Hyundai & Kia Stack Up Safety Awards

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When you think about the safest vehicles on the road, Hyundai and Kia are probably not the brands that come to mind first. However, perhaps they should be.

Hyundai Motor Group received a total of 15 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) awards this year from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This includes a handful of EVs winning the award. Fully electric models that won this top award include:

• Hyundai IONIQ 5
• Hyundai IONIQ 9
• Kia EV9
• Genesis Electrified GV70
• Genesis GV60

So, if you’re looking for a super safe electric vehicle, you’ve got a wide range of top options there. I have to say I’m a little disappointed the EV I’m currently most interested in, the Kia EV6, isn’t on the list — and didn’t even win a TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) rating. But it’s good to see the other EV options racked up the top awards. (The Hyundai IONIQ 6 also isn’t on the list, but it is being pulled from the US market.)

Hyundai provides some more info on this year’s IIHS rating system:

“For the 2026 calendar year, IIHS introduced tougher criteria, specifically focusing on the protection of back-seat passengers and improved crash avoidance systems. To qualify for 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side tests as well as acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels. In addition, winners need standard front crash prevention systems that earn an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian test. If optional front crash prevention systems are offered, they must also earn an acceptable or good rating.

“To qualify for 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side tests as well as acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels. In addition, winners need standard front crash prevention systems that earn a good rating in the pedestrian test and an acceptable or good rating in the vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0 test. If optional front crash prevention systems are offered, they must also meet those criteria.”

Tougher then ever, yet Hyundai Motor Group is racking up and stacking up the awards. Feel a bit more comfortable if you’re driving or buying one of the electric models listed above.