The Tesla Model S has a roof so strong that it broke the crush-test machine. This comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this week that the vehicle earned an overall 5-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also earned that top rating not just overall, but individually in every single category rated.
The car managed to break the crush-test machine during independent validation of the government’s crash-test scores, holding a load more than four times the vehicle’s own weight when the machine failed. That strong roof is clearly part of what helped Tesla earn all those five-star ratings.
Consumers generally put safety high on their list of concerns when purchasing a vehicle, so these ratings are quite a coup for Tesla, especially when compared to other electric vehicles. Although some have overall five-star ratings, earning them in every category isn’t the norm.
The 2014 Ford Focus electric earned a five-star overall rating along with five stars in side-crash testing, but it fared less well with rollover and frontal-crash testing where it only managed four stars. A five-star overall rating was also awarded to the 2014 Chevrolet Volt but it only got a four-star rating for frontal-crash testing. Falling behind the rest of the pack, the Nissan Leaf only got four-stars overall.
If you’re looking for a safe electric vehicle, Tesla is standing proudly on the top of the heap.
Tesla credits its safety ratings in part to a design which allows for a longer, energy-absorbing crumple zone since there’s no need for a gas motor up front. Instead, you’ll find extra storage space in the front of the car with the batteries tucked underneath and the electric motor all the way in back.
They also implemented safety features to help in rear crashes which aren’t tested by the NHTSA. Since the Model S has an optional rear-facing third row for kids, they added a double bumper to give those occupants additional protection.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
