The 2022 Tesla Model Y has undergone rigorous crash testing and evaluations, earning impressive safety ratings. As a leading all-electric SUV, the Model Y prioritizes occupant safety, and the results from independent safety organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) underscore this commitment. This article delves into the detailed crash test performance of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, providing a comprehensive overview for prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers.
The Tesla Model Y, introduced in 2020, has consistently demonstrated high safety standards across various evaluations. The model years from 2020 to 2025 share similar ratings, reflecting Tesla’s ongoing dedication to vehicle safety. Let’s examine the performance of the 2022 Tesla Model Y in different crash scenarios based on IIHS tests.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Performance
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end (driver-side in this case) impacts a barrier. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the vehicle’s structure and safety systems protect the driver in such a severe frontal impact.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test, the highest possible rating. This indicates exceptional protection for the driver in this type of collision.
The structural integrity of the 2022 Tesla Model Y was rated “Good,” meaning the safety cage effectively maintained its shape during the crash, providing ample survival space for the driver.
Dummy kinematics, which refers to the movement and control of the crash test dummy, were also rated “Good.” This signifies that the restraint systems, including airbags and seatbelts, performed optimally to minimize driver movement and potential injuries. The frontal and side curtain airbags worked in coordination to protect the head from contacting hard structures.
Injury measures for the head, neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good,” demonstrating a low risk of significant injuries to these body regions in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash. The risk of injuries to the legs and feet was particularly low due to the well-maintained driver’s space.
Technical measurements further support these ratings, with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures recorded on the crash test dummy.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Performance
The passenger-side small overlap front crash test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses the protection offered to the front passenger. The 2022 Tesla Model Y also demonstrated “Good” performance on the passenger side.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
Similar to the driver-side test, the 2022 Tesla Model Y earned a “Good” overall rating for passenger-side small overlap performance. The structure and safety cage held up well, ensuring passenger survival space was maintained. All passenger injury measures were rated “Good,” indicating robust protection for front-seat passengers in a similar crash scenario. Driver injury measures are also assessed in this test, and they were also rated as “Good,” implying that the passenger-side crash did not negatively impact driver safety.
Technical measurements for occupant compartment intrusion and injury measures were within acceptable limits, confirming the “Good” ratings across the board for passenger-side protection.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original and Updated
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacting a barrier. IIHS conducts two versions of this test: the original and an updated version. The original test applies to 2020-2023 models, while the updated test applies to 2022-2025 models, reflecting evolving safety standards and evaluation criteria.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash (Original Test – 2020-23 Models)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
In the original moderate overlap front crash test, the 2022 Tesla Model Y again achieved a “Good” overall rating.
The structural performance and safety cage integrity were rated “Good,” ensuring the driver’s survival space was well-maintained.
Dummy kinematics and driver restraints were effective, contributing to “Good” ratings for head/neck, chest, and leg/foot injury measures. Grease paint on the side curtain airbag shows effective head contact and protection.
Minimal intrusion into the driver’s space and low injury measures for legs and feet further underscore the excellent performance in this test.
Technical measurements confirmed minimal footwell intrusion and low injury readings for the driver.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash (Updated Test – 2022-25 Models)
The updated moderate overlap test includes a rear passenger dummy to assess rear occupant protection, reflecting a broader focus on passenger safety.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Thigh/Hip | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Chest | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Thigh | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Acceptable (A) |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y continued to achieve a “Good” overall rating in the updated moderate overlap test. The structure and safety cage maintained their “Good” rating.
Driver injury measures remained “Good” across all categories. However, rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics received an “Acceptable” rating. The rear passenger dummy’s head approached the front seatback, indicating a potential, though low, risk of head injury.
Despite this, rear passenger injury measures for head/neck, chest, and thigh remained “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries for rear occupants. The shoulder and lap belts remained well-positioned during the crash.
Technical measurements indicated slightly more footwell intrusion compared to the original test but still within acceptable safety parameters. Rear passenger injury measurements remained low.
Side Crash Test: Original and Updated
The side crash test evaluates vehicle safety in side-impact collisions. Similar to the moderate overlap front test, IIHS conducts original and updated side crash tests. The updated test is more stringent, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better represent severe side-impact scenarios.
