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If you are currently in the market for a new truck and you plan to haul people as well as cargo, safety ratings are probably high on your must-have list. Curiously, there is one compact truck on the list, and no midsize trucks. So, here are the top 5 safest 2023 pickup trucks.

2023 Rivian R1T

IIHS says: The R1T gets a Top Safety Pick + award with good results in all the major crash test categories for all trims. Plus, headlights, seatbelt reminders and LATCH ease of use also get good ratings.
NHTSA says: The 2023 R1T hasn’t yet been rated.
Segment: Full-size pickup truck, electric
Base price: $87,000

This all-new electric pickup truck tops safest 2023 pickup trucks list as a neophyte, which is impressive. The Rivian R1T also happens to be the most-expensive truck on the list. With some fancy tech, a cool design and up to 400 miles of range the R1T has a lot going for it.

2023 Toyota Tundra

IIHS says: The Tundra gets a Top Safety Pick + award with good results in all the major crash test categories. However, there are certain trims of the 2023 Tundra that only have acceptable ratings. Seatbelt reminders get good ratings, but the LATCH ease of use hasn’t been tested yet.
NHTSA says: The 2022 model gets a 5-Star overall rating, with a 4-Star rollover rating, but the 2023 Tundra hasn’t yet been rated.
Segment: Full-size pickup truck
Base price: $37,745

This truck was all-new for 2022 and has some polarizing design elements as well as some new Toyota tech.While we owned a 2022 Tundra and had issues with the infotainment and seats, we’re hoping a lot of that got ironed out for 2023. And the fact that it makes IIHS’s TSP+ list is a testament to Toyota’s commitment to quality and safety.

2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz

IIHS says: The Santa Cruz gets good ratings for all the crash tests. However, the headlights get a poor rating, and the seatbelt reminders and LATCH ease of use are only acceptable.
NHTSA says: The 2023 Santa Cruz hasn’t yet been rated.
Segment: Compact pickup-truck
Base price: $27,035

While this compact truck is pricier than the Ford Maverick, it’s got more luxury items and safety tech included. It’s a nice alternative to an SUV if you want a fun vehicle with some hauling capability. Plus, we have a soft spot for the Hyundai Santa Cruz, since it’s Managing Editor Jill Ciminillo’s Rebelle Rally truck.

2023 Ford F-150

IIHS says: The F-150 gets good ratings for all the crash tests. However, the headlights get good to poor ratings, depending on the trim, the seatbelt reminders get a poor rating, and the LATCH ease of use is marginal.
NHTSA says: The 2023 F-150 gets a 5-Star overall rating, with a 4-Star rollover rating.
Segment: Full-size pickup truck
Base price: $35,590

Though the 2022 F-150 got a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS, it falls off the safest 2023 pickup trucks list due to stricter headlight rules. This truck was all-new for 2021 and comes in both hybrid and gasoline versions. It’s due for an update in 2024, and we hope that includes a headlight upgrade so it can get back on the TSP list.

2023 Ram 1500

IIHS says: The 1500 gets good ratings for all the crash tests, but it gets good to marginal ratings for headlights depending on trim, and marginal ratings for seatbelt reminders and LATCH ease of use.
NHTSA says: The 2023 1500 gets a 5-Star overall rating, with a 4-Star frontal crash and rollover rating.
Segment: Full-size pickup truck
Base price: $39,305

The Ram 1500 is currently one of the oldest full-size trucks on the market right now, as it was redesigned in 2019. Like the F-150, the Ram 1500 was booted from the TSP list for 2023 due to the new headlight rules. This truck still has a lot going for it, though, with cool available tech and a posh interior design.

The bottom line on the safest 2023 pickup trucks

While headlights might not seem like a big deal, not being able to see properly at night is a huge problem – especially in rural areas that don’t have a lot of street lights or the pink haze of city lights in the background. So, we appreciate that the IIHS continually puts pressure on automakers to do better. You can help, too, by purchasing vehicles that meet the strictest requirements.

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Jill Ciminillo

Jill Ciminillo is the Managing Editor for Pickup Truck + SUV Talk as well as a Chicago-based automotive writer, YouTube personality and podcast host, with her articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly radio show on car stuff for a local Chicago station. Previously, Jill has been the automotive editor for both newspaper and broadcast media conglomerates. She is also a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and has the distinction of being the first female president for that organization. Jill is also currently a juror for the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY).

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1 Comment

  1. Robert April 30, 2023

    What about chevy and gmc?

    Reply

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