Tesla Model Y continues its safety dominance, securing IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for a remarkable fifth consecutive year.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has once again awarded the 2025 Tesla Model Y with the Top Safety Pick+ rating, making it the only vehicle in its class to achieve this feat for five consecutive years.
The Model Y's success can be attributed to its exceptional performance in the revised IIHS safety tests. The pre-refresh version of the Model Y excelled in several rigorous crash tests, including the updated moderate overlap front crash, small overlap front (driver- and passenger-side), and side impact tests.
The IIHS tightened its safety standards yet again for 2025, particularly with its updated moderate overlap front crash test. This test now includes a second dummy in the rear seat to measure backseat protection, representing a small woman or 12-year-old child behind the driver. The test simulates a 40 mph head-on collision with a vehicle of similar size and weight.
To earn the Top Safety Pick+ designation, a vehicle must achieve a "Good" rating across several rigorous crash tests and meet minimum standards for headlight performance and pedestrian crash prevention. In the pedestrian front crash prevention tests, the Model Y's advanced collision-avoidance technology played a significant role in its success. The Model Y successfully avoided collisions at both day and night in all tested scenarios.
However, the Model Y did not receive a perfect score in the LATCH ease-of-use evaluation for child seat installation, where it was rated "Acceptable."
The IIHS raised its safety requirements in 2024, now requiring a "good" rating in the moderate overlap front crash test for both Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ designations. Additionally, the pedestrian crash prevention evaluation was revamped into a single combined test, and vehicles must score at least "acceptable" in this assessment.
These stricter requirements emphasize improved safety for rear-seat passengers, an area where protections have historically lagged. The IIHS has focused on injury metrics frequently seen in rear-seat occupants to drive these changes.
The full safety report for the tested vehicles can be found on the IIHS website. For more information about the 2025 Model Y and its safety features, visit the Tesla website.
Sources:
- driveteslacanada.ca (2025 Tesla Model Y IIHS TSP+ update)
- collisionrepairmag.com (2025 Tesla Model Y and Volvo XC90 earn TSP+)
- thestreet.com (Explanation of 2025 safety criteria updates)
The Tesla Model Y's ongoing success in the IIHS safety tests is not limited to the automotive industry, as it also excels in areas such as finance and technology. The advanced collision-avoidance technology used in the Model Y's pedestrian front crash prevention tests is a testament to the company's commitment to innovation in the finance sector, where investments in cutting-edge technology are paramount. Moreover, the Model Y's efficient transportation system, backed by its exceptional safety ratings, showcases the potential for integration with other sectors, such as the burgeoning field of autonomous public transportation.