Side Crash (Original Test – 2020-23 Models)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
In the original side crash test, the 2022 Tesla Model Y achieved a “Good” rating across all evaluation criteria, both for driver and rear passenger protection.
The structure and safety cage performed admirably, maintaining occupant space.
Side airbags effectively protected both the driver and rear passenger’s heads from contacting hard structures, as indicated by grease paint marks.
Technical measurements showed minimal B-pillar intrusion and low injury measures for both front and rear occupants.
Side Crash (Updated Test – 2022-25 Models)
The updated side crash test presents a more challenging scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
Despite the increased severity of the updated side crash test, the 2022 Tesla Model Y continued to earn “Good” ratings across all metrics.
Structural performance remained “Good,” and side airbags deployed effectively.
Head protection for both driver and rear passenger was rated “Good,” with airbag deployment providing substantial protection.
Technical measurements showed slightly reduced B-pillar intrusion compared to the original test, and injury measures remained low for both front and rear occupants.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash, crucial for occupant protection in such events.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Good (G) |
| Curb weight | 4,342 lbs |
| Peak force | 19,188 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.42 |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y achieved a “Good” rating in the roof strength test, demonstrating a high strength-to-weight ratio of 4.42. This indicates that the roof can withstand more than four times the vehicle’s weight, providing excellent protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing neck injuries in rear-end collisions.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y’s power leather seats and head restraints earned a “Good” overall rating, both for dynamic performance and geometry. Technical measurements confirmed effective backset and head restraint positioning, contributing to a low risk of whiplash injuries in rear impacts.
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. IIHS evaluates headlight systems and assigns ratings based on illumination and glare. The 2022 Tesla Model Y has two headlight variations depending on the trim level.
Headlights (Performance Trim)
| Overall rating | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Good (G) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
The Performance trim of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, equipped with LED projector headlights, received a “Good” overall rating. Both low beams and high beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves, with high-beam assist compensating for any limitations. Glare was never exceeded in low beams.
Headlights (Long Range Trim)
| Overall rating | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Acceptable (A) |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
The Long Range trim, featuring LED reflector headlights, received an “Acceptable” overall rating. While high beams performed well, low beams showed some limitations on curves and produced some glare. High-beam assist helped to compensate for low beam deficiencies.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or prevent collisions. IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention in both day and night conditions.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Superior |
| System details | Standard Automatic Emergency Braking |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y’s standard automatic emergency braking system earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing front-end collisions with other vehicles.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day)
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Superior |
| System details | Standard Automatic Emergency Braking |
In daytime pedestrian front crash prevention, the 2022 Tesla Model Y again achieved a “Superior” rating. The system avoided collisions with child and adult pedestrians in crossing scenarios at both 12 mph and 25 mph. It also avoided collisions with a parallel adult pedestrian at 25 mph and 37 mph, showcasing robust pedestrian detection and collision avoidance capabilities.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Night)
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Superior |
| System details | Standard Automatic Emergency Braking |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y maintained its “Superior” rating for nighttime pedestrian front crash prevention, including high-beam assist credit. The automatic emergency braking system avoided collisions in various nighttime pedestrian scenarios, both with low and high beams activated. This demonstrates effective pedestrian detection even in low-light conditions.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH) ease the installation of child safety seats, contributing to child passenger safety.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Rating | Acceptable (A) |
| Vehicle trim | Leather seats |
The 2022 Tesla Model Y received an “Acceptable” rating for child seat anchors. It features two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. While generally functional, some lower anchors were noted as being deep in the seat, potentially requiring more force to attach and maneuver around.
Conclusion
The 2022 Tesla Model Y demonstrates exceptional safety performance across a wide range of crash tests and evaluations. Achieving “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests, “Superior” ratings for front crash prevention systems, and a “Top Safety Pick” designation from IIHS, the Model Y underscores Tesla’s commitment to occupant safety. While headlight ratings vary by trim and LATCH anchors are rated as “Acceptable,” the overall safety profile of the 2022 Tesla Model Y is undeniably strong, making it a top contender for safety-conscious consumers in the electric SUV market.
