Three Hyundai models have earned safety awards from the Insurance Institute for HIghway Safety (IIHS), with the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 getting TOP SAFETY PICK+ status, the organization’s highest honor.
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2024 Hyundai Sonota both earned the slightly lower-tier TOP SAFETY PICK designation.
The Ionig 5 achieved the highest safety ranking because was awarded an acceptable or good rating in the updated moderate overlap front test, which is now a requirement.
IIHS said the Ioniq 5 provided excellent protection for the rear passenger in the updated test. The dummy’s head remained a safe distance from the front seatback, and sensors in the dummy indicated a low risk of head, neck or chest injuries.
IIHS said the Santa Fe wasn’t quite as safe in protecting back seat occupants.The second-row restraints allowed the rear dummy’s head to approach the front seatback, and the risk of injury to the head or neck and the chest was somewhat higher, researchers said. The lap belt also moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, which makes abdominal injuries more likely.
Stilll some work to be done
It was an even worse performance by the Sonata, a midsize sedan. When technicians checked the sensors in the rear seat dummy they concluded there was a high probability of injuries to the head or neck and the chest. And as in the Santa Fe test, the lap belt slipped from the pelvis onto the abdomen.
But IIHS researchers were satisfied that all three Hyundais performed well in other IIHS tests. For both TOP SAFETY PICK and TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles must earn good ratings in the small overlap front test and the updated side test and need acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.
The standard front crash prevention systems on the Santa Fe and Sonata both earn good ratings for pedestrian crash avoidance, while the system included with the Ioniq 5 is rated acceptable.
IIHS recently announced more strict testing criteria to further protect backseat passengers and improve pedestrian crash avoidance systems.
