Group hails safety awards haul
Twenty-two Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models have received top safety pick (TSP) and top safety pick-plus (TSP+) awards in the US.
The total for the Hyundai Motor Group is more than any other carmaker in 2024’s annual assessment by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and comprises 21 per cent of the total awards.
Brian Latouf, global chief safety officer at Hyundai Motor Group, says: “Our exceptional performance in the awards is a testament to our focus on safety and efforts to provide the highest level of protection for occupants and other road users.”
Hyundai Motor secured nine awards – four TSP+ and five TSP, Genesis earned eight – seven TSP+ and one TSP, and Kia earned five gongs – one TSP+ and four TSP.
Hyundai’s TSP+ winners were the Ioniq 5, pictured, Kona and Tucson for models built after March 2024, and the Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan. Its TSP winners included the i30, Sonata, Palisade, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz.
For Genesis, the TSP+ winners included the G80 built after October 2023, electrified G80 and G90 made post-October 2023, GV60 and 2025 GV70, the electrified GV70 built after April 2024 and GV80 built after August 2023. The TSP winner was the GV70 built after November 2023.
For Kia, the TSP+ winner was the Telluride SUV. The TSP recipients included the K4, Sportage, EV9 built after January 2024, model-year 2024-25 Sorento.
To be eligible for an IIHS TSP award, vehicles must secure a good rating in the small overlap front, original moderate overlap front and updated side tests.
For the TSP+ award, vehicles must achieve good ratings in the small overlap front, updated side tests, and at least an acceptable rating in the updated moderate front crash test.
Both TSP/TSP+ awards require an acceptable or good rating for pedestrian front crash prevention and headlights, which must be equipped on all trim levels.
For the 2024 TSP/TSP+ awards, the IIHS elevated the standards, urging carmakers to boost rear-seat passenger protection and enhance pedestrian crash-avoidance systems.
The IIHS’ updated moderate front-overlap test now features a second dummy behind the driver and emphasises rear-seat safety. It has supplanted the original evaluation in the 2024 TSP+ requirements.
