Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 16th that three models, the Hyundai Motor Elantra (known locally as Avante), Sonata, and Kia K4, were selected for the 'Top Safety Pick+' (TSP+, Top Safety Pick+) rating in the crash evaluation announced by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
This year, the models that received a TSP or higher rating from Hyundai Motor Group include seven from Hyundai Motor, five from Genesis, and three from Kia, totaling 15, which is the highest selection among global automotive groups. (※ Second place Mazda (8), third place Honda (7))
Last year, the models that received TSP+ or TSP ratings from Hyundai Motor Group included nine from Hyundai Motor, eight from Genesis, and five from Kia, totaling 22, making this the second consecutive year that Hyundai Motor Group has been the highest selected among global automotive groups. (※ Last year's second place Toyota (19), third place Honda (11))
In March, Hyundai Motor Group saw five models from Hyundai Motor, including Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kona, Tucson, and Santa Fe, and four models from Genesis, GV60, GV70, GV70 electrified model, GV80, along with two from Kia, EV9 and Telluride, earn the TSP+ rating, while the Genesis G90 was selected for the TSP rating.
IIHS assigns the TSP+ rating to vehicles with the highest level of safety, and the TSP rating to vehicles that achieve satisfactory results.
The selection of 15 models from Hyundai Motor Group this time is significant as they meet the newly strengthened criteria for rear seat passenger safety evaluation that has been implemented this year.
In the front crash evaluation (updated moderate overlap front test), IIHS has newly positioned a dummy representing a small-statured female or a 12-year-old child in the rear seat for the driver, and adjusted the evaluation method to reflect the types of injuries that rear seat passengers are likely to suffer in real crash accidents. Until last year, achieving a TSP+ was possible with just an 'acceptable' rating, but from this year, the criteria have been tightened to require a 'good' for TSP+ and 'acceptable' or higher for TSP.
In addition, to receive a TSP+ or TSP rating, a vehicle must achieve the top grade of 'good' in the front small overlap, side updated crash evaluations, and must receive an 'acceptable' or higher in the front collision prevention system tests (for vehicles and pedestrians), and a rating of 'acceptable' or higher in the headlight evaluation across all trims.
A representative from Hyundai Motor Group said, 'I am very proud that many models from Hyundai Motor Group achieved excellent results in the IIHS crash tests that are strengthened every year,' adding, 'We will continue to strive to provide vehicles with global top-level safety and quality through advanced research, design, and technology.'
IIHS is a non-profit organization established in 1959 that comprehensively evaluates the crash safety and crash prevention performance of vehicles released in the U.S. market each year and publishes the results.
(Photo 1) Hyundai Motor Elantra
(Photo 2) Hyundai Motor Sonata
(Photo 3) Kia K4
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