Hyundai Motor Group has reaffirmed its industry-leading safety standards in the United States.
On Friday, the automaker announced that 12 of its models earned top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Eleven models received the prestigious Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating, while one secured the Top Safety Pick (TSP) rating, marking the highest number of recognized models among global automotive manufacturers.
By brand, Hyundai ranked second overall, Kia placed seventh, and Genesis topped the luxury segment.
Five Hyundai models—the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kona, Tucson, and Santa Fe—received the TSP+ rating. Genesis’s GV60, GV70, GV70 Electric, and GV80 also received TSP+ ratings. Kia’s EV9 and Telluride rounded out the list. The Genesis G90 also received the TSP rating.
The Hyundai Tucson, Genesis GV70, and GV80 have maintained the TSP+ rating for five consecutive years since 2021. The Kia Telluride, recognized for its outstanding safety, has earned either the TSP+ or TSP rating for seven consecutive years since its North American debut in 2019.
The IIHS awards the TSP+ rating to vehicles that demonstrate the highest level of crash safety, while those meeting slightly lower but still strong standards receive the TSP rating. This year, stricter rear-seat passenger safety criteria led to a significant drop in vehicles earning TSP+ or TSP ratings—from 71 last year to just 48 this year.
During frontal crash evaluations, a key change in IIHS crash testing involved introducing new dummy models representing small-statured women or 12-year-old children in the rear seats. This adjustment aims to reflect better real-world injuries that rear-seat passengers may experience in collisions.
Previously, vehicles could achieve the TSP+ rating with an “acceptable” rear-seat safety rating. However, under the stricter 2024 criteria, vehicles must now receive a “good” rating for TSP+ and at least an “acceptable” rating.
To qualify for TSP+ or TSP ratings, vehicles must score “good” in the updated front small overlap and side-impact crash tests. Additionally, they must receive an “acceptable” rating in daytime and nighttime vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention tests. The headlight evaluation must also meet a minimum “acceptable” rating across all trim levels.
IIHS President David Harkey stated that the selected vehicles offer exceptional safety for both front and rear-seat occupants, making them top choices for families seeking the highest safety standards.
A Hyundai Motor Group spokesperson expressed pride in the strong performance of their models in the increasingly rigorous IIHS crash tests, stating, “We are honored that so many of our vehicles achieved top safety ratings. Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize delivering industry-leading safety and quality to our customers worldwide.”