The 2023 Rivian R1S, an all-electric SUV produced by American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian Automotive Incorporated, has been bestowed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with its prestigious Top Safety Pick+ rating.
The battery-powered R1S earned the top rating from the IIHS after successfully enduring crash tests under the government’s new, tougher highway safety requirements for this year.
It is really interesting as well as encouraging to note here that the Rivian R1S is the only large all-electric SUV that has received the prestigious award from the IIHS this year. By receiving the safety award, the R1S has joined the likes of the R1T pickup truck, which has also been developed and produced by the Rivian Automotive Inc. The R1T was tested in February 2022, and it was conferred with the same Top Safety Pick+ rating.
Supported by automobile insurers and insurance associations, the IIHS is an independent, non-profit scientific & educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research & evaluation.
Announcing the prestigious top safety rating for the R1S all-electric SUV, the independent non-profit didn’t forget to remind that safety requirements both the lower-tier Top Safety Pick and the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ have become tougher this year. From this year, good headlights are mandatory across all trims for the top ratings. Additionally, the updated side test (in which a heavier barrier hits the vehicle at a higher speed) replaces the original side evaluation. In this test, vehicles must earn an acceptable rating to qualify for the Top Safety Pick Award. A good rating is required for the Top Safety Pick+ Award.
The 2023 Rivian R1S e-SUV successfully met all the aforementioned criteria for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ rating, thanks to its standard front crash system that earned superior rating for its daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluation capability. It also earned an advanced rating in the nighttime test. Good-rated LED headlights of the SUV were also found to be standard across all trim levels available in the market.
Nevertheless, the 2023 Rivian R1S SUV has a room for further improvements. While it earned good ratings in most test categories, it was rated marginal in the updated moderate overlap front test, while the seat belt reminders were rated as poor due to short duration and low volume of the audible signal.