Four 2018 Hyundai Models Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Ratings

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 9, 2018 – Hyundai is one of the leading brands for Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick awards in 2018, with a total of eight models being recognized. The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has earned the highest safety rating by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) with a Top Safety Pick+ rating when equipped with optional Automatic Emergency Braking and High Beam Assist on vehicles built after December 2017. The Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport (built after June 2017) also have Top Safety Pick+ ratings. Today’s announcement marks a total of four Hyundai vehicles attaining the significant safety achievement. Additionally, five Hyundai models were previously recognized for 2018 Top Safety Pick, including the Hyundai’s Ioniq Hybrid, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata and Tucson when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must have good ratings in five IIHS crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints, an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and an acceptable or good headlight rating. For the Top Safety Pick+ designation, vehicles must also gain an acceptable or good rating in passenger-side small overlap front tests and improved headlight rating. Features which helped these vehicles garner these recognitions included (but were not limited to) optional front-crash prevention, specific headlights and excellent performances in IIHS track tests at various speeds.

Elantra offers a wide array of advanced safety technologies, often reserved for luxury cars, to provide another defensive safety layer for its passengers beyond the standard safety system. Available Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection is a technology that utilizes both the front forward facing radar and camera through sensor fusion to detect a vehicle or pedestrian, and warn the driver of a potential collision. If the driver does not react to avoid the impact, the system will apply emergency braking in certain circumstances.

Additional Elantra-first safety technologies include available Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist, and a rearview camera, now with dynamic guidance. The Lane Keep Assist System uses a forward-facing camera to detect lane markings and will alert the driver if the vehicle drifts outside the lane without signaling. The system will apply corrective steering assistance if necessary, and is another active safety tool to assist Elantra drivers and help prevent accidents.

 

Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America is focused on delivering an outstanding customer experience grounded in design leadership, engineering excellence and exceptional value in every vehicle we sell. Hyundai’s technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to deliver peace of mind to our customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and the majority sold in the U.S. are built at U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

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With new crash test rating, Hyundai Elantra earns highest IIHS award

ARLINGTON, Va. February 8, 2018; The Hyundai Elantra, a small car, qualifies for the highest award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after earning an acceptable rating in the new passenger-side small overlap front crash test.

The Elantra, which previously earned the 2018 Top Safety Pick award, now qualifies for Top Safety Pick+ when equipped with optional front crash prevention and good-rated headlights.

To qualify for the 2018 Top Safety Pick+ award, vehicles must earn a good rating in the driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests; an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side small overlap test; an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention; and a good headlight rating.

In the Elantra's passenger-side test, the passenger space was maintained reasonably well, with maximum intrusion of 7 inches at the lower door-hinge pillar. The dummy's head contacted the front airbag, but slid off toward the right, leaving the head at risk of striking forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and had sufficient coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. Measures taken from the dummy showed a low risk of injuries in a crash of the same severity.

The acceptable rating applies to Elantras built after December, when the door-hinge pillar and door sill were reinforced to improve protection in passenger-side small overlap crashes.

The Elantra's optional front crash prevention system earns a superior rating. In IIHS track tests at 12 mph, the vehicle avoided a collision. In 25 mph track tests, the impact speed was reduced by an average of 22 mph. The system also includes a forward collision warning component that meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

The Elantra's optional high-intensity discharge headlights earn a good rating. They include high-beam assist, a feature that automatically switches between high beams and low beams depending on the presence of other vehicles. The standard halogen lights earn a poor rating.