The all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra crew cab is now a recipient of the top safety award handed out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.) It's been rated an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ thanks to its better headlights and crashworthiness, following improved performance in the two small overlap front crash tests. The specific model tested, shown below, was a 2022 Toyota Tundra SR5 CrewMax 4WD.
The IIHS calls the 2022 Tundra’s ratings a substantial improvement over the 2021 model year. It didn't receive an award at all because of marginal and poor ratings in the driver- and passenger-side small overlap tests as its headlights only rated as marginal headlights.
The IIHS says to earn either of the Institute’s two awards this year, a vehicle must earn good ratings in six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength and head restraint tests. Award winning vehicles must also be available with a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and daylight vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.
TOP SAFETY PICK's must have at least one good or acceptable available headlight system in the lineup. For the higher-tier TOP SAFETY PICK+, good or acceptable headlights must be standard across all trims.
The Tundra is available with good or acceptable headlights, depending on the trim level, as well as a standard front crash prevention system that earns superior ratings in the vehicle-to-vehicle and the daylight vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. The IIHS says the new Tundra also earns an advanced rating in the nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian test, though that evaluation is not a requirement for a 2022 award.