Many pickup trucks are large, heavy, and sturdily built – traits that naturally provide certain safety advantages. However, not every truck is equally secure. Only a select few stand out as the safest in crash prevention and occupant protection, according to evaluations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The IIHS recently updated its testing protocols, and only two pickups meet the newest standards to earn the coveted “Top Safety Pick+” designation for 2026 – the highest rating available. Two additional models still qualify for the second-tier “Top Safety Pick” award based on 2025 testing procedures. Below, we highlight each model and its corresponding NHTSA overall five-star safety rating.
2026 Tesla Cybertruck
With its sharp, stainless-steel panels, the Tesla Cybertruck looks like it could cause damage on contact, yet passengers inside are exceptionally well-protected. The 2026 Cybertruck earns a Top Safety Pick+ designation and an overall five-star safety rating. Its unconventional design hides a comfortable ride, clever storage, and exceptional handling, aided by all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering.
Like every Tesla, regardless of where it is made, the Cybertruck includes a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance and active safety technologies: forward automatic emergency braking, obstacle-aware acceleration, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a single rain-sensing wiper. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving capability (with supervision) is available as an upgrade.
2026 Toyota Tundra
The 2026 Toyota Tundra may trail its rivals even among used trucks found in car dealership of Indiana, like Indy Auto Man, in ride comfort, off-road prowess, and hauling capability. However, few full-size pickups can match its safety credentials. It also boasts significant strengths: a spacious cabin, a powerful V6 engine (with optional hybrid power), a customizable instrument display, and bold exterior styling.
In Crew Cab form, the 2026 Tundra earns a Top Safety Pick award and an overall five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. The smaller Extended Cab version receives top “Good” ratings in most crash tests but has not yet been evaluated by the NHTSA. Every model features Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 suite with forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims can boast blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with trailer detection.
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Some may argue it’s not a “true” pickup, but the unibody Hyundai Santa Cruz hits a sweet spot for many drivers. Its combination of crossover agility and pickup utility makes it ideal for errands, weekend adventures, and home improvement projects. In this compact segment, the Ford Maverick rivals it closely, though it trails slightly in safety scores.
The 2026 Santa Cruz earns a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety and driver-assist features include forward automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams.
2026 Rivian R1T
With its luxury refinement, off-road ability, and sporty performance, the Rivian R1T is an electric pickup built to impress. It provides robust utility, smart storage, and powerful towing capability, while maintaining strong range and charging performance across its powertrain options.
Under the IIHS’s 2025 criteria, the R1T earns a Top Safety Pick award. Standard features include forward automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Rivian continues advancing its autonomous driving technology through a network of cameras, sensors, and redundant control systems that enhance safety.