Pickup trucks Β· IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
Safest Pickup Trucks of 2026
Pickups protect their own occupants well and have been the weakest class in the updated rear-passenger test. This page ranks every current pickup with a complete IIHS record and lists the trucks still missing results.
The safest pickup truck in our current 2026 ranking is the 2026 Tesla Cybertruck, scoring 96.5/100 with an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. It leads 13 pickup trucks with complete IIHS records; 6 more are still missing at least one test and are listed separately below.
All current pickup trucks ranked by safety
Where two vehicles score the same, the injury measures behind that score break the tie; vehicles matching on both share a rank. The score is 55% primary IIHS tests, 25% selected occupant-protection details, 10% pedestrian front crash prevention, and 10% class context. Missing evidence never counts as passing. Where two vehicles score the same, the last column breaks the tie: it averages every injury measure IIHS published inside the three crash tests. Vehicles matching on both share a rank.
| Rank | Vehicle | Class | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Score | Injury measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2026 Tesla Cybertruck | Large pickups | TSP+ | 96.5 | 98.75 | |
| #2 | 2026 Toyota Tundra | Large pickups | TSP | 94.0 | 96.88 | |
| #3 | 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Small pickups | β | 81.2 | 94.38 | |
| #4 | 2026 Rivian R1T | Large pickups | β | 79.7 | 96.25 | |
| #5 | 2026 Jeep Gladiator | Small pickups | β | 78.3 | 95.62 | |
| #6 | 2026 Nissan Frontier | Small pickups | β | 74.8 | 94.38 | |
| #7 | 2026 Ford Maverick | Small pickups | β | 74.2 | 92.5 | |
| #8 | 2026 Toyota Tacoma | Small pickups | β | 72.8 | 95.62 | |
| #9 | 2026 GMC Canyon | Small pickups | β | 67.8 | 91.88 | |
| #10 | 2026 Ram 1500 | Large pickups | β | 62.5 | 91.25 | |
| #11 | 2026 Ford F 150 | Large pickups | β | 57.5 | 86.88 | |
| #12 | 2026 Honda Ridgeline | Small pickups | β | 51.2 | 84.38 | |
| #13 | 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Large pickups | β | 40.5 | 80.62 | |
Rear restraints is the IIHS rear-passenger restraints and dummy-kinematics result from the updated moderate-overlap test; it is the single detail that most often separates otherwise similar vehicles.
6 current pickup trucks still waiting on complete IIHS results
These vehicles are listed so you can see what has been tested. A missing result is never treated as a pass or a fail, so they are not ranked.
| Vehicle | Primary tests reported | Detail results reported | IIHS award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Chevrolet Colorado | 3/4 | 4/4 | β |
| 2026 Ford F 150 | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Ford F 150 Lightning | 2/4 | 2/4 | β |
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 4/4 | 4/4 | β |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2/4 | 3/4 | β |
| 2026 Toyota Tundra | 3/4 | 3/4 | β |
Safest at every price
Safest pickup trucks at every price
A vehicle appears here only if it is safer than every cheaper option, so each row is the best score available at that budget.
| Safest choice | Score | Starting around |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Maverick | 74.2 | ~$27,145 |
| 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz | 81.2 | ~$29,750 |
| 2026 Toyota Tundra | 94.0 | ~$41,260 |
| 2026 Tesla Cybertruck | 96.5 | ~$69,990 |
What the class context means
Large pickups have a standardized driver death rate below the all-vehicle average; small pickups sit near it. Several trucks rate Poor or Marginal for rear-passenger protection in the updated moderate-overlap test, which is visible in the rear-restraints column.
Every vehicle on this page is scored with the same published formula as the main ranking. The full method, the exact weights, and the missing-evidence rules are on the methodology page.
Questions people ask
What is the safest pickup truck in 2026?
The 2026 Tesla Cybertruck leads our current ranking of pickup trucks with a score of 96.5/100 from published IIHS tests and a Top Safety Pick+ award. 13 pickup trucks have complete records; ties share a rank.
Why do pickups do poorly in the updated rear-seat test?
IIHS added a rear-seat dummy to the moderate-overlap test in 2022. Many crew-cab pickups showed high head and neck forces or belt loading for that rear occupant, which produces Marginal or Poor rear-restraint results even when the front seat rates Good.
Are pickups dangerous to other drivers?
Yes, more than any other class. Tall, heavy trucks produce the highest other-driver death rates in IIHS data. This ranking scores only occupant protection; see the danger-to-others analysis for the other half.
Keep comparing
Other rankings by type: Small SUVs Β· Midsize SUVs Β· Large SUVs Β· Luxury SUVs Β· Sedans Β· Compact cars Β· Electric vehicles Β· Hybrids Β· Under $30,000 Β· Under $40,000 Β· Under $50,000 Β· Top Safety Pick winners Β· Teen drivers Β· Lowest-rated