Tesla Cybertruck Impresses in First Official Crash Tests
Tesla’s polarizing Cybertruck first hit the road in the U.S. in late November of 2023 and in Canada last fall, but it had yet to undergo official crash tests other than the ones conducted by the automaker internally.
That’s no longer the case, and the results are quite impressive.
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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently performed a series of tests with the Cybertruck as part of its New Car Assessment Program. Similar to every other Tesla model crash-tested by the NHTSA so far, the stainless steal-bodied electric pickup earned a 5-star overall rating.
In the frontal crash test, which simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles at 35 mph (56 km/h), the Cybertruck effectively withstood the impact and its front airbags deployed properly, giving it 5 stars for driver protection and somehow 4 stars for front passenger protection.
Next, in the side crash test, a moving non-rigid barrier angled at 27 degrees was crashed into the driver’s side of the test vehicle at 38.5 mph (62 km/h). The Cybertruck ended up getting a five-star rating, both for front-seat and rear-seat protection. It achieved the same score in the side pole test where the test vehicle was angled at 75 degrees and crashed into a rigid pole at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Finally, in the rollover test, which aims to determine the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario, the Cybertruck did not tip over, but the NHTSA did calculate a rollover risk of 12.4 percent. That was good enough for a 4-star rating.
The Car Guide’s Thoughts
These crash test results should not come as a surprise. We know that the Cybertruck is sturdier than its rivals and can survive sledgehammer blows and even small-calibre ballistic fire. However, while the stainless steel body tends to retain its integrity in a collision, the force will be transferred to the vehicle's occupants and those of the other vehicles involved.
Last October, The Car Guide’s Louis-Philippe Dubé travelled to California to explore and drive the Cybertruck in its dual-motor Foundation Series edition. With its convincing acceleration, the Cybertruck hides its 6,600 lbs very well in a straight line. In tight, low-speed turns, despite its impressive wheelbase, the pickup shows amazing manoeuvrability thanks to its rear-wheel steering capability.
On the other hand, don’t let the gigantic windshield fool you: visibility inside is absolutely nil. The driver has to rely mainly on the camera system, which is being recalled for a delay in displaying images on the centre screen. Click here for our full review.
