Hyundai Motor Group Named Most Safest Car in IIHS Crash Ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has upgraded Hyundai's Ioniq 5 to its highest rating, Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+), and two new models, the Sonata and Santa Fe, have been awarded Top Safety Pick (TSP) ratings.

With the upgrade of the Genesis ▲G90 ▲G80 models to TSP+ on Tuesday (23rd) last month, the total number of Hyundai vehicles that have received TSP+ ratings this year has increased to 18, including 9 Hyundai, 7 Genesis and 2 Kia. This is the highest number of vehicles among global automotive groups, demonstrating once again the superior safety of Hyundai Motor Group products.

The announcement also puts Hyundai ahead of Toyota as the single brand with the most models honoured, with a total of nine vehicles (second place Toyota (8), third place Genesis (7)).

This year, three Hyundai vehicles, including the Ioniq 6, Ioniq 5 and Kona, five Genesis vehicles, including the G90, G80, G80 electric models, GV80 and GV60, and the Kia Telluride, were selected for TSP+.

The TSP rating was awarded to six Hyundai vehicles, including the Avante (locally known as Elantra), Tucson, Palisade, Santa Cruz, Sonata and Santa Fe, two Genesis vehicles, including the GV70 and GV70 electric models, and the Kia Sportage.

The results of the crash tests are significant because they meet a higher standard of evaluation starting this year. The best performing cars are awarded a TSP+ rating, while those that perform well are awarded a TSP rating. This year's enhanced crash test has more stringent standards for rear seat occupant protection and pedestrian crash prevention systems, making it more difficult to achieve a superior rating.

In the moderate front overlap assessment, an additional rear seat dummy is used to check the potential for injury to rear seat passengers in the event of a frontal collision, and a rating of 'acceptable' or better in this category is required to achieve TSP+. The side crash assessment is a step up in TSP eligibility. Previously, a rating of 'acceptable' or better was sufficient for TSP, but this year a 'good' rating is required for both TSP and TSP+.

In addition, for small overlap front crashes, the IIHS will now combine the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap ratings into one rating, with the lower of the two being the final rating.

In addition, in the case of pedestrian crash prevention assessment, the TSP requirement was previously met by achieving a rating of 'advanced' or higher in the daytime test alone, but from now on, a rating of 'acceptable' or higher in the combined daytime/nighttime test is required to achieve TSP+/TSP. To achieve a TSP+ rating, a vehicle must achieve the highest possible rating of 'good' in three crash safety categories: small overlap front, moderate front overlap and side.

It must also receive a rating of 'acceptable' or better in the day/night front crash prevention system test (vehicle and pedestrian) and a headlamp rating of 'acceptable' or better across all trims of the vehicle. The TSP rating must achieve 'good' in the front small overlap and side crash assessments out of a total of three crashworthiness assessments, and 'good' in the front crash assessment for all existing assessments except for the new rear passenger assessment.

In addition, the vehicle must achieve a rating of 'acceptable' or better in the day/night forward crash prevention system test (vehicle and pedestrian) and a rating of 'acceptable' or better in the headlamp assessment for all trims.

"The new designations for the Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe were driven by the pedestrian safety rating of good for each vehicle's available front crash prevention technology," said IIHS officials.

This year, the IIHS recognised 75 vehicles from around the world, including 26 TSP+ and 49 TSP-rated vehicles. Founded in 1959, the IIHS is a non-profit organisation that annually publishes a comprehensive evaluation of the crashworthiness and crash prevention performance of vehicles on the US market.

"Hyundai Motor Group is proud to be recognised as the safest automotive group company in the IIHS crash ratings," said Hyundai Motor Group officials. "We will continue to strive to provide the best safety for our customers by placing safety as our top priority."

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Photo Hyundai Motor Group