Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
4 Hyundai Motor, Kia cars win safety awards in US
Seen is Genesis G90 luxury sedan. Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday that four car models won safety awards from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Four car models of Hyundai Motor Group were recognized for their safety following the latest crash safety test in the United States, the automotive giant said Sunday.
The group said its Genesis G90 luxury sedan, Hyundai Motor Palisade SUV and Kia's Telluride SUV received the Top Safety Pick+, the highest crash safety performance rating, from the 2023 test of the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Hyundai Motor's Sonata sedan won the second-best grade of Top Safety Pick.
In particular, the Telluride was recognized for its excellent safety in collisions by winning good grades, the highest score, in every test category, and the Palisade and the G90 demonstrated their safety features by receiving the Top Safety Pick+ ratings once again following last year, the automotive group said.
Established in 1959, IIHS is an organization funded by car insurance companies. The organization is known to use the most demanding standards in its safety evaluations.
To receive the Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle needs to earn good grades in nine categories, such as driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, roof strength and headlights. The vehicle also needs to win a superior grade in two categories, including vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention in both daytime and nighttime.
Kia's Telluride SUV / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group further noted that this year's crash safety test result is more meaningful because its car models were able to meet stricter evaluation criteria.
“Starting this year, it has become difficult to earn the highest safety grade as IIHS raised the evaluation criteria for preventing side crash, pedestrian collision and headlights,” the automotive group said.
In particular, the side crash test involves 82 percent more energy, IIHS said.
“The biggest change to the criteria for both awards is the replacement of the original IIHS side crash test with the updated evaluation launched in 2021. The updated test involves 82 percent more energy than the original test,” IIHS said.
“The number of winners is smaller this year, because we're challenging automakers to build on the safety gains they've already achieved,” David Harkey, president of IIHS, said, announcing this year's test results. “These models are true standouts in both crashworthiness and crash prevention.”