point
The most notable safety shortfall for the 2025 Cybertruck is its headlight system. IIHS engineers rated the LED projector-style front lights Poor, citing excessive glare and only fair visibility in some conditions. Tesla's standard high-beam assist helps mitigate low-beam limitations on a gradual left-hand curve, but the lighting score leaves room for improvement in nighttime safety and driver comfort.
Other IIHS tests still pending
The organization has yet to publish the Cybertruck's results for several other evaluations: the small overlap front test, the updated side-impact assessment, and the vehicle-against-vehicle front crash prevention rating. Those forthcoming results will give a more complete picture of overall crashworthiness.
Specs, pricing and market context
Beyond crash scores, the Cybertruck remains a polarizing product in the pickup market. After a price adjustment in August 2025, Tesla eliminated the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant and raised the base price by $15,000; the current starting MSRP stands at $79,990.
The sticker price excludes a federal tax credit (up to $7,500) and potential fuel savings—estimated around $8,000 over five years depending on usage.
Performance and capability highlights:
- AWD range: 325 miles (523 km) per full charge
- Towing capacity: up to 11,000 lb (4,990 kg)
- AWD 0–60 mph: 4.1 seconds
For buyers seeking maximum performance, the tri-motor "Cyberbeast" retails at $114,990. Tesla advertises about 320 miles (515 km) of range for that version, the same 11,000 lb towing capacity, and a 0–60 mph time of approximately 2.6 seconds. The Cyberbeast can be optioned with the Luxe Package, which includes Supervised Full Self-Driving capability, four years of Premium Service (recommended maintenance plus windshield, tire and wheel protection), Premium Connectivity and complimentary Supercharging access across Tesla's 70,000+ Supercharger network.
What this means for buyers
For buyers prioritizing crash protection, the Cybertruck's top IIHS moderate overlap rating is encouraging. Families should weigh that result alongside the marginal LATCH and seatbelt reminder ratings, and the Poor headlight score if they frequently drive at night. On the pricing front, the removal of RWD and the higher entry price reposition the Cybertruck in a premium segment, where range, towing capability and high-tech features—like FSD and free Supercharging—become decisive factors.
Source: autoevolution
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