Tesla Model Y gets top safety pick from US highway safety body

Following in the footsteps of its electric sedan stablemate, the Tesla Model Y has received the top safety pick from the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, otherwise known as the IIHS.

The Top Safety Pick is given by the insurance and road safety body to vehicles that earn top safety scores in six key factors, with the minimum proviso that at least one trim must have “good or acceptable” headlights.

The Plus version of the award is given to vehicles with good or acceptable headlights available on all trims, and according to the body all Tesla Model Y electric crossovers made after April 2021 qualify for this.

Additionally, Tesla’s decision to do away with radar had also seen it rated well by the body.

In a release regarding the Model Y’s new status, the body said, “Model Y vehicles built after April 2021 meet all the criteria for the “plus.”

“Following a conversion to a camera only system, the standard front crash prevention system earns superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. The two available headlight systems earn good and acceptable ratings.

“Separately, the standard front crash prevention system on 2021-22 Tesla Model 3 vehicles built after April 2021 also earns a superior rating in both crash avoidance tests, following a software update,” it said.

Older vehicles don’t miss out altogether however. The IIHS also stated that, “Vehicles built earlier earn an advanced rating in the vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation.”

The IIHS evaluates a car’s worthiness for the award based on the following factors: driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests.

They must also have a front crash prevention system that “earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.”

The Model Y is not currently available in Australia, although when it does become available no doubt a high safety rating will see it regarded well. Australia’s ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) safety rating has not yet been applied to the Model Y, although it is known there were two evaluation vehicles in the country earlier in 2022.

The Tesla Model 3, on which the Model Y is based, was awarded a five-star safety rating in 2019 by ANCAP.