All too often, drivers and passengers of modern pickup trucks feel invincible when riding around in the big, V8 and/or electric-powered, four-wheel drive vehicles. With the big trucks outfitted with all-terrain tires, brush guards, winches, trailer hookup, and LED headlamps like newly engineered Ford F-150 daytime, turn, signal, and parking lights, you just might feel like the safest person on the planet.
But the truth is that not all pickup trucks are created equal, including safety ratings and the safety features that come standard with each model. According to Motor Trend, passive and active pickup truck safety tech has significantly improved over the past few years. So has pickup truck design, making them safer than ever before.
Newer, more compact trucks have also been outfitted with the same safety advances like adaptive cruise control, anti-lane-shifting, auto emergency braking, and more. That said, here’s a guide to some of the safest pickup trucks you can pick up in 2022 (and beyond).
2022 Ram 1500 Safety Highlights
Says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the fifth-generation Ram 1500 is one of only three pickups to earn its Top Safety Award. The award applies to the Crew Cab models, which are said to be equipped with Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning systems and crash prevention capabilities.
The Ram 1500 also achieved “Good ratings” in IIHS’s crashworthiness tests. Its headlamps received Marginal grades in every model, but the Limited, the Longhorn, and the RX Crew Cab trim levels are said to be equipped with LED projector lamps. These trucks all received Good grades.
According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2022 Ram Crew Cab earned a score of 5-Stars for the side-impact test and 4-Stars in the rollover and front impact testing. The Ram’s driver assist features are said to include adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, trailer sway control, and more, making this one of the safest trucks you can buy in 2022.
2022 Ford F-150 Safety Highlights
The ever-popular Ford F-150 joins the Ram in earning a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick award for its Super Cab and extended SuperCrew models. These were bestowed Good ratings in crash prevention and crashworthiness tests.
The super reliable Ford pickup was said to have also performed very well in NHTSA testing. It earned 5-star ratings overall, despite cab variations. The pickup received 5-stars for side and front impact tests and 4-stars in rollover evaluations.
All 2022 F-150 models are equipped with automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, emergency braking systems, Co-Pilot 360 Assist, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and other safety technologies.
If it’s safety and reliability you’re looking for, look no further than the Ford F-150, the most popular pickup in the U.S.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Safety Highlights
Said to be one of the new competitors in the U.S. pickup truck market, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is chalked full of new safety features. The truck has been hardly road tested, and it’s already earned the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick award. However, this only applies to models equipped with LED projector headlamps, such as the Limited and SEL Premium trims.
Every Santa Cruz pickup comes with high auto beams, lane centering capabilities, and automatic emergency braking systems. The more expensive model, the Santa Cruz SEL, features rear-cross traffic monitoring and blind-spot tech.
The 2022 Santa Cruz Limited includes active safety features like automatic windshield wipers, a 360-degree camera system, and adaptive cruise control. The Santa Cruz is definitely built for utility and safety.
2022 Honda Ridgeline Safety Highlights
Says Motor Trend, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline “aced its NHTSA testing.” It received 5-star ratings all across the board. However, in its rollover resistance testing, it earned 4-stars. The pickup is said to have tested well on crashworthiness because of its passenger-side overlap front eval.
Keep in mind that Honda was penalized for its combination halogen reflector and LED projector headlamps. These were said to receive only marginal ratings for “inadequate visibility in some situations.” Also, the pickup’s child seat anchors were said to be difficult to locate in models with cloth seating.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline comes standard with new safety techs such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, rear cross-traffic, and blind-spot monitoring. The two top trim models come equipped with parking sensors and auto high beams. This is both an affordable and safe pickup truck.
