The Hyundai Motor Group has announced that three of its models were awarded the ‘Top Safety Pick Plus’ rating in the crash tests published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States, while one model received the ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating.
The vehicles that received the TSP+ rating are the ▲Hyundai Palisade ▲Kia Telluride ▲Genesis G90, and the TSP rating was given to the Hyundai Sonata.
The Telluride excelled by obtaining the highest ratings across all evaluation criteria, demonstrating excellent crash safety performance, while the Palisade and G90 reaffirmed their safety credentials by receiving the TSP+ rating once again this year, following last year’s recognition.
This crash test result is particularly significant as it meets the strengthened evaluation criteria established this year.
Founded in 1959, the IIHS is a non-profit organization that comprehensively assesses the crash stability and collision avoidance capabilities of vehicles released in the US market each year and publishes the results.
Vehicles that exhibit the highest safety levels receive the TSP+ rating, while those that perform satisfactorily are awarded the TSP rating.
Starting this year, the criteria for side crash and pedestrian collision avoidance assessments have been raised, and headlamp evaluations have become stricter, making it challenging to achieve top ratings.
The side crash evaluation has seen a change where the colliding object is now heavier and the impact speed has increased. (Colliding object weight approximately 1,497 kg → approximately 1,896 kg, impact speed approximately 49.8 km/h → approximately 59.5 km/h, impact energy increased by 82%)
Additionally, pedestrian collision avoidance assessments now include nighttime tests, which were not previously part of the evaluation, and headlamp evaluations now require both TSP and TSP+ categories to receive at least a ‘satisfactory’ rating across all trims.
To achieve the TSP+ rating, vehicles must score the highest rating of ‘Good’ in four crash safety evaluation categories: ▲Driver-side small overlap ▲Passenger-side small overlap ▲Front collision ▲Side collision. The evaluations for roof strength and head restraint that were part of previous assessments have been removed starting this year.
Furthermore, in the front collision avoidance system tests conducted both during the day and at night (for vehicles and pedestrians), a rating of ‘Advanced’ or better is required, and headlamp evaluations must achieve at least a ‘satisfactory’ rating across all trims of the vehicle.
For the TSP rating, vehicles must score the highest rating of ‘Good’ across all three evaluations: ▲Driver-side small overlap ▲Passenger-side small overlap ▲Front collision, and must also receive a rating of ‘Acceptable’ or higher in the side collision evaluation.
Additionally, for the daytime front collision avoidance system tests (vehicles and pedestrians), a rating of ‘Advanced’ or higher, and the headlamp evaluations must be ‘Acceptable’ or higher across all trims of the vehicle.
A representative from the Hyundai Motor Group stated, “Our key models have demonstrated excellent results in the enhanced IIHS crash tests, proving their safety. We will continue to prioritize customer safety as a brand moving forward.”
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr