When it comes to safety, everyone trusts the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ list. One of the latest additions to the list is the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. Let’s find out what makes this midsize SUV such a safe choice for busy families.
How IIHS Judges Vehicles
IIHS uses a strict judging criteria to determine which vehicles are worthy of awards. To earn the top two designations, the vehicles must first earn Good ratings in the six crashworthiness evaluations. These evaluations include:
- driver-side small overlap front
- moderate overlap front
- passenger-side small overlap front
- head restraint tests
- roof strength
- side
To qualify for these designations, the vehicle must also have available front crash prevention system to earn advanced or superior ratings when evaluated in terms of vehicle-to-pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle evaluations. The headlight ratings are what separate the Top Safety Pick vehicles from the Top Safety Pick+ award. To achieve the lower-end of the awards, a minimum of one good or acceptable headlight system needs to be available. To add the additional +, the headlights must be standard across every trim level.
Why Was the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Rated so High?
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe earned the Top Safety Pick status, so what changed from the previous year to the new lineup? Last year, the lineup lost the higher designation because the available headlights didn’t all earn the good or acceptable status. However, the newer models, built after July of this year, all come with the good or acceptable headlight system, thereby improving the safety ranking.
Additionally, the 2022 Santa Fe includes standard front crash prevention that also earns a superior rating with both vehicle-to-pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle evaluations. Because of all of these aspects combined, the new Santa Fe is labeled a good safety option if you need a family vehicle.
Now, we wait and see how the new Hyundai Kona EV rates, but we expect it to fare well too. Do these rankings make you more excited about driving a vehicle? Let us know your thoughts.
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