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Hyundai Models Dominate the IIHS 2025 Safety Rankings

Posted on March 13, 2025

The 2025 Hyundai lineup stands out for automotive safety, with five models earning the prestigious TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, Kona, Tucson, and Santa Fe all achieved this mark of excellence, reaffirming Hyundai’s position as a safety leader in the automotive industry.

These awards are especially noteworthy as the IIHS has tightened its evaluation criteria for 2025, placing a particular emphasis on rear passenger protection. These new standards reflect a growing commitment to ensuring equal safety for all occupants in a vehicle.

 

A Breakthrough in Rear Passenger Safety

Your passengers deserve the same level of protection as you, the driver. The IIHS now includes an additional dummy behind the driver in its moderate overlap front crash tests—addressing a major gap in previous assessments.

Hyundai took the lead by implementing advanced seatbelt systems, strategically placed airbags, and rear occupant alert technologies. Together, these innovations ensure comprehensive protection for everyone on board.

 

Beyond Front Seat Protection

To earn the TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation, a vehicle must excel in multiple categories. Each awarded Hyundai model demonstrated outstanding performance in:

• Small overlap front crash tests

• Updated side-impact evaluations

• Pedestrian detection and avoidance (day and night)

• Superior headlight performance across all trims

Hyundai’s commitment to safety extends across the entire Hyundai Motor Group, which leads the industry with a total of 12 IIHS awards for its 2025 models.

 

SmartSense: The Core of Hyundai Safety

At the heart of Hyundai’s safety success is SmartSense technology—a suite of sensors, cameras, and responsive systems that deliver multiple layers of protection:

• Preventive features to help avoid accidents

• Active systems that engage during emergencies

• Passive protection that deploys during a collision

Cole Stutz, Head of Safety at Hyundai Motor North America, explains:
"Hyundai recognizes the importance of protecting all passengers through vehicle-wide technological innovation."

 

Safety Across the Lineup

Each TOP SAFETY PICK+ model brings unique value to Hyundai’s safety portfolio:

• IONIQ 5 & IONIQ 6: These electric vehicles prove that next-generation propulsion and top-tier safety go hand in hand.

• Kona: This compact SUV shows that smaller vehicles can offer outstanding protection through smart design and advanced tech.

• Tucson & Tucson Hybrid: A versatile SUV that combines safety and convenience, giving families peace of mind with no compromises.

• Santa Fe & Santa Fe Hybrid: Built for family journeys, this SUV includes safety features tailored to multiple passengers.

 

Future-Focused Protection

IIHS President David Harkey emphasizes the importance of these advancements:
"Once again, we are challenging automakers to make their new models even safer than last year’s."

Hyundai has risen to this challenge by raising the bar for safety across its entire lineup. The new moderate overlap crash test’s focus on rear-seat safety marks a significant evolution in vehicle evaluation and design.

Your safety shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for top trims or extra-cost options. Hyundai ensures that essential safety features come standard, making optimal protection accessible to more drivers.

Ready to experience what sets these award-winning Hyundai models apart? Visit Valleyfield Hyundai and discover advanced safety engineering—whether you're in the driver’s seat or the back seat, where protection matters just as much.